How to Deal With Difficult Landlords
If you rent a property, you know that a difficult landlord can sometimes make our lives difficult. While we spend countless hours researching properties and attending viewings, we have only a few minutes to get to know the homeowner.
When things are going well, there won’t be much trouble, but things may quickly change if the need for property repairs arises.
To put yourself in a better situation when dealing with a difficult landlord, there are a few steps you will want to take.
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
Once you have decided on where your next home will be, even before signing a lease agreement, you should familiarise yourself with the local laws designed to protect tenants.
Those may include regulations regarding the maximum amount of money a landlord can require as a security deposit. Other laws will include who is responsible for property maintenance requests, privacy, anti-discrimination, cleaning services, etc.
Knowing your rights will protect you from a landlord who wants to push his responsibilities onto you or is simply trying to take advantage of the lease agreement.
Once you know the laws in your area, it is time to carefully go through the agreement proposed by the property manager or owner.
Remember that this is a two-way process, so if you notice anything out of the ordinary or things you disagree with, ensure you communicate them properly and propose an alternative.
Document Before Moving In
Never underestimate the power of written communication.
Always request a copy of any document you must sign, especially your lease agreement. If your landlord neglects his responsibilities, reminding them of their obligations according to the contract will be handy.
Any property maintenance requests or complaints should be emailed to your landlord so that you can have solid proof of the communication.
If your dispute arises where you need to speak with an attorney, having written examples of the issues and communication will be essential to getting what you want.
Examples of documentation that can be useful should the need arise are:
- Photos of the residency before moving in, during the end of tenancy cleaning and on the day you move out.
- Text messages, emails, letters, voice messages.
- Videos of repair issues, such as AC not working, runny toilets, leaks etc.
- Recording of noise issues that your landlord fails to address
Based on your specific situation, anything that you think will be useful should be documented. In today’s day and time, you have little trouble keeping everything organised on your phone or computer.
Pay Your Rent and Bills on Time
Difficult landlords may not have always been this bad. Perhaps many encounters with bad tenants have caused them to behave as they do.
Showing them that you are a trusty tenant who is not causing issues can earn their trust. The best way to do this is always to pay your bills and rent on time.
Furthermore, failure to comply with your responsibilities will put you in a difficult situation if you have a dispute with your landlord, which will always be used against you.
Address Only the Essential Issues
When dealing with a difficult landlord, sometimes it is best to just make an exception to some of the issues and focus on the essential ones.
When you already have trouble communicating with the property owner, contacting him numerous times for small issues can worsen it.
You should ensure that you get the property in a functional condition and that your primary needs are met.
Ideally, we want the perfect living conditions when paying rent, but if you have to choose, always focus on the most important aspects for you.
Communicate with Other Tenants
If you are sharing the property with other tenants or live in an apartment complex, it is best to reach out to your neighbours and find out if they are sharing some or all of the problems.
If more people share the same issues or have the same problem, chances are that the landlord will be more willing to listen if you contact him as a group.
In addition, it will be easier to handle any problem when combining the know-how of multiple people or households.
Take Legal Actions if Necessary
In some cases, legal actions may be necessary to resolve a serious problem being neglected or caused by your landlord.
Some of those include:
- Your landlord discriminates against you.
- Your security deposit is illegally taken.
- The rental unit is inhabitable.
- The owner of the property interferes with your right to quiet enjoyment.
- You are being wrongfully evicted.
- Due to the homeowner’s negligence, you suffer injury in your rental.
- Your landlord fails to make necessary repairs.
Those are a few examples where you may look to take your landlord to court. Suppose you are experiencing a similar situation or believe legal action is necessary.
In that case, it is best to reach out and consult with a local attorney specialising in landlord-tenant relationships and disputes.
Remember that, even if you win the case, suing someone is costly, and you will likely have to pay all kinds of fees before the matter is resolved.
Before you sue, send a demand letter, specifically mentioning the problem, by when the landlord should fix it and that you plan to take legal action if your needs are unmet.
Move Out of a Bad Situation
If the problems you have become too severe, it may be time to consider if it is worth living and whether the benefits of the property outweigh the difficult landlord. Sometimes moving out is easier than dealing with the issue at hand.
Of course, you are bound by a lease, and the best option is to start looking for a new home when the end date is near.
Alternatively, you may contact your landlord and seek an early termination of the agreement without any penalties. As bad as they can be, owners also prefer avoiding conflict with their tenants.
Conclusion
When it comes to renting, the best possible outcome is to find a property that suits you with an understanding landlord.
When that is not the case, however, ensure that you are prepared to have numerous back-and-forth discussions to get what you want and need.
If it comes to that scenario, get yourself in a better situation by knowing the law and each party’s responsibilities and keeping everything properly documented.
Do not hesitate to contact an attorney and seek legal help if the situation demands it.
