Property owners and managers are in the business of taking care of people as they are providing a basic need, shelter. Since rent is often a tenants largest expense and your property represents their home, tenants can often become passionate when issues arise with their rental. Whether a tenant rents from you for a year or a decade property issues will arise from your end or their end. No one can control when a boiler breaks or when a pipe bursts but tenants may still expect a resolution as soon as the problem occurs and tenants may become angry and combative if these issues are not fixed right away. In contrast, if a tenant damages something or has trouble paying rent on time they may expect you to be understanding. Therefore one of the most important aspects of a efficacious Property management system is having Effective Interpersonal Communication Skills. Here are some tips to deal with difficult tenants and situations.
Make sure that you understand what your goal is in communicating with your tenant. You need to know what results you want from this communication and what methods will work to complete your goal.
Keep in mind how you want your tenant to feel about you after the interaction. Getting what you want may not be worth it if the tenant becomes extremely angry at you, takes it out on your property and makes it his goal to be your worse tenant.
Make sure your emotions do not get in the way of resolving the conflict. If your angry it may not be the best time to try resolve a conflict with a tenant.
Show that you understand what your tenant is saying and try to view the issue through their perspective.
When the tenant is done speaking summarize and restate their issues and desires.
Finally describe the issue in your own words, express why the issue is important to you, give possible solutions and negotiate what solutions may work for both of you.
While these strategies may not always work perfectly every time, it is important to remember that being an effective communicator is a vital part of being a successful landlord or property manager. If you find yourself or your employees constantly fighting with tenants then it may be time to reevaluate your communication methods.
This post is provided by RISSOFT Residential and Commercial Property Management Software, specializing in innovative and cutting-edge property management software for all 50 states. Request a demo or contact us today to receive more information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as legal advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual legal counsel or consulting your local, state, federal or provincial tenancy laws.