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NEXUS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 101: Renter’s Top 10 Tips To Hassle Free Tenancy

10 RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP AVOID RISK AND BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AS A TENANT

As a property management company it is our responsibility to help maintain and add value to owners’ rental properties. The best way to do that is to empower tenants to view and treat the property as their own home. This means consistently treating them with respect. It also means making sure new tenants fully understand what is expected of them. We believe that happy tenants make happy owners and our primary goal is to provide hassle free tenancy. Our Nexus team is here for tenants 24/7 should any issues arise.

 

 

We also want to ensure that you are armed with the knowledge you need to limit the chances of any major issues arising. Here are some basic pointers that are essential to limiting your risk and making sure you meet the responsibilities that come with your tenancy:

 

1. UTILITIES: 

Transferring the property’s utilities is your first major responsibility. Today, you can do this easily online and can do it well before your move in date. Reach out if you don’t know who your local utility providers are.

 

UTILITY PROVIDERS BY MUNICIPALITY: MASSACHUSETTS

UTILITY PROVIDERS BY MUNICIPALITY: RHODE ISLAND

UTILITY PROVIDERS BY MUNICIPALITY: CONNECTICUT

UTILITY PROVIDERS BY MUNICIPALITY: NEW YORK

UTILITY PROVIDERS BY MUNICIPALITY: NEW JERSEY

UTILITY PROVIDERS BY MUNICIPALITY: ARIZONA

 

2. INSPECTING THE PROPERTY IN THE FIRST 48 HOURS: 

Per your lease, you should be getting a feel for your apartment in the first 2 days so you can let us know about any issues that you’ve inherited. For example, if you test all your windows to make sure they open properly and find an issue two days in, we’ll fix it at no expense. If you discover a window is broken the first time you use it but it’s after four months of tenancy, owners may think it is your financial responsibility.

 

LEARN MORE: SHOULD YOU GIVE TENANTS A DISCOUNT FOR HELPING OUT WITH MAINTENANCE

 

3. REPORTING MAINTENANCE ISSUES PROMPTLY: 

It is essential that you report any and all maintenance issues promptly via the tenant portal. If an issue does not need to be addressed with urgency, we can make that decision, but we don’t want you to wonder if something is worth reporting. When in doubt, submit a service request…especially if water is involved.

 

LEARN MORE: CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT MAINTENANCE AS A LANDLORD

 

4. PAYING RENT ON TIME: 

Rent is due on the first of the month. The state of Connecticut does provide tenants with a generous grace period, but it’s still in your best interest to pay by the first. Although you can’t be penalized with a late fee during that time, your rent is still late and it sets a tone for your tenancy in the owners’ eyes. When they have to wait to pay their bills because you waited to pay yours, it doesn’t go over well. We see this play out when tenants make non-essential service requests. If a ceiling fan isn’t working properly, landlords have no obligation to fix it…but they’re much more likely to do so for tenants who pay rent on time.

 

LEARN MORE: WHAT IS THE #1 GOAL OF EFFECTIVE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT?

 

5. TOILET PAPER ONLY!!! 

Nothing can derail an otherwise solid tenancy like a major plumbing issue. From time to time back ups happen, but all too often plumbers find sanitary wipes are the cause and it’s a very, very costly mistake. Nexus leases specify that nothing beyond toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet. We’ve had incidents where unclogging pipes with wipes in them has cost upwards of $3,000 and when plumbers find the fault to be with the tenants they’re financially responsible. As noted above, whenever there are issues with water (including plumbing), please contact us ASAP to limit your risk and protect the property.

 

LEARN MORE: MAINTENANCE CAN BE THE NUMBER ONE FRICTION POINT FOR LANDLORDS

 

6. FOLLOWING PARKING GUIDELINES: 

Getting along with your neighbors is another essential part of a successful tenancy…and there’s nothing that summons conflict faster than parking conflicts. Parking expectations should be clearly outlined in your lease and discussions with our Nexus team prior to your occupancy. If you have any questions you should ask immediately before problematic patterns begin.

 

LEARN MORE: HOW TO HANDLE PARKING DISPUTES AT YOUR RENTAL PROPERTY

 

7. TRASH/RECYCLING: 

Make sure you’re aware of when your trash day is and what the recycling schedule looks like. Some municipalities pick up trash weekly but recycling bi-weekly. You should be able to find that info online or reach out to us if need be. Overflowing trash becomes an eyesore and an invitation for pests. 

 

LEARN MORE: LET’S TALK TRASH…REMOVAL!

 

8. RE-READ THE LEASE ONCE YOU’VE MOVED IN: 

More often than not you read and sign a lease prior to occupancy and at that time the home is really more of an idea than a reality. Once you’ve moved your belongings in and have made it your home, re-read the lease to make sure you’re in full compliance and to ask any questions that might jump out now that you’re more familiar with the property. As we always say around the office, nobody likes surprises and sometimes something you read before you moved in doesn’t hit you the same way it does once you’re living in a property.

 

LEARN MORE: ARE YOU, AS A LANDLORD, RESPONSIBLE FOR TENANTS’ STOLEN POSSESSIONS?

 

9. YARD MAINTENANCE AND SNOW REMOVAL: 

If these items are your responsibility, you want to have a plan. If you need help coming up with a plan, reach out to us. Unkempt lawns, weeds outgrowing bushes, and inadequate safety when it comes to snow and ice are telltale signs of a tenant who doesn’t fully value the property. It is not common for owners to say the following, “Even though the yard was a mess, let’s go ahead and renew the lease.”

 

LEARN MORE: WHY IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO PROVIDE LANDSCAPING

 

10. BE PROACTIVE: 

We are here to serve you and the property. We are a resource and a tool to improve the quality of your tenancy. Reciprocally, we count on you to help us keep track of the state of the property and let us know when things need to be improved. Together, we’re teaming up to create a win-win-win situation for you, the property owners, and our Nexus team. 

 

LEARN MORE: TENANTS ARE THE CUSTOMER…AND THE BOSS

 

 

 

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Mick Lefort is the General Manager of Nexus' New Haven County Franchise Office and the Vice President of Operations for Nexus Property Management®, a National Property Management Franchise that manages all types of rental property from single family homes or condos to large apartment buildings and complexes.

 

 

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