It seems like virtually everyone has a horror story about a rental property. In some of these stories, the age and/or location of the property feature prominently. More often than not, however, the majority of rental property grievances are directly attributable to landlords. Whether it’s rent-gouging, maintenance inaction or general unpleasantness, certain behaviors on the part of property owners can make life miserable for their tenants. So, if your landlord exhibits any of the following tendencies, it may be time for you to seek Find a New Rental Home.
Frequent and/or Exorbitant Rent Increases
It should come as no surprise that no tenant relishes being slapped with a rent increase. In a time where many Americans are plagued by financial insecurity, suddenly having your rent go up can prove not only inconvenient – but financially ruinous.
To be fair, rent increases aren’t always implemented for the purpose of price-gouging. As a result of increased property taxes, utility bills and maintenance costs, landlords sometimes have no choice but to raise rent. However, if your landlord raises rent on a frequent basis or by exorbitant amounts, it may be time to seek out a new residence. Even if the property owner is within their legal rights, there are limits to how much of your income you should be willing to put towards rent. Furthermore, on the subject of “legal rights,” not all rent increases are lawful. So, if your next rent increase strikes you as too exorbitant, it couldn’t hurt to do some online research into renters’ rights and/or get in touch with an attorney.
Poor Communication
It’s important for property owners to be communicative and responsive when dealing with tenants’ concerns. Unfortunately, a large number of landlords failed to get this memo, as they won’t hesitate to ignore any and all communiques from their renters. As a result, important maintenance issues tend to get ignored until they become much larger – and costlier – problems.
So, if your landlord regularly ignores your attempts to get in touch with them, you should consider moving to a place whose owner is a better communicator and property manager. While you needn’t necessarily set out to become friends with your landlord, you should only do business with property owners who provide you with multiple ways to get in touch with them and respond to your questions and concerns in a timely, professional manner.
Retaliation
The absolute last thing you want is a landlord who outright antagonizes you. While it should be understood that the two of you share a business relationship, a landlord that actively makes your life worse is someone you don’t want to deal with. For example, landlords with a penchant for retaliation should be avoided at all costs. So, if your landlord has ever raised your rent or engaged in other forms of retaliation in response to complaints about the property or withholding of rent due to lack of maintenance, you should leave at your earliest convenience.
The Location isn’t Good
It’s easy to see why so many property owners and real estate professionals love repeating the mantra, “Location, location, location!” With scores of renters and home-buyers regarding the location of properties as more important than the properties themselves, there’s little wonder as to why many landlords are intent on owning properties in desirable locales.
So, if the location of your rental home has proven inconvenient or outright dangerous, it may be time to think about moving. For example, if your residence is a frustratingly long distance from where you work, the places you shop or the homes of close friends and family members, relocation is certainly worth considering. Additionally, if the area’s crime rates are on the rise and you no longer feel safe, getting out can provide you with tremendous peace of mind. Fortunately for anyone on the hunt for homes for rent in Houston, TX, there are a bevy of attraction options from which to choose.
For anyone who’s resided in rental properties, it should come as no surprise that some rental homes are poorly suited for human habitation. Everything from the age of a property to its overall condition to the landlord’s level of cooperation stands to make or break your rental home experience. Additionally, despite how cumbersome the moving process can be, it may ultimately prove less stressful than continuing to reside in a home that gives off any of the red flags discussed above.
