Handling Problematic Tenants In Park City Property Management
First let me say that good tenants are the lifeblood of Park City property management. They take care of a property, pay rent on time, and are responsible people who respect the relationship that exists between and landlord and a tenant. And if all tenants were this way I wouldn't have much to write about today. Sadly some tenants can be very difficult to deal with. Today I would like to focus especially on tenants who complain or nitpick very small issues in long term rentals in Park City. I'm sure you know the type, they make mountains out of mole hills and demand that every small item be fixed. Things that are acceptable to most people are completely unacceptable to these individuals. Let me share with you an experience I had with this type of person.
On Second Thought...
About a year ago I had an interested person tour a rental property. The current tenant still occupied the property and was in the process of moving out so they place did not show well. The prospective tenant was willing to overlook some of the clutter and I explained to him that we would have the place cleaned and ready for his move in. A few weeks later the old tenant was gone, we had the property and carpets cleaned and maintenance did some touch up work in the property. Unfortunately what I thought would be a regular move in turned out to be anything but. The tenant said the property was completely unacceptable. They found everything wrong they possibly could and started making demands as to what would had to be fixed and when. The straw that finally broke this camel's back was a demand that the carpet be replaced immediately. And by immediately they meant TODAY! I began to get the feeling that with this individual it wouldn't matter what we fixed it would never be good enough. I spoke with the owner of the property and recommended that we refund this person's money on the basis of being unable to meet their timeline for the required repairs. After describing the situation the owner agreed and I happily bid this person a fond farewell. Fortunately I was in a position where the tenant had not moved in and I could cut ties with them quickly and cleanly. But what if you aren't in this situation? Let's take a look at some options for Park City property management.
What To Do.
So if you find yourself dealing with a difficult tenant who seems impossible to satisfy here are a few things you can use as a landlord to help the problem.
- Use a move in/move out sheet. This document is used by the tenant when they move in to make note of any damage or existing conditions in the property. Be clear with the tenant that they will not be charged for any item they make note of on this sheet when they move out. This may help alleviate any concerns the tenant has about being charged for something they didn't do.
- Be firm and clear on what your responsibilities as a landlord are. Park City property management has specific laws regulating what landlords must take care of. Tell the tenant that you are there to fix things that break and take care of emergencies but you are no their person handyman. They toured the property before taking occupancy and they did so willingly. Be polite but firm and make sure they understand what is acceptable and what is excessive.
- Ask them to leave. If push comes to shove you may just want the tenant to leave. Be kind and tell them that you feel like you are unable to meet their requirements and that you are releasing them to find a property more suitable to their needs. If they are as unhappy with the place as they seem to be they will probably be glad to leave.
If you would like more information on dealing with problem tenants, or further information about Park City property management in general click the link below for a free consultation. You will receive valuable information specific to your property that will help you make an informed decision. You will also receive a free, no-obligation quote on our property management services. At CC Realty we specialize in making investment property ownership a trouble free experience. Please contact us today for your free consultation.
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