How To Effectively Communicate To Your Landlord

There’s a saying that goes, “communication is the glue that holds people together,” and nothing proves this more than a landlord-tenant relationship. A good landlord-tenant relationship starts with constantly striving to keep a professional and open communication with each other.

Most of the time, landlord-tenant relationships last a minimum of six months that can extend up to years, and to some, even decades. The relationship you have with your landlord can make or break your renting experience, so keeping it positive and healthy can go a long way in helping you live in the best conditions possible. 

So how can you effectively communicate to your landlord? Here are a few tips that, when followed, will surely save you from the headaches of acrimonious and complex disputes about lease policies, move-outs, security deposits, and dozens of other issues.

Provide accurate information and be honest.

The foundation of any lasting relationship is trust—and that goes with landlord-tenant ties, too. Lying is a ground for an application denial or a lease termination and, at the very least, starts your relationship off on the wrong foot. 

Do not lie and overstate your income and disclose any credit problems that may surface someday. Being honest about why your finances have suffered and expressing your desire to improve the situation will go a long way.

As much as we do not want to, financial struggles are an inevitable part of life. Chances are, in your tenancy, you will experience difficult situations which will cause you problems such as being late on your rent, and not informing your landlord as soon as possible is not the best solution. 

Very few landlords will want to evict a tenant who they believe wants to pay but has a short-term problem. Your best option is to contact your landlord and work out an agreement to get on track. If you are honest and upfront, they will most likely want to work with you to find a workable solution for everyone.

Be the bigger person.

Although, understandably, you would be upset if your water heater burst, plumbing issues, or have toxic molds that have been sitting in your apartment for a while—however, screaming at your landlord isn't going to get the issue addressed any quicker.

Keep in mind that your landlord is there to help you fix property complaints, and rudeness or blaming is not going to resolve anything. Being polite, staying calm, keeping the profanities in check, and being rational throughout any troublesome situations will help your landlord better understand what is going on, what needs to be done, and most likely keep your relationship harmonious.

Honor your contract.

Start by reading your lease thoroughly—understanding your lease contract is the first step to being a good renter; this is also the document to help you if there's any disagreement about the property or anything related to your tenancy. 

Besides the obvious, you need to realize that your lease is a binding, legal agreement between you and your landlord. Failing to understand your lease may cause you predicaments if you fail to abide by the terms—the very ones you agreed to when you signed on the dotted line. 

Your lease agreement can be both a weapon and a shield. It should show all the information and duties expected from both you and your landlord, which will, in return, protect you from any pitfalls that might come during your tenancy in your rented space. Be sure to keep a personal copy of the lease for future reference. 

Get it in writing.

Handshakes have been traditionally done to seal a deal, which works fine until they don't. Although oral agreements are enforceable, it is a matter of he-said-she-said that opens up the chances for miscommunication and leaves an even bigger opening for problems. 

Things go wrong, and conditions change, and when this happens, understand that tenants tend to be at a disadvantage when it's their word against the landlord. It's critical to keep a record of essential communications with your landlord; failing to do so could jeopardize your ability to assert your rights as a tenant if the need arises. 

Promises do not always get things done, but written agreements sure do. So, it is a good practice to put things in writing so that when a disagreement turns up, there will be a document that you can refer to to get the relationship back on track. 

The main takeaway here is remembering that your relationship with your landlord is heavily dependent on communication, just like any other relationship. Being a tenant has its challenges that even having excellent communication skills will not guarantee that everything will go smoothly. But if you do take the time to establish open, honest communication with your landlord, you will likely have a breeze and far fewer hiccups with your tenancy.

About The Author: Kat is a Molecular Biology Scientist turned Growth Marketing Scientist. During her free time, she loves to write articles that will bring delight, empower women, and spark the business mind. She loves to bake but unfortunately, baking doesn't love her back. She has many things in her arsenal and writing is one of her passion projects.