Dealing with Difficult Tenants

Difficult Tenants Putting On A Winning Game Face

Presented by Brent Davies

Landlord Required Tools

Know the Law (RT Act)Have Your Winning Game FaceHow The Courts Work The “Secret” to Finding the

Best Tenant

New Real Estate Investors

Find propertyBuy propertyObtain financingRent out the propertyFind another property

Equity Building Tenants

Pay the rent on timeRarely call to complainKeep the property clean

and in good condition

Tenant Warning Signs

Avoid YouCall to give you grief about the

propertyComplain about RepairsCall the Health BoardElaborate story about the

situation

Sometime in the Future

Rent cheque is lateYou call the Tenant“the cheque is in the mail”Cheque arrives 2 weeks

laterBank returns cheque NSF

No Longer an Equity Building Tenant

1 month rent outstandingMortgage is outstandingWhen am I going to get my

money?Now what?

All is Not Lost

By learning how to deal with problem tenants, you will minimize the stress they can cause

If you act promptly in a professional manner

What is the Worst That Can Happen?

Lose several months of rent

Unable to collect all damages owing

Lose everything

Now How Do You Feel?

ScaredAngryTaken advantage of Betrayed

Tenants Can

Make my blood boilRaise my blood pressure Make me do stupid thingsTurn a rational person into

an idiot

What You Do Now?

Rush over to the tenant’s place?

Bang on the door? Tell them all your troubles?Demand your money???

This is How Your Tenant Sees You!

What you want the Tenant to See

Not This Person

My Policy

“I Will Address the Issues”“You Will Pay the Rent”Not “I Will Fix If You Pay” I Provide Good Homes for

Good People

Amateur VS Professional

Emotional vs Rational Want Tenant to feel sorry for him

vs don’t disclose his personal details to tenant

Listens to sob stories vs know the story does not affect the situation

Does not knows the rules vs knows the rules

What the Tenant Does Not Care About

Your cash flowThe value of your

InvestmentYour Time

Your mental health

What the Tenant Does Care About

Safe and secure place to live

Their moneyTheir time

Now You have 3 Choices

Ignore the situation and hope the tenant fixes it

Visit the tenant to discuss the issues

Proceed directly to eviction process

Straight Talk with Tenants

What are the issues? Can we resolve the issues?Formalize a payment planDate and sign the payment

planAdd if payment not made, it

all becomes due and payable

Why Not Just Serve the Notice Now?

Once the notice is served the relationship is changed forever

I have found most people will pay if treated with respect

No More Mr Nice Guy

That’s it, no more chances“Pay up or Get out”You must be firm and

decisive

New Game Face

Reasons for Eviction

Non payment of rent, 90% of all evictions

Noise, damages, illegal activities

Selling the propertyChange of use, condo, owner

to occupy

Alberta Eviction Rules

Non payment of rent is a substantial breach of lease

14 day notice periodNotice is void if rent is paid

within the notice period

Serve the Eviction Notice

Serve the notice in person or post on the door.

Must be given directly to an adult who apparently resides in the unit.

Document time, date of service and name of person who served the notice.

Common Eviction Mistakes

“Your partner said I could…”

“I thought you were not serious”

“Changing your mind”

Tactical Errors

Cutting off utilities Changing the locksEntering the suite without

proper noticeIntimidation- yelling,

swearing, threats

Winning Techniques

Only 1 person to deal with tenant

Be firm, you pay or leave4 days later, call to set up move

out inspection 4 days to go, call to confirm the

appointment

What is Your New Game Face?

The Baby

What is Your New Game Face?

The Professional

What is Your New Game Face

The Enforcer

Your New Game Face