Q: We found our first rental and love the neighborhood. It wasn’t easy to find an appropriate home, and moving was not fun. The landlord seems excellent so far, and we want to stay here long-term to avoid the hassle of doing it all again in a year or two. You recently wrote an article about how to be a great landlord. Can you give us some tips on being a great tenant? — Sara
A: Besides being a practicing real estate attorney, I have been, at various times, both a landlord and a tenant. Each role has its unique perspective, and it can be easy to see the relationship only from yours.
To be a good tenant, you want to think about what a good landlord wants and try to do that. Landlords want a tenant who pays on time, takes care of the property, and is not a hassle. Finding a new tenant takes work, and no rent is paid on an empty unit, so landlords want happy tenants and will work to keep a good tenant happy.
The first rule of being a good tenant is to pay your rent on time. Many landlords will put up with a lot as long as the rent comes in but will evict an otherwise good tenant who stops paying.
You should take care of your rental home as if you owned it. Treat it nicely, especially if you plan to live there for several years.
Be a good neighbor. Nothing will get a landlord’s blood boiling as dealing with a neighbor complaining about the loud music.
Follow the rules if the home is in a condo or community association. If the landlord is fined for your infractions, you will most likely end up paying the fines per the terms of your lease. If it is bad enough, you can get evicted.
Follow the rules you agreed to in the lease. “No pets” in the lease is more than a suggestion; it is something you promised in the rental contract. It even applies if you are watching your friend’s dog for a week while they are on vacation.
Finally, tell your landlord about issues with the property, such as a leaky pipe, before they become big problems, like a flood coming from under the sink.
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