7 Things Your Landlord Won’t Tell You: Shocking Secrets Every Resident Should Know

Take a group of seasoned landlords out for drinks outside the office and soon you’ll be hearing stories that will curl (or straighten) your hair. From crazy tenants to total repair disasters, we’ve seen just about everything. Listen as we share some of our internal complaints and observations. You may not personally agree with all of them, but most homeowners (yours included) have had many of these thoughts more often than they will admit in public.

1. I’ve come to hate your pets. – Yes, we know how crazy you are about little Fluffy or Fifi. And we’ve heard you tell us how well mannered and sweet they are. But we have also seen horror shows. We have had walls and doors scratched to pieces by bored or lonely pets. We have received our share of angry calls from neighbors complaining of barking at all hours or aggressive behavior. Perhaps worst of all, we’ve personally witnessed carpets so soaked in pet urine that the smell almost knocks you sideways. Not sweet at all! The solution is simple: show your landlord that you will take full responsibility for their pets from day one. Provide names, weights, and breed types to owner prior to move-in, preferably with proof of spaying or neutering. Protect yourself (and your landlord) from lawsuits by getting a pet liability rider on your renters insurance policy. And NEVER try to sneak in undisclosed pets – most leases consider that grounds for immediate eviction.

two. “As soon as the market allows it, I’m going to raise your rent.” – Every day we read about how much cheaper it is to rent than to buy. Some go so far as to suggest that home ownership is for suckers. Do not be fooled. All of the recent foreclosure activity has created a huge increase in the number of renters. Simple supply and demand suggests that rents will eventually begin to rise. For us owners, that day cannot come soon enough.

3. “I have favourites.” – As in all other aspects of life, reasonable and good-natured people are usually treated better than idiots. By all means, be a “squeaker wheel” when necessary, but there’s rarely a need to get nasty. We try not to be brash about it, but when repairs are needed (or benefits are available) we will go the extra mile for our best residents.

Four. “If your car is nicer than mine, you’d better pay your rent on time.” – These are tough financial times for all of us. We get that. Still, if you don’t pay your rent, we’ll be a lot more sympathetic to your story of grief if you don’t have the latest Lexus or Benz in your driveway. The same goes for the gigantic flat screen television. We want to be compassionate, but nobody likes to be taken for a fool.

5. “I’m not really in charge here.” – You have a boss at work: So do we. Understand that every decision, every expense, every repair has to be approved by someone. So if we “cut a break” on your rent this month, next month we’ll be out of a job and someone much meaner will be your new landlord.

6. “If you make me afraid to deal with you, I will find ways to make you suffer.” – We prefer nice and quiet things. But, when a resident calls screaming and yelling, he disrupts our entire office and makes everyone nervous. We run a pretty tight ship, so if we missed something, you can bet we’ll make it right. But if you become habitually abusive, you will find that all you need will start to take just one a little longer than normal.

7. “I might as well learn to hate your children.” – Perhaps pets can be forgiven for the damage they do. However, we see no excuse for rebellious children to let themselves run free at home. Sure, well-behaved children are a joy. But we’ve seen too many holes in doors, pencil marks on walls, and destroyed fences to doubt the destructive power of unsupervised children. If you are not prepared to keep your offspring in check, you will face serious consequences.