The landlord-tenant relationship should be one that’s taken care of well. Your tenants are legally contracted to follow the terms of the lease; but as a landlord and property owner, you have obligations to your tenant, as well. As you probably know, these obligations are detailed in the state, local, and federal landlord-tenant laws. Keeping your tenant satisfied, however, has a lot to do with how you follow the laws that govern landlords, especially in owning Leander rental property.
Not only will satisfied tenants stay in your rental property longer, thus reducing turnover costs, but they will also help you protect your investment as well. There is a direct correlation between landlord-tenant laws and tenant satisfaction. Understand this relationship and you will be able to mitigate your annual expenses.
Habitability Laws
As a landlord, you have both rights and legal obligations toward your tenant. Many different laws govern rental properties at all levels of government. Tenant longevity is mostly impacted by habitability laws. These laws are responsible for making sure that the rental property is a good enough place to live in. For example, in most states, landlords are required to keep their rental homes habitable and safe. This means that the property must not have serious deficiencies like broken plumbing and heating, fixtures, and appliances. Pests and insects must also not be present on the property. Depending on your location, even when the tenant has already moved in, this could very well still be the case.
As a rule, repairs must be done promptly, and in some places, you must also provide standard safety equipment such as carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. If your rental home is not fully compliant with any of these requirements, it may be considered uninhabitable under certain laws of your state or local municipality.
Tenant Satisfaction and the Law
Tenants will expect you to help keep the property in good condition while they are living there. If they can’t expect you to keep your end of the deal, then you can expect a high tenant turnover — new tenants monthly will mean more expenses to find them. It may also result in expensive lawsuits or other legal problems, especially if your rental home is not compliant with landlord-tenant law.
Hence successful property owners know that high tenant satisfaction is just good business. Keeping a tenant in a rental long-term helps in keeping the monthly costs low, as well as makes monthly rental income. Also, a satisfied tenant is more likely to bring up concerns regarding maintenance and repair, allowing you to stay on top of maintenance. Maintaining a property becomes easier when both landlord and tenant are on the same page of keeping the property in good condition.
Finding Peace of Mind
Truly so, understanding landlord-tenant laws can be very challenging, especially when you’re trying to comply with each one. Peace of mind can only be attained when you have a team of experts working on these details for you. Professional Leander property management companies like Real Property Management Longhorn offer industry experts with in-depth knowledge of landlord-tenant laws. Not only can they assess your rental business, but they can also offer assistance with maintenance, repairs, and even tenant relations. In the end, the peace of mind that a professional property management company can give you is worth any cost.
Would you like to learn more about our Leander property management services? Contact us online or call at 512-580-3099 today!
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