As of this writing, Community Homes is responsible for about 300 occupied apartments and condos in Lebanon County.

In other words, we manage about 300 landlord/tenant relationships on an ongoing basis. Staying on top of advice and doing our best with this responsibility is also challenging. This month, we shared ten tips we found on a website called rentpost.com (with some thoughts of our own).

Choose tenants wisely – An ideal tenant is a responsible, trustworthy person who fits in with the tenant community at large. We do our best to vet potential tenants. The right tenant mix heads off problems and conflicts.
Put everything in writing – Our experience has taught us that a detailed written lease safeguards both tenant and landlord. It clearly explains what we expect from each other.
Set clear expectations – Make it part of the pre-lease-signing process to discuss important topics like rent payments, maintenance requests, noise levels, pets, etc. Both parties should have a sense of value and respect up front.
Pay rent on time – A deal is a deal. Both parties’ commitments must be honored.
Keep the relationship on a professional level – If the parties become too close, problems can arise, such as the possibility of eviction (a rarity). The relationship is established at the beginning with professional boundaries. It should be kept that way.
Respect tenant privacy – Tenants are part of a community, but have their own space, with a right to privacy. This is respected.
Address maintenance issues promptly – A system is in place that assures prompt attention to maintenance issues. This also shows that both landlord and tenant agree on keeping up a quality environment.
Be a good neighbor – This speaks for itself. Being sensitive to your neighbor makes you less likely to be noisy. Control your pet and your waste and treat others with courtesy and respect.
Include the 5 “C’s” in the relationship – They are Commitment, Communication, Consistency, Compassion, and Care. An ideal landlord/tenant relationship spans a good length of time.
Send out newsletters and tenant manuals – Written resources for education and reference are always a good thing.