Bad Renters In Your Philadelphia Home: Prevention and Solutions

Bad renters can be a nightmare for property owners. They may damage your property, not pay rent on time, or cause other problems that can make your life as a property owner much harder than it needs to be. There are a few specific ways to deal with bad renters that can help minimize the problems they cause.

Smart Tips for Property Owners in Philadelphia

With 46% of the total of occupied housing units being rented in Philadelphia, you can imagine there is no shortage of tenant problems to be dealt with by property owners. Here are some practical steps you can take when renting your home to avoid issues down the road. If issues do arise, we offer some additional advice.

Proactively Screening Renters

One way to reduce the risk of bad renters is to be proactive in screening tenants. This means doing things like running background checks and credit checks and asking for references. By taking these steps, you can weed out potential problem tenants before they move in.

Background checks will give you information on a renter’s criminal history, while a credit check will give you an idea of their financial responsibility. References can provide insight into a renter’s rental history and their overall character.

When screening tenants, it’s important to be consistent and fair. Be sure to run background checks and credit checks on all applicants, and don’t make any exceptions. This will help you avoid any accusations of discrimination.

Taking the time to screen tenants carefully can save you a lot of headaches down the road. By weeding out bad renters upfront, you can avoid problems later. Another way to screen out renters is to hold an open house and meet potential renters face to face. Often you can get a much better sense about what type of renter the person will be from interacting with them in person.

Make Sure Your Rental Agreement Is Clear And Concise

Another way to deal with bad renters is to have a clear and concise rental agreement. This document should spell out exactly what is expected of tenants in terms of rent payments, property damage, and other important issues. Having a clear rental agreement can help prevent misunderstandings that could lead to problems down the road. No matter what state your property is in, there are some core parts of a rental agreement that cannot be neglected without serious consequences. These include:

• -Rent amount and due date
• -Security deposit amount
• -Lease term
• – Description of property
• – Utilities included
• – Parking information
• – House rules
• -Pre Rental walk through with the renter to note preexisting damages. This can be used at the end of the lease to determine the extent of damage by the renter and what amount of their security deposit is kept for repairs or returned.
• – Signature lines for all parties involved

Be Responsive to Complaints And Concerns of Renters

Being responsive to complaints and concerns is also important in dealing with bad renters. If tenants feel like their concerns are being ignored, they may be more likely to act out in negative ways. But if you are responsive to complaints and work to resolve them quickly, you can head off potential problems. As a property owner, you will want to listen to your tenants and help deal with their reasonable requests and complaints. Here are some suggestions on how to deal with renter’s requests and complaints.

• – Renting from a professional property management company
• – Hiring a competent superintendent
• – Providing clear channels of communication between yourself and your tenants
• – Addressing tenant concerns in a timely and professional manner
• – Respecting your tenants’ privacy
• – Following up after you’ve addressed a complaint or request
• – Thanking your tenants for their feedback.

By following these steps, you can be sure that you are responsive to your tenants’ needs and that you are providing them with the best possible experience.

Keep Detailed Records

Keeping detailed records of a renter’s bad actions, missed payments, damage, etc. will help if you have to sue a renter or evict them. You should also keep records of your interactions with them, keeping track of date, time, method of communication, and their response or non-response.

Take Action If Needed

In some cases, it may be necessary to take action against bad renters. This could involve things like issuing warnings or even terminating the lease agreement. Taking action against bad renters can be difficult, but it may be necessary in order to protect your property and your interests.

Terminate The Lease Agreement And Sell The Property

If renters have clearly violated the lease and you have proof of the violation, you can break the lease. Under Pennsylvania law, a property owner in has the right to issue a tenant who hasn’t paid rent an unconditional quit notice, which allows them 10 days to leave before the landlord may start the eviction process.  You can read more about the Landlord-Tenant laws in Pennsylvania here.

If you have to evict the renter, you may want to consider selling the property for cash. Especially if the property has been damaged, has fallen into disrepair, or seems unreasonable to invest in any longer. 717 Home Buyers buys houses like this in Philadelphia as-is. We can make you a cash offer in as little as 24 hours and if you accept the offer, we can typically close the deal within about a week. There are no inspections, clean up, or repairs required. We truly buy as-is. In addition, there are no hidden costs or fees. You can read more about 717 Home Buyers on our website. We have a great reputation for helping in many situations when quick home sales for cash are needed. You really have nothing to lose by calling and asking for a no-pressure all cash offer. Call today at 717-639-2164.