When you learned how to invest in mobile homes, you became a landlord. And with that responsibility came the tenant. Tenants are often unspoken about when it comes to the housing market. They have many wishes and concerns that landlords need to be aware of to maintain a healthy relationship with their tenants, which is critical for both parties. To ensure you are providing the best living experience possible, there are some things you should know about your tenant’s wishes before they’re even voiced.
1) Tenants want you to be reliable, professional, and available
Be upfront about your availability if they have an emergency after hours or on the weekend. When tenants feel unheard by their landlords, it will lead to more significant issues harder for both parties to resolve. If there is a problem, communicate with them as soon as possible so that you can figure out the best solution.
2) Tenants want you to be respectful of their privacy and property
Tenants need a safe place to go home with peace of mind at the end of the day, so try not to disturb them unless there is an emergency or they have contacted you first. They will appreciate it if you only visit when necessary and knock before entering. This shows respect for their space. Ensure that your maintenance team does the same by having everyone sign in and out each time they enter the building or unit. This also helps track who has entered during the tenant’s absence (if anything were ever stolen).
3) Tenants want you to be proactive about repairs and maintenance
This includes having a clear process for reporting issues, such as when they should report them (immediately or during the next business day), where to direct tenants after hours, how long it usually takes for an issue to get resolved, and who will repair or maintain it. If there is something that needs immediate attention, let your tenant know so that their life isn’t disrupted too much in the meantime. Be sure to update any problems so tenants always feel informed of their issue status.
4) Tenants want you to be accessible and easy to get in touch with
Your tenants have many questions, so make sure your contact information is readily available (i.e., website or office) if they need anything during the day (or night). If there’s an emergency after hours, ensure that your tenant knows how they can reach you if needed; otherwise, give them the phone number for building staff who will help out in such cases instead. Be friendly when speaking on the phone, even if it has been a while since their last maintenance request. This shows respect and appreciation for solving problems promptly.
5) Tenants want you to be flexible
Tenants are just like everyone else; they have things come up that cause them to change their plans, so work with them when possible and try not to leave multiple messages in a row if it seems like your tenant is trying to avoid speaking with you. If there’s something serious going on, don’t hesitate to call several times until you get hold of the right person. Otherwise, allow for some leeway between calls so tenants know that what is important enough for follow-up doesn’t require immediate response attention.
There may also be instances where tenants will contact someone other than their landlord (i.e., building manager) about problems because they trust this individual more or feel more comfortable confiding in them, so try to figure out who tenants feel this way about and get in touch with them instead.
6) Tenants want you to be a good communicator
You need to communicate with your tenants in a way that they will understand, so if something is going on, then take the time and explain everything clearly before moving forward. Ensure that your tenants have also been clear about what has been happening or needs fixing. This saves everyone from having to repeat themselves later when trying to solve problems together. Use simple language whenever possible, but remember what they say. While some people may choose not to ask questions due to shyness or pride, others do appreciate getting all of their concerns addressed right away. This includes making sure any information shared between both parties (i.e., left behind by another person such as a maintenance worker) is clear and not open to interpretation.
These are just some things landlords ought to know about their tenant’s wishes before they’re voiced. Tenant relations require open communication, trust, and respect to have a positive living experience for all parties involved.
