Most landlords and property management companies are professional people and businesses who only have their renters’ best interests at heart. However, as anyone who’s ever dealt with a bad landlord or property management company knows, these people have the power to make their renters’ lives miserable. The good news is, you never have to deal with bad behavior. Once you know the signs, you can avoid bad landlords and management companies and report the people and businesses doing the wrong thing.
Behavior That Makes a Landlord or Property Management Company Bad
Every state has landlord-tenant laws that govern the responsibilities renters and landlords or property management companies have to one another. When landlords and property management companies don’t follow these laws, you can consider them bad.
For example, if something breaks in your rental property, such as a pipe or the HVAC system, your landlord or management company should handle the issue for you in a timely manner. If they don’t send someone to replace or repair the property within a reasonable time frame, they are not meeting their responsibilities. Landlord-tenant laws also govern other aspects of your rental agreement, including how often landlords can raise your rent, how much notice they have to provide before entering the rental property, and the condition of your rental property.
Landlords and property management companies can also be considered bad if they impose unreasonable laws on you that aren’t covered by your state’s landlord-tenant laws. For example, you could consider your landlord bad if they won’t let you have friends visit or they try to impose a curfew on you.
How to Spot a Bad Landlord
Dealing with bad landlords or property management companies can be stressful and expensive if you need to find a new place to live fast. You can save yourself this heartache by looking out for warning signs before you sign your lease.
- If an apartment seems incredibly cheap or the landlord asks for an unreasonably high security deposit, you may have a bad landlord on your hands. Some landlords ask for higher deposits if you have pets or a poor rental history, but they should be transparent about that.
- You can tell a lot about a landlord from the condition of their property. Good landlords make sure their properties are safe and well-cared for. Unkept lawns and gardens, broken appliances, cracked ceilings, and visible trash are all red flags.
- A rental property should also have power when you inspect it, even if it’s unoccupied. Without power, you can’t test fans or appliances or even properly inspect dark rooms. A lack of power might suggest the landlord is trying to hide something from you.
- You might get the same feeling if your property inspection feels rushed. A good landlord will give you all the time you need to inspect their property and decide whether it’s right for you.
- Trust your gut instinct about the landlord when you meet them. While they don’t need to wear a suit, they should dress and behave professionally. If they’re late or uncommunicative, they may not be as responsive to any property issues that occur as you’d like. If something seems off to you, listen to your intuition and continue searching for the right rental.
Once the lease is in front of you, there’s still time to back out. Read the document carefully and make sure it’s fair. It should also spell out the lease’s terms, including rules about pets, occupancy limits, and what happens if you break your lease. Question any terms that feel vague or unjust and see whether the landlord will make adjustments for you. Leases should also come from the state apartment association or similar, so look for official logos that show the document is legal. Don’t sign until you’re completely happy with what’s in front of you. A good landlord will be sensitive to your needs.
How to Deal With a Bad Landlord
Make sure you leave a paper trail when you’re dealing with your landlord. Keep copies of letters you send or send emails for your requests rather than making phone calls. Having proof of your interactions can help you build a stronger case if your landlord acts badly.
How to Report a Bad Landlord
You should always try to work any disagreements out with your landlord or management company before getting others involved. If you can’t come to a resolution, read the landlord-tenant laws for your state to see if your landlord or management company is behaving illegally. If they are, there are several groups that can help you. Search for state agencies and nonprofit groups dedicated to protecting the rights of renters and handling renter complaints. They can advise you of the best way to proceed in your local area.
If you don’t get a resolutiion, you could escalate your efforts and seek legal representation. Look for a lawyer who specializes in helping renters with bad landlords. If you cannot afford a lawyer, look for a nonprofit group offering free legal aid.
If you’re renting a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) insured or HUD-assisted property and have a bad landlord, contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Multifamily Housing Complaint Line at 1-800-MULTI-70 (1-800-685-8470) rather than a state agency. The department does not want to provide financial assistance to bad landlords who fail to meet their responsibilities. They can fine your landlord or even ban them from renting out properties to other low-income renters.
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