The relationship between landlords and tenants is a business p

artnership. With the lease as your binding contract, both the homeowners and re

sident tenants are hoping for a positive experience in sharing the home's function. As a landlord, you want tenants who are respectful, responsible, and communicative. As tenants, your residents want the same thing. The way to achieve this is to build a positive tenant relationship with each family that moves into your rental properties.

The Importance of Positive Tenant Relationship

Why is a tenant relationship so important? In a purely technical sense, the lease should take care of all logistical needs between landlord and tenant. Any landlord or property manager with experience will tell you that the lease is the first and last protection. But a positive relationship is a glue that makes your rental business partnership really work. If you want turnover to be a breeze with clean, well-maintained homes, reliably paid rent, and friendly biannual inspection visits -- then you must build a positive relationship with tenants.

Let's break down each individual benefit gained when landlords and tenants can trust each other.

Communication and a Strong Rapport

Communication is key to a good home rental experience. You want to hear about your tenant's family, pets, and house-related plans. They want to hear about your inspection and repair schedule. When plans change or a visit is coming up, you want your tenants to be responsive and ready to match schedules.

It all starts with a good rapport, starting with the way you treat new tenants as applicants. Being respectful and responsive with your applicants lays the groundwork for a communicative and friendly tenant relationship. This street goes both ways, as renters and homeowners get communication first-impressions during the application, interview, and home tour process. If you build a good rapport immediately, you are more likely to have trusting, communicative tenants as your final choice.

Tenant Trust and Calling in Repairs

The first and most notable benefit of a good tenant relationship is repair trust. Homeowners rely on their tenants to call in repairs before an issue becomes serious or leads to further damage. But tenants who are fearful of their landlord will also be afraid of being blamed for damages.

When tenants trust you or the property manager, they'll call in things like leaks, cracks, and dangerous steps immediately. So that the right repairs can be made without fuss or added expense. Tenants who like their landlords may even call-in considerate points of concern. Like signs of damp in the basement or signs that the foundation might be shifting. A good tenant relationship can result in teamwork for preventative repairs, not just trust to call in for break-fix repairs.

Tenants Who Want to Make Improvements

Many renters still want to improve their home, even if the home isn't theirs to keep. They may want to fix up the deck railing, add a jungle-gym in the backyard, or replace an old carpet. These improvements are often a benefit to the house. Improving its desirability and value for future tenants when the current family moves on. Ideally, landlords and tenants can work together to approve and even split the cost for wanted improvements. A poor tenant relationship goes the other way.

Tenants who trust the homeowner will reach out, making suggestions and offering to split the cost for shared benefit. Tenants who distrust their landlord may make the improvements without telling you. Or may resent the idea of putting their own money into a house they won't keep. With a positive tenant relationship, you can help your tenants enjoy their home more while improving your property in the long-run - benefitting everyone involved.

Getting a Heads-Up (and Deposit) for New Pets

Pet disclosure has long been a point of disagreement between landlords and tenants. Most leases request a pet deposit for each animal and may limit the number, size, or breed of pets that tenants can have. Bringing a new pet into the family, many tenants will simply avoid mentioning it to avoid the new cost. However, a positive tenant relationship can reverse this trend. 

If you are known to be a pet-friendly landlord or property manager with a reasonable pet policy, tenants are far more likely to let you know and pay for new pets that join the family. Consider a returnable pet deposit instead of a flat fee. Ask to meet tenant pets and bring a pocket of treats when you do. Tenants who see you as liking their animals are far more likely to tell you when a new animal is acquired.

Working Together in Sub-Letting

Speaking of extra residents, sub-letting is another common issue of dispute that doesn't have to be a problem. When finances are tight, many renters want to sub-let their guest rooms. With smart decisions and lease-coverage, this shouldn't be a problem. But tenants who see the landlord as a restrictive nemesis will sub-let without telling you. Which creates potential disasters for both homeowners and even the legal tenants.

Instead, focus on a friendly subletting policy. Right off the bat, let your tenants know if subletting is permitted (and why if it's not). If subletting is allowed, have an interim-lease ready for both long-term guests and sub-tenants. Explain that, like the initial lease, an interim lease is to protect everyone's rights and property. From damage responsibility to move-out policies. With a positive tenant relationship, you are far more likely to have long-term guests and sub-let tenants covered by an interim lease and get friendly updates on the situation.

Honest Problem-Solving for Late Rent

What do you do when a tenant's rent is late? With a positive tenant relationship, you don't have to resort to legal maneuvers or hostility right away. Tenants who trust you might call ahead to tell you why rent is late and when they'll have the check ready. Tenants facing a sudden financial crisis in the family will be more amenable to building a rent payment plan that saves you and them the stress of an eviction process.

A good relationship opens the door to teamwork problem-solving when times get tough instead of adverse action.

Teamwork to Streamline the Tenant Turnover

Finally, tenants who have a good relationship with their landlord will work with you on the tenant-turnover process. Your tenants may welcome a move-out checklist that helps them to get the house mostly-spotless on their way out. They may be more reachable by phone or email should you find lost items left behind. They may even have a few parting tips like a squeaky step or a cloggish drain that you can improve before the next tenant - things that weren't worth mentioning before but are very helpful during this transition time.

Building a positive relationship with your tenants is essential to both a peaceful and mutually beneficial renting experience. This relationship starts with how you interact with applicants, is built during the application and approval process, and continues for the entire span of their time renting from you. As an investment homeowner, you can take the time to build this rapport with each tenant or rely on a friendly property management service that specializes in nurturing positive tenant relationships for all your property residents. Contact us today to learn more about building a positive tenant relationship or for local property management services.