Having strong relationships with tenants is an important part of being a landlord. After all, your tenants are your livelihood. You want to ensure your tenants feel welcome, taken care of, and content in your property. Happy tenants are also more likely to renew their lease when the time comes, saving you the time and effort of having to find new renters.
What are some of the best ways to build and keep strong relationships with great tenants for your DC investment property? We have our top five tips here so you can get started being a successful landlord with positive tenant relationships.
Stay on Top of Concerns and Maintenance
One of the most significant things you can do as a landlord is stay on top of any concerns your renters may have. These include maintenance requests or complaints. This is your tenant’s way of letting you know something isn’t right in the property, and it’s your job to fix it.
Even if you can’t get to a specific concern or maintenance issue right away, communication goes a long way towards building that relationship and letting your tenants know you care. A simple email or text that says, “I received your concern and will follow up with you shortly”, can mean a lot to your renters.
Understand Your Tenants’ Wants and Needs
It can be helpful to understand what your tenants value most about their home and the property where they live. One way to do this is to directly ask tenants what they’d like to see in their unit or the building, such as a community garden or updated appliances. Another way is to have them take an anonymous survey.
Your residents are representative of the larger pool of renters out there. So even if your tenants won’t stay with you long term, making some of the changes they suggest and taking their wants and needs into account can make your unit more marketable for future tenants—and help you strengthen your relationship with your existing ones.
Prioritize Communication
Although everyone is connected on every device these days, proper communication often falls by the wayside. The fact is that your tenants appreciate communication and it serves as the basis for their relationship with you.
Some ways you can prioritize communication with your tenants for a healthy relationship include:
- Having approved methods for contact (email, text, phone call, mail)
- Asking tenants during which hours you can text or call them (excluding emergencies)
- Creating a communication protocol for building emergencies
- Following up after resolving maintenance requests and reported concerns
- Checking in with tenants periodically to see how things are going
Your tenants will appreciate having clear guidelines around communication, and when each party knows what to expect, the contact tends to go more smoothly and you can increase tenant satisfaction. Proper communication can also create a paper trail that benefits you as a landlord in the event of disputes.
Be Personable and Approachable
As a DC landlord, you want people to feel comfortable coming to you with concerns or even just talking to you about how things are going. Strong relationships give tenants the opportunity to report small things that may affect their decision to renew the lease or help them feel that you care about them and their wellbeing.
Being personable and approachable is a simple way to do this. You don’t need to be overly friendly or communicative, but simply asking about their family, work, or other known interests can help them feel that you value them and their presence in your life. Don’t wait for the lease renewal to let them know you appreciate them and want them to stick around!
Want to Build Better Tenant Relationships?
There’s no better way to build strong tenant relationships than hiring a professional property manager. A property manager can fill in gaps where you can’t be present for your tenants to create a better tenant experience and long-lasting relationships. Find out how a property manager can help you build tenant relationships by contacting FAS Management today at (202) 337-5080.
