Dealing with Difficult Tenants

Feb 20, 2019

Landlords in San Diego are fortunate to have many reliable tenants. These residents are the kind of people who respect the lease and the neighborhood. They are not loud and obnoxious and will not damage the property. Some people, however, are not good tenants at all. These can be a headache and create a lot of dissension. The first reaction would be to take extreme measures, but that is not a good idea. Bad tenants have the same rights under California law as anyone else and they will use the statutes. There are ways of dealing with difficult tenants which do not require taking extreme measures.

1. Uphold the Lease
It is the first line of defense in any tenant dispute and property management companies in San Diego know that. The lease sets the policies and procedures for inhabiting an apartment or rental house, and a tenant cannot arbitrarily break the lease. A landlord should be ready to explain the lease before formal signing and encourage the new tenants to read everything before they sign.

2. Understand the Law
California has specific rules for dealing with difficult tenants and these steps must be followed. The law does not mean that a bad tenant can never be evicted; they can be. It is important that a landlord follow proper procedure with all the necessary notifications and meetings.

3. Document Everything
It doesn’t matter if you own an apartment complex or just one rental. Every instance where there has been a problem with the tenant must be put down in writing. Trying to rely on memory is dangerous because what you recall may be entirely different from what the tenant remembers. Keeping a file on each tenant, noting when there are any problems, will help in dealing with issues which arise later.

4. Safety Is Important
Some tenants are involved in unlawful activity. There may be others who are violent and may be a threat to neighbors. Safety is critical in these situations. If you need to call the police, then do so. The well-being of your other tenants may require this action.

5. Always Act Professionally
A bad tenant is going to play rough. He or she may provoke you to get a response which they might be able to use later against you. It is important, therefore, to remain calm and behave professionally. Keep in mind that somebody who was insulting you is also testing you. Professional behavior is the best defense against somebody who is provoking you.

6. Make Use of a Property Management Company
Property is a good investment but does require time and effort. The demands on a landlord grow as the real estate portfolio expands. It is a smart idea to take advantage of the services a property management company in San Diego can offer. These professionals know how to deal with an unruly tenant while at the same time maintaining the value of the investment. Using a third-party frees up a landlord’s time to do other things. While there are many such establishments in the area, Alta Vista Properties is one of the best.

 

Alta Vista Properties
Alta Vista Properties has been in the industry for more than 30 years and we are very familiar with rental property in San Diego. We can take care of the day-to-day requirements of property management, while at the same time offering other services to a landlord. If we need to deal with an unruly tenant, we know how to do it professionally and legally.

We have other services we provide for clients. Everything we do is to maintain a good return on investment and protect the value of a client’s property. Please do inquire at any time about our property management services. We can be reached at 858-274-3600 or by email at info@altavistaProperties.net. We look forward to hearing from you and answering your questions.
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