Managing the Bond
Chelsea Carl • Oct 24, 2019
The Lease Is Critical
A lease is a contract between the tenant and the landlord. The terms and conditions of an occupied apartment or rental house can be found in the paragraphs and words used in this document. Deposits, rents, upkeep obligations, and consequences for noncompliance should be clear. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case.
Some leases are confusing; the language is vague. A few landlords in San Diego have property in other states. These property owners could be using an out of state lease that is not valid in California. The paperwork might ask a tenant to surrender tenant-landlord rights guaranteed by California law. Using that type of contract is an invitation for serious trouble.
Personal Relationships Matter
Apartments are not hotels. People will stay in an apartment for long periods, often years. A rapport with tenants is essential for maintaining property value and cash flow.
Tenants who are satisfied with both the services and the property management ordinarily pay rent on time. They will also maintain the property and report any accidents or damage. A relationship that is based on trust is the best.
Lack of Time Hurts Relationships
Landlords with extensive real estate portfolios are always pressed for time. They want to connect with tenants, but it isn’t always possible. Property management companies in San Diego can make things easier for a busy landlord. These real estate professionals will interact with tenants every day. Alta Vista Properties is a property management company in San Diego that concentrates on tenant relations.
Quick Service and Rapid Response
We know the value of our tenants. Alta Vista Properties tries to make the required tasks as convenient as possible.
- People can accidentally forget a payment. We set up electronic transfers and rent is automatically paid on a given day each month.
- Tenants don’t know how to report damages. We have an online portal for reporting damages and needed repairs. AltaVista Properties will respond immediately to any damage report.
- We are always available to discuss the lease with the tenant.
That last point is essential to good tenant relations. There can be problems with the lease and some confusion about what is asked of a tenant. Failure to address a tenant’s concern is going to result in bad relations. Things can spiral out of control as a tenant begins to assume that the landlord is unfair. It can happen that a tenant will claim discrimination or violation of the tenant-landlord laws. AltaVista Properties works with the tenant to resolve difficulties.
Of course, there are times when a tenant has become unruly, and eviction is the only alternative. Alta Vista Properties takes care to be sure that the rule of law is followed in any eviction process. We will give a tenant every opportunity to correct the mistakes that occurred. However, if we must go through the process, we will.
Fortunately, we do not have many instances of eviction. Our commitment to working with tenants and fostering a good
relationship
are the primary reasons why removal is not something we do on a routine basis. We are proud of the fact that many of our tenants renew their leases with us. Some of those who do not are more than willing to refer their friends and relatives to Alta Vista Properties. We have a reputation for being a responsive property manager.
