Fostering a good relationship with your landlord can keep them off your back and make your living experience a million times better. Not only will they understand when something goes wrong, but they may also cut you some slack when something breaks by putting you first on the repair schedule. Here are six things that will keep you in their good graces.
Ask for Permission
You know the old adage, “It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission,” right?
Well, toss that out the window.
If you go to your landlord asking for forgiveness rather than permission, you could get a 30-day notice to vacate the premises—at minimum you're going to piss them off. Under no circumstances should you do something that you’re not 100% sure the landlord will be okay with, and even if you are, you should probably run it by them just in case. By asking if you can do something, you’re showing that you respect the property.
Stay on Your Neighbor's Good Side
Landlords hate getting in the middle of neighborly affairs and will avoid it if they can. Try not to make too much noise, and create a line of communication between your neighbors, so you can resolve conflicts without having to go to your landlord. Not all of them are going to be neighborinos, but you should still try to make an attempt to resolve any issues in a respectful way.
This approach shows your landlord that you’re making an effort to settle problems before getting anyone else involved, and they should respect you for that.
Don't Be an Ass
Apartment stuff breaks sometimes, and if you live in one place long enough, something definitely will. Hopefully, it won’t be anything major, like your air conditioner, but no matter what it is, you should stay calm and collected during the repair process.
Sometimes landlords work several properties, managing many units, which can make it hard to fix your stuff immediately. Even if it’s an urgent fix and even if they're dragging their feet, be the bigger person and stay courteous—especially to the repair people! They're just trying to get paid!
Read the Lease
Let's be honest, reading your lease should be a given whether you want to make your landlord happy or not. It will prevent communication issues and clear up any confusion you may have about your living situation, such as pet deposits and the repercussions if you have to pay rent late.
One of the biggest issues landlords have with their tenants is misconceptions involving the lease. Most give you a copy, and you have to sign acknowledging that you’ve read it, but many people treat it like a “Terms of Service” contract.
Additionally, it couldn't hurt to brush up on the landlord-tenant laws in your state. This will give you a good idea of what should be laid out explicitly in your lease. Throwing the book at your landlord is not going to make them love you, but if they're breaking the law, then is that really even a problem?
Don't Destroy Their Property
No landlord wants to deal with a tenant that destroyed their unit like a rockstar in a hotel. This doesn’t mean you can’t hang pictures, shelves, and enjoy your home, but maybe you shouldn’t throw your video game controller at the wall and put a huge dent in it. Using putty in the holes after you move out will also make your landlord happy and increase the chances of you getting your deposit back.
Pay Your Rent on Time
This should go without saying, but we're gonna say it anyways—pay your rent on time! In certain cases and in certain states, you can legally withhold rent (another reason to brush up on those laws), but otherwise you should pay your rent on the same day of each month. Things happen and extenuating circumstances may keep you from covering your rent on time, but if it only happens once in a blue moon, your landlord is more likely to give you a break.