People who rent out real estate can make a lot of money. In fact, data shows that landlords can earn around $15,000 and $50,000 per year for one single-family home. But just because it’s profitable doesn’t mean it’s an easy job – with rentals come tenants, and with tenants come complaints. Most common tenant complaints can be addressed properly by residential property management companies in Miami.
In this article, we take a look at some of the common complaints that Miami landlords receive from tenants, and share a few ways to resolve them.
#1 Lack of Maintenance
Landlords are supposed to take care of most of their property, so when they fail to do that, tenants are bound to be upset. Since tenants can’t always carry out repairs on their own, they will call you or your Miami property management company in case something is wrong.
When tenants inform you of the problem, it’s your job to deal with it promptly. You should also be able to provide them with a realistic timeframe as to when the issue will be resolved. Consider the use of certain software with which tenants can file a request for repairs, inspections, etc. Tools such as tenant portals also make it easier to track work orders, tickets, and more.
Pro Tip: Your tenants should be aware of their responsibilities, so start each tenancy with crystal-clear instructions. That way, they’ll know whether or not something warrants a complaint, or if they can fix it on their own. For example, big problems like leaks are the landlord’s responsibility, while minor inconveniences such as a broken lightbulb can be dealt with by the tenant. Be sure to partner with professional property management services in Miami to draft a foolproof contract that outlines each party’s obligations.
#2 Children
Another complaint that residential management companies in Miami get has something to do with children. This complaint is common in condominiums and multi-unit complexes, where children tend to run around, play too loudly, and knock on people’s doors for fun.
Chances are that your tenants will raise their complaints to the condominium owners’ association (COA) instead of your property management company. In that case, the COA will have to find a way to resolve the issue themselves. But if your property does not have a COA or any association, it will be up to your condominium manager to resolve the matter.
#3 Noisy Neighbors
Complaints about neighbors tend to be caused by noise. Whether it’s noise from a loud party that lasted ‘til midnight, or noise from a neighbor’s dog that won’t stop barking, dealing with noise complaints can be tricky. This is because you can’t control what your tenant’s neighbors do. You can only confront the noisy neighbor if they’re renting from you, too.
If the neighbor isn’t your tenant, you should start by asking your tenant to talk to the neighbor. If they don’t want to cooperate, consider contacting their landlord (if they’re renting as well) so they can deal with their noisy tenant. If that still doesn’t work, file a formal complaint with the homeowners’ association (HOA) as they will have to resolve matters.
#4 Pets
Most of the rental properties in Miami are condominiums, apartments, and other high-rise residences. That means that pet-owning tenants will likely walk their dogs around the common areas – after all, who’d want to keep their pets locked up indoors? However, if you allow this on your property, know that there’s a risk of pet owners not picking up after their pets. This can result in a slew of complaints from the whole community.
The solution isn’t to stop your tenants from walking their dogs or to keep tenants from owning pets. While Miami landlords can choose not to rent to pet-owning tenants, this can limit your prospects. Instead, you need to enforce penalties for owners who don’t clean up after their pets, or whose pets cause damage to other people’s property.
#5 Pests
When a tenant reports pests on the property, look into it ASAP as pests are a serious cause for concern. If you don’t deal with it soon, the infestation will worsen. Your tenants can stop paying rent until the issue is resolved, or even sue you for failing to get rid of the pests.
If you suspect that your tenant’s negligence caused the infestation (e.g. they don’t throw away their garbage properly), get rid of the pests firsts. You can then decide if you should evict the tenant, refuse to renew them, or fine them. If you can prove that your tenant’s actions were the cause of the infestation, you can ask them to cover the extermination costs.
#6 Poor Communication
Your tenants won’t like it when you don’t answer their call, rudely respond to them, or don’t update them. If you communicate poorly with your tenants or if you don’t communicate at all, your tenants will feel that they have no one to turn to in case they have concerns. Remember that tenants want to be kept up-to-date about their rules, responsibilities, and more – if you fail to do this, they’ll feel like you left them in the dark. Unfortunately, because of bad communication, your tenants will be less likely to renew, and more likely to rent elsewhere.
The solution is simple. All you have to do is respond and maintain an open line of communication. Use a system where tenants can contact you or your property managers at any time. Acknowledge all of the emails that you get – including the ones that you can’t provide an answer to right now. Even a simple “we’re looking into this” or “we’ll keep you updated” will do. Let your tenants know that their concerns aren’t falling on deaf ears.
#7 Smoking
Smoking is another common cause of tenant complaints in multi-family properties in Miami. Many neighbors are worried about secondhand smoke, so if you have even one tenant who smokes on their balconies, there’s a good chance you’ll get an angry call about it.
Laws vary by state, but in general, landlords can ban smoking in their rental units. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide if you want to ban it or not, but bear in mind that a no-smoking rule can be challenging to enforce. You’ll want to work closely with a Miami property management company and legal counsel to make sure your rules are respected.
Looking for Residential Management Companies in Miami?
There are only a handful of the common complaints that residential management companies in Miami face. As you run your Miami real estate investment, you will receive more complaints from tenants. The reality is that complaints are inevitable – even if you run your rental as efficiently as possible, you’ll still have a couple of hard-to-please tenants.
It can help to partner with a property management firm to deal with complaints. At Luxury Property Care, we’re experts at dealing with conflict. When you work with us, your tenants’ complaints will be resolved professionally and promptly by a team of property management pros. We’ll also work towards making sure your tenants are more than satisfied with their stay, whatever type of property you own.
For more information on our Miami property management, call (561) 944 – 2992 or fill out our contact form.
