How to Keep Tenants Happy for Eviction Prevention in Edmonds

Updated May 09, 2022.

Property owners in Edmonds, Wa experience better returns when keeping tenants happy and avoiding eviction proceedings. Dealing with bad renters and going through the eviction process is time-consuming, frustrating, and expensive. 

While there are no guarantees, following these tips from the best property management Edmonds offers may help you maintain a good relationship with your tenants and head off any potential problems.

Eviction Prevention is Best for Long-Term Success

Finding and keeping quality tenants is one of the best ways to experience long-term success as a real estate investor. However, if you find yourself often dealing with bad residents or you've been through more than one experience evicting a tenant, you're losing valuable income!

In addition to finding and placing quality residents, property owners can do a few things to keep tenants happy and avoid problems that could lead to the removal of a renter. 

Be Communicative

A property owner must be available to tenants and answer any questions or concerns they may have. If there is a problem, address it as soon as possible. Ignoring small problems can often lead to bigger ones down the road.

Being communicative also requires a proactive communication strategy. Keeping renters informed about their rental property, potential lease violations, and upcoming renewal can help build good relationships and avoid the eviction process. 

Be Responsive

If your tenants contact you with a repair request, act on it as soon as possible. Failing to do so can breed resentment and frustration on the part of your tenants. It also sends the message that you don't care about their welfare or property.

By contrast, prompt responses to maintenance requests will give you positive points with your tenants and make them more likely to renew the lease when it comes time for renewal. 

Maintain Units Well

If a property owner constantly raises the rent or does not spend enough time or money on property upkeep, your tenants may grow unhappy with you as a landlord. Minimize these issues by being proactive in delivering preventive maintenance and repairs. 

Property owners must also maintain their property to avoid lawsuits and keep renters safe. If there's damage due to neglect, such as mold infestations or water damage from faulty plumbing, renters can sue property owners for damages. In addition, real estate investors must ensure the investment property units comply with local and state laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Avoid Significant Rental Rate Increases

While you can't avoid occasional increases to cover rising costs, property owners should raise the rent only when necessary and avoid large increases that will stress renters' budgets. For example, a $20 monthly increase may be justifiable and easier for renters to absorb during their next lease agreement. However, a $100 or more hike per month may result in a negative response from your residents and push away quality renters looking for affordable housing options.

Make It Easy to Pay Rent

Many property management companies collect rent by setting up an online portal for automatic payments through tenants' bank accounts or credit cards. This helps property owners avoid late rental payments and reduces their risk of income loss due to non-payment. When renters know they don't have to try to mail in a rent check on time or deliver it to a dropbox, they have one more way to pay the rent on time and reduce the potential for late or unpaid rent problems that can lead to eviction. 

If you're not sure how to set up an easier, online rental payment method, a property manager can help!

Listen to Complaints and Respond Professionally

A property owner must be prepared to listen carefully and respond professionally when tenants voice concerns or problems with the property. Using a secure online portal to create digital entries related to tenant issues allows you to keep track of a complaint history for future reference. You'll also have a "paper" trail if any legal actions arise from a complaint. 

Avoiding evictions requires rental property owners to be good landlords! By following these tips from the best property management company Edmonds offers, you can avoid eviction proceedings and maintain happy renters that are less likely to break the lease early. 

Keeping good renters longer helps maximize returns for investors! If these tips add too much work to your plate or you prefer to be a hands-off investor, the right property management company can handle every aspect of renter management and rental agreement enforcement for you!

Manage Renters Well With an Edmonds Property Management Company

If you want to avoid the worst of tenant issues, work with an Edmonds property manager to ensure that your renters are happy. A good property management company will help with eviction prevention by managing all aspects of tenant relationships and lease enforcement. However, if you're currently dealing with a bad resident situation, consult an eviction attorney and work with a property manager to deliver a 30-day eviction notice and handle the process for you. 

The Joseph Group helps investors manage tenants to prevent unwanted evictions at their properties. Contact us to learn more about our professional property management services!