The DIY Landlord's Guide To Setting Boundaries

Maintaining positive relationships with your tenants is important, but setting boundaries is crucial. Without sufficient boundaries, you will eat into your time, resources, and even professionalism of your real estate investing business. Read on to learn why boundaries matter and how to set them effectively.

Why Setting Boundaries Matters

Boundaries create a framework of mutual respect between you and your tenants. They help:

• Prevent misunderstandings by defining roles and responsibilities.

• Protect your time from unnecessary disruptions.

• Maintain professionalism in all interactions.

  
  

Without boundaries, your tenants may expect you to be available at all hours of the day or handle issues that aren’t your responsibility.

Practical Boundaries Every Landlord Should Set

1. Communication Protocols

   Decide how and when tenants can contact you. For example, specify that non-urgent matters should be emailed or submitted through a maintenance portal, while emergencies warrant a direct call or text message.

2. Office Hours

   Just because you’re a DIY landlord doesn’t mean you’re on call 24/7. Set specific “office hours” for tenant inquiries, and stick to them.

3. Lease Terms

   Be clear about what the lease covers—and what it doesn’t. If pest control is a tenant responsibility, hold them to it.

4. Handling Maintenance Requests

   Let tenants know how to report issues and the expected timeline for repairs. Avoid the trap of rushing to fix non-emergencies immediately just to appease them. And don't forget to hold the tenant accountable if their neglect or abuse caused the maintenance issue!

5. Personal Space and Privacy

   This is a two-way street. Even though you own the property, it’s their home. Respect your tenant’s privacy by adhering to legal notice requirements before entering the property.

   
   

Enforcing Boundaries

Consistency is the key to successful boundaries. If you’re lenient once, tenants may expect the same treatment moving forward. Be polite but firm, and always refer back to the lease terms or your policies.

Final Thoughts

Boundaries may seem rigid at first, but they make for a smoother, more respectful landlord-tenant relationship. Establish them early, enforce them, and you will run your rental business with less stress and more professionalism.

Want to learn more about how to manage your property well? Check out our new book, The DIY Landlord. Available on Amazon.