Conflicts can sometimes occur between tenants. If they do it is important for landlords to realize that they cannot just evict someone, as the law gives tenants a lot of protection.
Here is how you can handle a problematic tenant:
Have rules
The easiest way to avoid tenant conflicts is to prevent them before they happen. Thus, it’s crucial to have rules on what is allowed or prohibited regarding shared spaces, music/parties, smoking, pets and so on. When someone moves in, they should have a copy of these rules. Nonetheless, some complaints may still arise despite rules being in place.
Listen to the complaint
When you receive a report of a dispute, you should meet with involved parties and listen to their concerns. This helps you obtain more information to determine the best way to solve the situation. During this meeting, you should ask questions and be sympathetic throughout. They should know their complaint is valid and you take it seriously.
If you have a policy for handling such complaints in your rental agreement, this is the time to apply it.
Keep a written record
You should write notes from the meeting to document the case. In addition to the cause of the conflict, your report should include:
- The date of the complaint
- Involved parties (their names and house numbers)
- The resolution
- The date of the resolution.
If one of the parties is involved in future disputes, these records might help you to evict them.
If one of your tenants is being disruptive you may need help to understand your legal options.
