Dealing with difficult tenants can be a tough aspect of being a landlord. Still, it’s essential to maintain a positive landlord-tenant relationship to ensure the smooth operation of your rental property. If you’re having problems with your tenants, here are some strategies that will help you handle and ease conflict:
9 Strategies to Deal With Difficult Tenants
1 – Understand the Lease Agreement
Review the lease agreement to make sure you know the terms and obligations of both parties. This document will guide your actions, protect your interests, and provide a legal framework for addressing issues.
2 – Know the Laws and Regulations
Familiarize yourself with Alberta’s Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), as it governs landlord-tenant relations and will serve as a guide for conflict management.
3 – Address Issues Promptly
When issues or complaints arise, address them promptly. Delaying resolution can lead to more significant problems and damage the tenant-landlord relationship.
4 – Open Communication
Maintain open and respectful communication with your tenants. Try to understand their concerns and be receptive to their feedback. Regular communication can help prevent misunderstandings and ease conflicts.
5 – Offer Solutions
When discussing problems with difficult tenants, focus on finding solutions rather than placing blame. Be willing to negotiate and be flexible to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution.
6 – Document Everything
Keep detailed records of all interactions, including emails, letters, phone calls, and in-person conversations. Document any lease violations, complaints, or issues as they occur. This documentation will be valuable if you have to take legal action.
7 – File a Consumer Complaint
If the tenant is breaching the lease agreement or the regulations outlined in the RTA and you can’t resolve the issue by talking to your tenant, you can contact the Service Alberta Contact Centre to discuss your situation and to know how to proceed.
8 – Apply for Dispute Resolution
If the issue isn’t resolved, you can resort to the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution (RTDRS.) This is a quasi-judicial mediation service that can help you solve the dispute with your tenant without going to court. Landlords are eligible to apply for:
- Unpaid rent;
- Ending the tenancy and possession of the property;
- Compensation for losses for a tenant that remained at the property after the end of the tenancy;
- Financial losses due to property damage;
- Unauthorized tenants living in the property.
Dispute resolution is a great resource to solve conflict, as a neutral third party can help facilitate communication and negotiation between you and the tenant.
9 – Eviction as a Last Resort
Eviction should be the last resort when all other attempts to resolve the issue amicably have failed. We have an article covering how to start and navigate an eviction process in Alberta here.
Dealing With Difficult Tenants May Be Tricky, But It’s Possible
Dealing with difficult tenants is something that every landlord could face, but taking a proactive and systematic approach to solving conflicts while protecting your rights as a landlord and respecting the rights of your tenants is crucial.
Having a property manager’s assistance when tenant conflict arises will save you from most of the stress difficult tenants may cause. Property managers have deep knowledge of the laws and regulations, as well as the proper procedures to solve conflicts on your behalf, protecting your investment and your rights.
If you own a rental property in Calgary and want to have support for dealing with difficult tenants and more, reach out to get a free quote.
