There is no such thing as a perfect tenant, the same way there is no perfect landlord. When managing a residential rental property, a landlord must expect that their tenants could do things that may not be acceptable. Landlords must set boundaries as to what tenants can never do to protect their investment from certain risks. Here are some of them:

Perform repairs on their own

When tenants cause damage to the rented property, they might tend to fix it themselves to hide the incident from their landlord or save money. There are also times when a tenant enjoys making repairs to appliances, furniture, or plumbing. That might sound like a good deal for a landlord because it frees them of their responsibility, but it’s merely a win on a surface level. Meaning, it has risks that are not obvious until it becomes a problem.

When tenants perform repairs themselves, the landlord will be in a precarious position for various reasons. First, it is against the law for landlords to make tenants conduct repairs. Repair and maintenance are a landlord’s responsibility. He does not have to perform it himself because he must hire professionals for most repairs. He also does not have to shoulder the expense, like for damages due to tenant negligence. The general responsibility of the landlord is to manage all repairs and maintenance.

Another risk is if the tenant’s attempt to repair is sub-standard, creates further damage, or leads to a new kind of damage. Repair skills are not innate. It takes education and practice.

If you reprimand a tenant for conducting a repair without your consent because it turned out badly, they might get back at you by claiming that you allowed them. If the conflict leads to a lawsuit, it is not easy to prove the absence of consent.

Landlords must clearly state on the lease agreement that tenants are not allowed to perform repairs without written consent from the landlord.

Sublet a room without the landlord’s permission

Some tenants sublet a bedroom space in their rented unit to a relative or friend. It is one way for them to share the financial obligation of paying the rent with someone. Not all landlords allow this because it does not work out well in some cases.

If a landlord does allow subletting, he must have safeguards and rules in place. For example, the additional tenant must undergo the same screening process that the direct tenant went through. The primary tenant must also agree that he will be 100% responsible for the subletting tenant, making sure the latter pays rent on time and would not cause damage to the property.

It must also be clear that non-bedroom spaces are not allowed to be sublet. These include garages, closets, etc.

Operate a business in the property

Residential rental homes are not commercial spaces. Many city ordinances and homeowner’s associations discourage it. A business that manufactures products from inside the home or where customers and clients come in and out of the house frequently can overwhelm parking spaces and cause other disturbances to neighbor homes.

Landlords can grant exemptions only if the small home-based business does not cause any disturbance to neighbors or does not require non-tenants to enter the property. There are many businesses these days that operate mostly online, in the comfort of one’s home.

Force you to waive late fees

No tenant likes paying late rent fees. That is a given. However, imposing late rent fees is necessary because it discourages delayed rent payments. Tenants are obliged to pay rent on time, as stated and agreed upon on the lease agreement. They need to hold responsibility for signing it.

Some tenants would resort to bullying or emotionally blackmailing the landlord to not charge them for late fees. Landlords must never give in because it would set a precedent. Tenants will keep repeating the offense if they have successfully manipulated you once. It is not about the money because late fees won’t make you rich. It is ensuring that the lease agreement is honored.

The landlord may give a little consideration by offering a tenant the option to pay the late rent fee in installments over a few months. It decreases the burden on them without dishonoring the late rent policy.

It is also important for rental agents to orient potential tenants about policies that will be strictly followed. After publishing a listing on Padleads and getting several applications, the agent must conduct a thorough screening process to weed out applicants who express disagreement with such policies.