Live in an Apartment? Six Tips on Talking to Your Landlord
If you are leasing a home or apartment, you will eventually need to speak to your landlord. While many find the process frightening, it is a normal part of being a tenant. If you want to make sure that it goes smoothly, try following the six tips below.
Avoid Accusation
Try to make sure that you do not start your conversations off on the wrong foot by accusing your landlord of wrongdoing. This is a great way to get your landlord on the defensive and to have him or her look for a way to avoid the repairs. Instead, bring the issue to your landlord neutrally and leave it at that.
Stick to the Issue at Hand
If you need something fixed, bring that up to your landlord. This is not, however, the appropriate time to bring up the fact that you do not like how the paint looks in the bedroom, that you need to pay the rent a bit late next month or that the neighbor’s dog has been annoying you. Your landlord can quickly become overwhelmed and shut down, so stick to what needs to be said.
Be Reasonable
Whether you are having an issue or you need something repaired, try to be reasonable. If there’s an infestation of bugs in your home, it is reasonable to ask about having Bed Bugs Tulsa sent out. If a light bulb goes out, though, it is not reasonable to ask your landlord to replace it. Only bring those issues to your landlord that are reasonable, and you will likely have a better relationship with him or her.
Always Be Polite
Politeness goes a long way in a business relationship. While you are absolutely within your rights to talk to your landlord about his or her duties, you do not need to be overly aggressive. Ask for things instead of demanding them, and you might be surprised by what you receive.
Be Firm
At the same time, you do need to be firm about what you need. If your landlord needs to take care of something, you need to make sure that he or she does so. Whether it is depositing your checks on time or dealing with a broken heating unit, you need to make sure that he or she knows that the issue is important to you.
Know Your Lease
Finally, know your lease. If your landlord has a responsibility, it will be in that document. Find out what expenses are yours and what expenses belong to your landlord. Never let your landlord act outside of that document – no matter what has to be done, it needs to follow that contract.
Talking with your landlord does not have to be hard, but it does need to follow the rules above. If you can be polite, reasonable and firm, the process should be easy. While not all landlords are reasonable, a reasonable tenant will almost always prevail.
Category: Apartment Rental
