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Tips for establishing a smooth relationship with your landlord |
Even if you’re on friendly terms, dealing with a landlord can be intimidating—after all, this is the person (or company) that owns your housing. Here are some tips for making this relationship as smooth as possible:
- Remain professional. Communicate calmly, even if you are frustrated or your landlord is behaving badly.
- Communicate in writing. Communicate with your landlord in writing in a way that allows you to keep copies of all messages. If you speak to your landlord in person or on the phone, follow up in writing. If you need help writing to your landlord, see this list of letter templates, or talk to a support worker or housing advocate.
- Have a written rental agreement. Your landlord should provide a written rental agreement for you to review. The agreement should include the names of the landlord and tenants, length of the rental period, the amount of the rent and required deposits, when rent must be paid, a list of what the rent includes, and information about whether pets are allowed. It may also contain other information that you need to know about your tenancy. Both you and the landlord should sign the agreement, and you should receive a paper copy within three weeks.
- Learn about your rights and responsibilities. Tenants have certain rights and responsibilities, and so do landlords. Knowing these can clarify confusion about who needs to do what. This module explains your basic rights and responsibilities.
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