Tips for Landlords
- While not all tenants are the same, students present a unique and different type of challenge for landlords. For many students, this is their first experience living on their own and they are still learning how to budget, organize housekeeping and cooking, studying, university sports, school service activities, working and a social life. Students are often on the go all the time and lead very hectic lives especially at the end of term and during exam times.
- Students tend to occupy a dwelling for a short period of time - only a year or two in most cases.
- Their lifestyles and time schedules make it difficult to get to know other people in their houses or apartment buildings, much less getting to know their neighbours. They are also not as likely to know you as a landlord except in times of difficulty.
- Try to get to know the students right from the beginning. Make sure they know how to reach you (or the property manager) and how to obtain emergency services if needed.
- Make it clear to the students in your lease that you expect the dwelling and yard to be kept up to the standards in the neighbourhood and that you hope they will set an example for other students by taking pride in their place of residence.
- Visit your rental property regularly.
- Encourage your student tenants to appoint a contact person for you and for the neighbours. Tell them that it is a good idea to give neighbours their telephone number and to have the neighbours call them first when noise or other problems occur.
- As a landlord, you should also get to know the neighbours and give them your telephone number. Landlords have a responsibility not only to tenants, but to their neighbours. Even if you are a non-resident, rental property owner, the neighbours should know how to reach you or your agent in the community.
- Assure the neighbours that your rental property is in good condition both internally and externally and that you set standards for students in terms of occupancy and maintenance. This means you care about the neighbourhood as much as your property.
- Assure the neighbours as well that you have discussed the issues of noise, disturbances and parties with your student tenants. As a landlord, you have asked for reasonable behaviour from your tenants at all times. Make it clear that large lawn, porch and street parties are not accepted in your properties. Put a statement in your lease.
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Community Living