We have received Xmas cards, invitations to tenant's baby christening and later have these same tenants stop paying rent, and somehow it is our fault they can't manage their paycheques, or keep their jobs because of their explosive behavior.
Other tenants upon their leaving have given us thank you cards for making their first time away from home a memorable one.These are ones I prefer to remember.Unfortunately it is the former tenants who making the lasting memory.
We always try to give our tenants respect along with a clean and maintained place to live at a reasonable rent.
We do not force anyone to rent from us.They see how the place looks when they apply.All we ask is that they honor their lease.
When they have a maintenance problem, we address it as soon as possible. What I do not like is when they accuse us of not providing an improvement which we never said we were going to do. This last one was a tenant who wanted new windows, and has even bent the window frame with her a/c in the hopes we will. Nope, but if it can't be fixed, she will be paying for it.
The mobile she is in, can be rented again at a moments notice.
We have offered free month's rent if you pay on time for 12 months consecutively.Out of 12 tenants at that time, we had one actually receive the free month. We had thought about giving a token Xmas gift such as coffee mugs and hot chocolate, but knew it wouldn't really make a bit of difference. Instead we gave it to our tradies, laywer etc.
Treat it like a business, and maybe they won't take advantage of you.Don't count on it.
We charge 1 % of the rent even if they are a day late. We charge $50 for a NSF cheque.We start eviction when they are overdue.
These people generally rent for a reason...they can't afford a house.(not counting the investors here who rent along with owning an IP..that is a stategy.)
Some, like us next year, will rent until we decide where we want to live.