In the tight Toronto rental market, tempers can get frayed – leading to headline-grabbing stories of nightmare tenants, greedy landlords, and heated disputes. It doesn’t have to be that way. Building a harmonious and mutually beneficial landlord-tenant relationship takes work, but it’s well worth the effort to save both parties considerable stress, time, and expense.
If you’re struggling to build a good relationship with your renters, take a look at the checklist below. From being more accessible to promptly allaying concerns, there’s a lot of simple but impactful changes landlords can make to stop disputes before they start.
4 steps to a better landlord-tenant relationship
1. Schedule quarterly meetings
If your tenant has issues, you need to know about them sooner rather than later. Some tenants don’t speak up until small issues become big problems, that’s why it’s important to take the lead and schedule regular check-ins.
Ideally, these should take place quarterly but check first to see what level of contact your tenant is comfortable with. It’s best to host these meetings virtually, via a platform like Zoom, rather than dropping in. This protects the tenant’s privacy and also signals that you’re respectful of their space.
Most tenants appreciate a responsive landlord, but don’t view these quarterly conferences as simply an opportunity to address grievances. They’re also a chance to get to know your tenant better. Renting to someone you know, even superficially, is always better than dealing with a complete stranger.
2. Have a once-a-year property visit
There will be times when landlords need to be onsite to inspect their property and review any potential issues in person.
Keep these visits annual as tenants will not welcome constant spot checks and be mindful of the requirement to provide at least 24 hours written notice for any unexpected visits.
3. Deal with problems as quickly as possible
Landlords are responsible for maintaining their properties, dealing with repairs, replacements, and any damage. It’s vital to address these quickly, especially if they’re causing disruption for the tenant.
To ensure quick service in an emergency, it’s helpful to have a network of contacts that cover all kinds of issues – from a 3am leak to a midday washing machine malfunction.
If you’re dealing with a minor issue that can’t be fixed right away, explain this to your tenant, reassure them that you’re working on it, and keep them informed. Staying in touch with your tenant will always be better for your relationship than ignoring them until you can resolve their issue.
4. Let tenants know where they stand
Renting in the GTA can be nerve wracking. From renovictions to soaring rents, tenants have to be on their guard.
Let yours know where they stand by locking in certain conditions when they sign their lease. Multi-year leases with set rents and clearly defined terms are a win-win – landlords have a reliable source of income from trustworthy tenants, and tenants have peace of mind that they won’t be forced to pack up and move in the near future.
Find and keep great tenants with professional help
Maintaining a good relationship with your tenant is an ongoing process, not just another item on your property to-do list. It takes work and careful planning, but if you don’t have the time to make that commitment there is another option – enlist professionals to help.
Highgate Property Management prides itself on finding and managing the best tenants for our landlords. We’re a family-run firm that brings a friendly but professional approach to tenant management.
Our team is rigorous when it comes to tenant vetting, performing all the necessary checks to screen out potential troublemakers and protect landlords. Once we’ve found reliable renters, we treat them with care and consideration to make sure both landlord and tenant are fully satisfied. We handle everything from rent collection to maintenance, so there’s no headaches or unexpected surprises. Contact our team today to see how we can help you keep your tenants happy.
