While most tenants will be reasonable and peaceful and pay rent without incident, there have been unfortunate situations in which landlords have been hurt or killed while collecting rent or evicting tenants. People behind on their rent can become irrational. Violent and dangerous situations can arise when the tenant’s living situation is in jeopardy. Job loss, financial stress, and an uncertain future can turn a tenant into a powder keg waiting to explode, and landlords are increasingly seeking safer ways to collect rent.
While most tenants will be reasonable and peaceful and pay rent without incident, there have been unfortunate situations in which landlords have been hurt or killed while collecting rent or evicting tenants. People behind on their rent can become irrational. Violent and dangerous situations can arise when the tenant’s living situation is in jeopardy. Job loss, financial stress, and an uncertain future can turn a tenant into a powder keg waiting to explode, and landlords are increasingly seeking safer ways to collect rent.
Screen Tenants Before Renting
One of the best ways to stay safe when collecting rent is to screen potential tenants. If a tenant has a history of violence or criminal convictions, be sure to factor it into your decision to rent to them. Use a tenant screening company to conduct extensive background checks that reveal credit, criminal, employment, and driving histories, and give you valuable data to aid in your decision-making. While background checks can’t completely protect you from dangerous situations, they can help you weed out those who have proven violent in the past.
Screen Tenants Before Renting
One of the best ways to stay safe when collecting rent is to screen potential tenants. If a tenant has a history of violence or criminal convictions, be sure to factor it into your decision to rent to them. Use a tenant screening company to conduct extensive background checks that reveal credit, criminal, employment, and driving histories, and give you valuable data to aid in your decision-making. While background checks can’t completely protect you from dangerous situations, they can help you weed out those who have proven violent in the past.
Be Safe in Showing Your Property
Property showings can be dangerous, as landlords are typically alone when they take potential residents to view the property. When showing a vacant property, ask for identification from your client before the showing. Inform someone of where you will be and when you expect to complete the meeting. Leave the door open while you are showing the home, or wait on the porch and allow the residents to take a self-tour. Consider an open-house style of showing where there is a steady stream of visitors instead of a single visitor.
Be Safe in Showing Your Property
Property showings can be dangerous, as landlords are typically alone when they take potential residents to view the property. When showing a vacant property, ask for identification from your client before the showing. Inform someone of where you will be and when you expect to complete the meeting. Leave the door open while you are showing the home, or wait on the porch and allow the residents to take a self-tour. Consider an open-house style of showing where there is a steady stream of visitors instead of a single visitor.
Collect Rent Online
Collecting rent online is one of the best methods of safe rent collection. With an online rent collection platform like PayRent, you never have to have face to face interaction with the tenant, and you can easily manage delinquent accounts without confrontation. Enforce late fees, send reminders, and block partial payments without the danger of meeting with a desperate, angry, or violent tenant. In addition, collecting rent online helps you to maintain a safe distance when the world is dealing with a health crisis like Covid-19.
Collect Rent Online
Collecting rent online is one of the best methods of safe rent collection. With an online rent collection platform like PayRent, you never have to have face to face interaction with the tenant, and you can easily manage delinquent accounts without confrontation. Enforce late fees, send reminders, and block partial payments without the danger of meeting with a desperate, angry, or violent tenant. In addition, collecting rent online helps you to maintain a safe distance when the world is dealing with a health crisis like Covid-19.
Don't Share Your Home Address
Some landlords run small operations in which they collect rent from one or only a few tenants. If this is the case, do not use your home address as a place for tenants to send payments. Use a PO box, a co-working office, or a lockbox to receive payments safely. Don’t arrive after dark to collect payments, and take someone with you if possible. Do not put your home address on your website or your business cards. Stay as anonymous as possible when dealing with tenants. Online rent collection systems allow tenants to send e-checks, so they never have to mail anything directly.
Fix Problems Before They Spiral
Sometimes people become irrational when they feel they are out of options. Encourage your tenants to communicate with you if they are having problems paying their rent for the month. If possible, allow them to set up payment arrangements or pay partial rent. With the PayRent platform, you can adjust the settings to allow for late payments, partial payments, and waived late fees on a case-by-case basis. When working closely with your tenants, you can deal with issues before they spiral out of control.
Don't Share Your Home Address
Some landlords run small operations in which they collect rent from one or only a few tenants. If this is the case, do not use your home address as a place for tenants to send payments. Use a PO box, a co-working office, or a lockbox to receive payments safely. Don’t arrive after dark to collect payments, and take someone with you if possible. Do not put your home address on your website or your business cards. Stay as anonymous as possible when dealing with tenants. Online rent collection systems allow tenants to send e-checks, so they never have to mail anything directly.
Fix Problems Before They Spiral
Sometimes people become irrational when they feel they are out of options. Encourage your tenants to communicate with you if they are having problems paying their rent for the month. If possible, allow them to set up payment arrangements or pay partial rent. With the PayRent platform, you can adjust the settings to allow for late payments, partial payments, and waived late fees on a case-by-case basis. When working closely with your tenants, you can deal with issues before they spiral out of control.
Be Safe During Tenant Confrontations
If you have to interact with a tenant or former tenant, choose a safe and busy place to conduct these transactions. Many landlords collect keys and return security deposits at police stations or in the rental office. If you have to evict a tenant, bring along a police officer or Marshal to ensure your safety.
Be Safe During Tenant Confrontations
If you have to interact with a tenant or former tenant, choose a safe and busy place to conduct these transactions. Many landlords collect keys and return security deposits at police stations or in the rental office. If you have to evict a tenant, bring along a police officer or Marshal to ensure your safety.
When it comes to your safety as a landlord and property manager, you can never be too safe. While most tenants will pay on time and pose no threat, there is always the chance that things can go awry. Follow the above tips to collect rent and manage your property safely and effectively.
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When it comes to your safety as a landlord and property manager, you can never be too safe. While most tenants will pay on time and pose no threat, there is always the chance that things can go awry. Follow the above tips to collect rent and manage your property safely and effectively.
