As a landlord, there will be times when you have to deal with conflict. It could be conflict that arises between a tenant and yourself or between two tenants. When the situation occurs, you need to know how to successfully deal with it. Equally as important, is knowing how to avoid conflicts altogether. In this blog, we’ll discuss both of these topics.
How to avoid conflict
Let’s first talk about how to avoid conflict. This really is the primary goal when it comes to conflict resolution. Keep it from occurring in the first place. But how do you do this? There are a few ways. One is, you need to screen tenants thoroughly to find the right ones for the property. That only goes so far, though. A thorough screening doesn’t mean all of the tenants will have personalities that mesh well with one another. And you also need to make sure you’re in compliance. That means you need to know all of the applicable laws associated with being a landlord and follow them to a tee.
As a landlord, you can take extra steps to ensure your tenants are satisfied by keeping the property well-maintained and responding to their requests quickly. Beyond that, you need to make sure the lease covers all of the details, such as what is expected, you and your tenants’ responsibilities, and what happens if the lease is violated. Having these things spelled out in the lease and then verbally going over the lease can help prevent a tenant from violating it, resulting in conflict.
Another way to reduce conflict is to spell out expectations for how tenants should behave in shared areas like the laundry room. For example, suggest they don’t leave laundry in the washer and dryer too long, use others detergent, or move other tenant’s laundry from the machines. You can provide these tips on how to be a good neighbor in a move-in packet that also includes important highlights from the lease.
How to handle conflicts
You may be able to stop some conflicts with these tips, but you may not be able to stop them all. So, when a conflict does arise, do your best to resolve it. Many conflicts can be handled simply by talking them out and following the guidelines in the lease for how to proceed. Talk with the tenant about the issue and see if you can’t find a good resolution.
If a tenant contacts you because they are frustrated with another tenant, listen to the complaint and then address it. Keep the other tenant anonymous, unless the two tenants agree to meet and discuss this with a mediator (yourself, a property manager, or a hired mediator). Be sure to outline the lease and if someone is violating it, be sure they’re aware.
In some situations, you may need to send out a letter mentioning the lease was violated. Take the disputes to a court or to a lawyer only if needed. It can be costly and time-consuming, so if you can handle a dispute without going through legal avenues, it can be helpful (keep in mind a small claims court may be a more affordable option to consider).
One more thing to remember when handling conflicts is to keep records of all of your dealings along the way. If you have a verbal conversation, follow up with a written form and save those documents for your records.
When dealing with any conflict, it’s important to stay calm and level-headed. It can be easy to let emotions get the best of you, but that will only escalate the matter. When you’re able to see things with a clear mind and stay cool during the conflict, you’ll be better equipped to handle the issue.
Having a third party involved can help you avoid conflict and handle it when it arises. At PMI, we work hard to help landlords find the right tenants and keep them satisfied. Reach out to us to learn more about what we can do for you: Property Management Inc..
