Top Tenant Complaints And Solutions For Park City Property Management
In Park City property management, as in many things, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Many complaints can be mitigated by being a proactive property manager or landlord. Complaints are also a great opportunity to strengthen landlord-tenant relations through effective communication and problem solving. I firmly believe in the idea that good landlords make for good tenants so take some time to review the following complaints I have listed as well as possible solutions. They will help your forays into property management to be successful endeavors.
1. Something is Broken
Any property owner can testify that eventually something will break. Plumbing will develop a
leak, appliances will fail, components like door knobs and window latches wear out. Everything in a property has an expected useful life and will eventually need to be repaired or replaced. Rather than viewing a maintenance item as an annoying problem it should be viewed as an opportunity to reconnect with tenants, view the condition of the property, and grow the relationship of trust that should exist between property managers and tenants. Respond quickly to a request, no matter how small, and let the tenant know how quickly it can be addressed. Even if you are not able to get to the request within a few days staying in communication with a tenant will let them know you are invested in solving the problem and concerned about the condition of the property. You will find that most tenants are reasonable to work with if they know action is being taken. If you would like more information about handling maintenance requests, legal requirements, and best practices check out my blog post Maintenance Laws For Park City Property Management.
2. The Neighbors are Noisy
Unless the property you rent is a cabin in the middle of nowhere you will eventually hear from your tenants complaining that the neighbors are doing something annoying. The first step in solving the problem, similar to a maintenance request, is a timely response acknowledging the tenant's complaint and letting them know you are working on a resolution. Are you beginning to see a theme here? Whether the property is part of a condominium or apartment community with specific quiet hours or a single family home that is subject to local noise ordinances this is an instance where knowledge is the best weapon for a landlord. Get educated on what constitutes an actionable nuisance with the community where your property is located and what are the steps that can be taken to resolve the problem. If the complaint submitted by your tenant does not qualify as a nuisance an honest conversation about expectations is in order. If there is a legitimate nuisance asking your tenant if they have attempted to have a conversation with their neighbors about the problem is the first step you should take. Encourage them to open a dialogue with their neighbors if they are willing. If the problem persists it may be necessary to get a home owner's association or local law enforcement involved. For more information and resources on Utah nuisance laws check out my blog post Nuisance! Definition And Info For Park City Property Management.
3. It Was Like That When I Moved In
This could also be described as a tenant excuse depending upon the situation but when it
comes up a smart landlord should have a few tools at his disposal. If the problem being brought to your attention was legitimately present when the tenant moved in then making a good faith effort at fixing the problem is the only course you should pursue. If not there should be two things you can fall back on to determine how the situation occurred. The first thing a landlord should do is inspect a property before a tenant moves in. When the tenant moves in they should be provided with a move in form where they can make note of any conditions present in the property that existed upon move in. These two items can help landlords and tenants avoid misunderstandings.
If you are interested in learning more about property management Park City Utah download our free white page "5 Questions Every Landlord Should Ask Themselves".
