Tenant Tips - 4 Tips From A Park City Property Management Company
In my experience most people, when made aware of the rules, will make an honest effort at doing the right thing. As a Park City property managment company I try and arm tenants will all the knowledge necessary to make their rental experience an enjoyable one. I've created these few tips to help tenants maintain a positive relationship with their landlord or property manager. These are a few of the common mistakes or misunderstandings I see tenants make through the course of renting a property and I hope that by making this information available it can be of benefit to both tenants and landlords.
Pay On Time
If rent is due on the 1st and late on the 5th then when should you pay rent by? This is somewhat of a trick question because I gave you the answer. If rent is due on the 1st then pay on the 1st. Or better yet pay before the first. From the perspective of a landlord on time payment is huge and paying ahead of time is even better. The last thing a landlord or property management company wants to do is chase rent, post notices and fees, and hound tenants every month to pay rent. In today's rental environment there are so many methods of payment, from online payment portals, credit or debit cards, and auto deposit, to banks automatically sending checks out each month there really isn't an excuse for not paying on time. I put this tip first because it is the biggest. Paying on time makes landlords happy, you can rest easy knowing your bills are paid, and a sense of trust will develop beyond the bounds of a simple lease agreement.
Written Requests
If the property you reside in is in need of some maintenance one of the best ways to submit your request is in writing. Many leases require this and it will help your landlord track and 
manage maintenance requests so they may be quickly completed. A phone call is also useful and can be done in conjunction with a written request, especially if there is more or new information about the maintenance that needs to occur. However writing should always be the primary means of communicating a request. Stopping a maintenance technician while you are on your way out and asking them to take care of a long list of items is a sure way to create less than adequate results and multiple visits. Just take a moment to let your landlord or rental property manager know in writing what is required and you will be much happier with the results.
Rent Deduction
Most leases clearly spell out any parameters for rent deduction but if they do not you should
never, without your landlord's permission, deduct from your rent the cost of any maintenance repairs or any other item you feel should be paid for by the landlord. If you are willing to enact a repair on your own and you are qualified to do so always check with your landlord first. Submitting the request for maintenance and your proposal to fix it in writing is always the way to go. Please do not go out and buy a new microwave when the old one decides to die. Always run this by the landlord first to see what their plans are for the property. In my experience some landlords will want to replace some or all of the appliances to update the property. So check with your landlord first before making a purchase on their behalf.
Lots Of Notice
Sometimes life can throw you a curve ball requiring you to pick up your life and move somewhere else. But most of the time you will have a pretty good idea of if and when you will need to move. Most leases have specific requirements on the amount of notice that must be provided at the end of a lease. There are also state laws that you should also be aware of. But the best practice is to give as much notice as possible to your landlord. If it is January and you know you will be moving when your lease is up at the end of March don't wait. Be a courteous tenant and give advanced notice of your move. This leaves a great impression with your landlord and they will be a stellar rental history reference going forward.
If you are interested in learning more about Park City property management download our free white page "5 Questions Every Landlord Should Ask Themselves".
