As a renter, you may wonder, “how can I form a better relationship with my landlord?” This can be a bit difficult, as you likely do not see and communicate with the landlord often. In larger buildings with management companies, this becomes even more difficult. However, a respectful relationship with the landlord is crucial as it impacts your response time to requests and potential rent increases. If you’re looking for ways to maintain and improve your relationship with your landlord, follow these tips.
Communication is Key
Just as any other relationship we have in our lives, a tenant-landlord relationship is based on good communication. The first step in establishing the foundation of an appropriate relationship is to discuss your expectations and responsibilities with your landlord prior to you moving in. Also, make sure to understand and ask your landlord about the terms or rules which he might have laid out for you. One of the best ways to do this is to go over your lease line by line with your landlord, including all details from lease period to late rent penalties. Through this, you can not only have a clearer idea of what your responsibilities are, you could also avoid breaking the terms and then find yourself in an unpleasant confrontation with your landlord.
In addition, you should also be mindful of how you make your requests to your landlord. For instance, if you need something fixed in the house, be sure to inform your landlord in a friendly and polite manner. If you would like to have some friends over to hang out with, do also make sure to give your landlord a heads-up beforehand.
Pay Your Rent on Time
One of the greatest pet peeves of landlords is chasing after renters who are unable to pay rents on time. This is a slippery slope for ruining your relationship with your landlord. In a worse case scenario, the landlord can evict tenants for not paying rent.
Of course, there might be times when you would need a bit more time to pay your rent to your landlord, but always make sure to inform your landlord at the earliest possible. This allows your landlord to understand your situation, and most landlords would definitely be willing to wait for the rent payment. Most leases explain their late penalties, so while things happen, try not to make it a habit. It will cost you more money, and your relationship.
Maintain Cleanliness
Landlords appreciate responsible renters who keep their unit and building common areas clean. A landlord definitely wouldn’t want to spend additional expenses on cleaning up the property over his renter or fork out additional cash to repair his property. In short, be an accountable renter and be mindful of the property.
While laws vary by area, in New York City, landlords have 14 days after the end of the lease to send back a security deposit. Additionally, they can send an itemized list that explains why they’re deducting money from the deposit. If the apartment is ruined past normal wear and tear, you will not receive the full deposit.
Refrain from Making Rental Property Changes
As renters, most of us love to make ourselves feel at home and customize the rental property according to our individual preferences. Line the hardwood floor with carpets? Install special light bulbs? Sure. But drilling holes in the wall to hang your photo frames or installing a wall-mounted TV in the living room is a different issue. Your landlord most certainly wouldn’t be happy about these permanent changes made to his property. If it’s something you feel very compelled to do, make sure to seek your landlord’s agreement first before carrying out the changes to the apartment.
Having a good tenant-landlord relationship with your landlord can be beneficial for both parties. It gives both your landlord and you a peace of mind. At the same time, it decreases the likelihood of having to deal with confrontations with each other. It also makes it easier for you to raise certain requests to your landlord. And who knows, you and your landlord might even develop a long-lasting friendship!
Editor’s Note: We updated this article to enhance readability.
