How to Deal With Bad Tenants?

Bad tenants are always a problem for landlords, have you ever met bad tenants?

Some bad tenants will fall behind with the rent, some bad tenants will leave you a dirty, vandalized room, and some bad tenants will even do something illegal.

It’s important to have some necessary measures, and how to identify bad tenants:

• How to Deal with Bad Tenants Who Don’t Pay Rents on Time
• Dealing with Tenants Who Damage Your Properties
• How to Prevent Bad Tenant from Carrying Out Illegal Activities
• Practical Tips on How to Identify Potential Bad Tenants

How to deal with bad tenants who don’t pay rent on time?

The global economy has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some tenants fail to pay their rent on time, while others are deliberately behind in paying their rent. For such tenants, landlords should take the following advice.

Solution 1. Set the rules in the contract

For tenants and landlords, the contract is the most basic guarantee of renting, but the contract is very tricky, which involves a lot of aspects, it is very easy to allow bad tenants to take advantage of landlords if the contract is not serious and completed. The first point determining the date of rent payment, the second point is the setting of late fees. Before these points, the deposit was the most important, protecting the landlord from losses if bad tenants failed to pay rent and late fees.

Solution 2. Evict bad tenants legally

Really tired of bad tenants’ negative behavior? It is legal for landlords to ask bad tenants to leave. You can give them an eviction notice and ask them to leave voluntarily because their negative behavior has affected you or other tenants! If they refuse, you can clearly inform them of the negative consequences of refusing to evict, such as the negative credit impact on future rentals, employment opportunities, etc. However, this is a final stage for bad tenants, before this, the landlord should have enough communication with them.

Dealing with Tenants Who Damage Your Properties

Wittingly/unwittingly damaging the house by tenants is actually a common problem because the property doesn’t belong to them, so they don’t care. Landlords should build protection into their contracts, once security is linked to the interests of bad tenants, they will improve their behavior.

Solution 1. The terms of the contract

As mentioned above, the landlord and the tenant should agree on the following points in the lease contract. A certain amount of deposit to pay, because the deposit to avoid bad tenants not to pay compensation. Also, a clear housing and electrical cost table, an open and transparent asset cost table, can let tenants understand how much they should pay if they have caused damage, and a fair handling method can avoid legal disputes. As long as the above suggestions are properly adopted, landlords need not worry about their potential losses.

Solution 2. Set up security cameras to prove or warn

For society, a security camera is the best tool to ensure the safety of people during the day and night. Similarly, for landlords, cameras can not only record any destructive behavior but also deter potential threats from bad tenants. Also, the security cameras are very flexible, and many associated products are economically friendly and high quality, which is a good choice for landlords.

Solution 3. Solve the problem by legal process

In some extreme cases, such as arson, vandalism, or vengeful retaliation, landlords can deal with it by the legal process to protect their assets under a contract. But the solution needs a contract that is fair to landlords. Landlords should know their legal rights and interests well to protect their property. See the next section for more details on extreme and illegal activities.

Solution 4. Hire a Property Manager/Security If Necessary

For landlords with medium to large properties, the increase in tenants has undoubtedly increased the difficulty of management. Most apartments hire superintendents or security guards, which is a smart idea.

How to Prevent Bad Tenant from Carrying Out Illegal Activities?

You never know who your tenants really are, and sometimes your trust is rewarded with illegal behavior! Illegal behavior of bad tenants will not only lower your rent, but it can also drag you into the abyss, such as murder, drug dealing, prostitution, money laundering, etc. Landlords must make sure they don’t happen!

Solution 1. Periodic inspection of the tenant’s room

Yes, as the legal owner of the assets, you have the right to have your assets inspected regularly to avoid potential illegal activities! Many reasons can be used, such as electrical repair, gas repair, cleaning, etc. However, this inspection must be based on respect for the tenant’s privacy! The landlord can give the tenant at least one day’s notice in advance so that the tenant can take appropriate actions to cooperate and not leave time for illegal acts.

Solution 2. Use technology to limit illegal activities

As mentioned before, a security camera is an economically friendly and smart choice for landlords to protect their properties, it also works for the limitation of bad tenants! Many of the security cameras available on the market are fully functional, such as Netvue’s security cameras equips with highly accurate motion detection, it allows landlords to detect irregular personnel or burglars in time, and security cameras will save useful evidence for you!

How to Identify Potential Bad Tenants: 4 effective tips

The following tips will help you learn how to spot potential bad tenants who may disturb other tenants, engage in illegal businesses, or put your properties at risk!

Tip 1. Work Background

Many different occupations have different work requirements, and landlords should pay attention to their work types. Such as musicians, sometimes practice at home, which will definitely interrupt other tenants comparing to employees in enterprises.

Tip 2. Criminal records

A criminal record is very important for landlords to check, just like other institutions will do! Presumably, no one wants to take in a fugitive, which would probably result in assets being locked up. This is an important step in identifying bad tenants, but it does not represent discrimination and landlords should make judgments based on the type of crime committed.

Tip 3. History of mental illness

People with a history of mental illness are often more likely to engage in risky behavior than others! Landlords should record tenant’s mental illness history when they become tenants, Having a history of mental illness doesn’t mean a bad tenant, but for the safety of your properties and other tenants, landlords should keep a close eye on such tenants and eliminate any potential threats!

Tip 4. Economic sources

The landlord should learn about the financial resources of the tenants, not only to check whether it is legal but also to ensure that future rent won’t be delayed! Usually, only the tenants with stable financial resources can pay the rent every month, while the tenants with low or unstable financial resources tend to delay your rent!