How To Avoid Bad Tenants

Bad tenants are a major source of worry to a typical Nigerian landlord because they can ruin in few minutes a property investment that took several years to build. This article discloses possible ways of avoiding bad tenants and making them stay clear off your property.

Bad tenants are everywhere, but how does a landlord really differentiate who has the tendency of being a bad tenant from who doesn’t before admittance into his residential rental property? Let’s explore the possible ways;

Investing in residential rental properties is quite a profitable venture if well managed. Owning a property that enables you have tenants who pay annually to stay in your property is a wise investment, however what is more crucial and dicey is finding the right kind of tenants for your property. Not just anyone that can afford your rent should be allowed to stay in your property because having the wrong kind of tenants could possibly cost you a fortune in the form of property damage and lost rent. Bad tenants are a major headache for many landlords and the intriguing part is that there are as many bad tenants as there are good ones. Bad tenants are so bad that they can make you lose your status as a landlord in the shortest possible time. A bad tenant would most likely leave your property in a deplorable state and still avoid paying rent. Just as tenants have their rights so do landlords.  It is necessary that landlords take certain precaution and tread softly when admitting tenants in their property because gone are the days when a landlord would suddenly wake up one morning and decide that he wants to evict a tenant from his property probably due to spite, ill-feelings or the occupant is simply a terrible tenant. The following are a few aspects of the screening process that will help weed out troublemakers.

Employment Verification

A tenant’s work history is sometimes key to not letting out your property to just anyone. A person’s place of work and job designation coupled with his position at work goes a long way in proving his sense of responsibility. However, a tenant’s employment history does not necessarily make him credible; it’s only a possibility of what can be. What is more important is the current employment status which should include a steady source of income. Admitting an unemployed person as a tenant is usually not a wise move and may spell doom for the landlord sooner than later. Even a business owner or self-employed person as a tenant can equally be a headache for a tenant when his/her business experiences a downturn or worse still collapses entirely. The best shot is to get a tenant that is currently working and has a level of job security.

In some situations, some tenants falsify the records they give the landlords just to be admitted into the property. Due to this fact, it is essential that the tenant states references in his record of employment especially in his current work place. When verifying this reference, it may be better to look up the company’s number on their website rather than relying on the number provided by the applicant.  This helps allay the fears of the landlord that the phone number provided is not for a friend.

Getting a good agent

A good professional real estate agent may just be your tonic to dissuading bad tenants from your property. Renting your property without a professional real estate agent is giving room to every Tom, Dick and Harry. They use their wealth of experience and expertise to determine who best suits your property. However, this doesn’t come with an 100% guarantee but it sure saves you all the drama that would arise from having too many bad tenants in your property.

Documenting Property Condition

In addition to using a qualified agent to screen your would-be tenants, it is also essential you take photographs of the existing state of the property before the tenant moves in then he/she signs a legal agreement in the event of any damage that may arise in the course of staying in the property. Another way to protect your property is by taking detailed photographs of your property before anyone moves in. A copy should be provided for the tenant, as well as yourself. If you are using a property management company, they will also need to retain a copy of these photos and may even take them for you. These photos (preferably taken with a high quality camera) can be used as a deterrent from making any false claims regarding damage later on. They can be used as evidence should your property show signs of damage after a tenant moves in.

Having given some useful tips on how a landlord can avoid a bad tenant; can the aforementioned guide really stop the craftiness of some tenants?

Do you think a lot of tenants would still have their way around it?

Have your say…