Landlords and tenants should strive to create a mutually beneficial relationship. Like any other business relationship, the landlord and the tenant need each other. Why not work to make it the best association possible?
Most landlord-tenant disputes are a result of inadequate communication. It is primarily the landlord’s responsibility to communicate clearly. Why? Because the landlord typically provides the document that controls the relationship: the lease or rental agreement.
A well-written, clear and concise lease is absolutely vital. If you are not a professional property manager, you need to do more than download a generic lease off the internet. “Standard” leases available in stationery stores are typically no better. They often are missing key elements that are legally required in California leases, like the Megan’s Law database disclosure pertaining to sexual offenders and the lead-based paint disclosure.
If this is the first you’ve heard of those two requirements, you should consider joining a professional association, such as the California Apartment Association. They provide excellent leases and many other forms and products to help guide you through the maze of regulations that govern landlord-tenant relationships.
When a tenant moves in, provide them with a property condition checklist to document the condition of the home, for the protection of both parties. Also, the tenant and landlord should each take several pictures of the home before the move-in date so there is a clear record of its condition, to avoid misunderstandings when the tenant vacates.
Steve Gorman, Property Manager
Gorman Real Estate
710 Lighthouse Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
steve@gormanre.com
www.gormanre.com
Powered by FireStats
Steve,
Great post! Communication is key for a good relationship with your tenants. I agree it is the landlord’s responsibility to open up the communication channel. Calling a tenant once month to make sure everything is in working order is a tactic I like to use.
-Michael Pickett
http://blog.buildium.com
The landord-tenant relationship has often been portrayed in television, the movies, and even cartoons, as adversarial. Unfortunately, the stereotype of the landlord who ties his tenant to the railroad tracks when the tenant can’t pay the rent has its roots in reality. The reason that California law has historically favored the tenant is because unscrupulous landlords have taken advantage of their tenants to the extent that the legislature had to step in.
The good communication advocated in Steve’s comment can go a long way toward dispelling the myth that landlords and tenants can’t get along. It can also prevent lawmakers from feeling compelled to regulate how those of us in the property management business (both managers and rental property owners) operate.