Landlords: Describe your most problem-free tenant ever

Landlords: Describe your most problem-free tenant ever

San Jose, CA · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes

We talk here about high-maintenance or problem tenants all the time.  I'd love to hear about your most trouble-free tenant you've ever had, or what types of rentals or tenants you have found to be the easiest to deal with or require the least amount of your time.  I think this would actually be helpful information for investors, including me, when looking at perhaps a tenant base we had never thought of before.

For me, managing a 25 unit apartment building next to a university, my most problem-free tenants were law students by far.  They have no time for drama and are never home to do any damage.  The most I ever had to do with them was to send them a text reminder to give me the check that was already written out and sitting on their dresser, or to just touch base to ask if they had a running toilet or leak or anything else that needed attention and they'd always be glad I asked and give permission to enter when they weren't home to fix anything.

What about you?  

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Rental Property Investor · Lawrence, MA · Member since 2020 · 252 posts · 153 votes
6y

Ever since I evicted 2 of 3 tenants in the past,  I can't complain about my 3 tenants.  They take care of the units,  and they help me out by clearing out the leaves in the back yard.  Since they pay the rent on time,  during Christmas day,  I give them each a Christmas basket and they love it!

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  • Rental Property Investor · Houston, TX · Member since 2014 · 91 posts · 76 votes
    6y

    @Sue K. They signed their lease, made their security deposit, paid their rent, and moved out with minimal turn costs... and I never had to meet them in person.

  • Joe SplitrockPro Member
    Moderator
    Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
    6y

    Interesting you mention that law students were trouble free. One of my worst tenants was an attorney. His family of six lived in my house for 6 months before they broke the lease. It looked like they lived there for 3 years based on the condition. Out of control kids and since he was an attorney, he squeezed me on the termination and damage fees. I didn't loose money, but I learned to be careful with attorneys because they know how to break contracts. 

    Ironically one of my best tenants currently also an attorney. He takes immaculate care of the home, pays rent early and is a really nice guy. He is a single guy in a four bedroom house, so very little wear. 

    Maybe the lesson here is to not stereotype groups of people. The other lesson is more people = more wear.

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2016 · 502 posts · 167 votes
    6y

    wow some of you landlards are so lucky. my tenants stick around so i guess they are pretty good. I like the young couple with the chickens and veggies and the husband buys campers & rehabs them in the driveway. he also rehabbed a school bus--painted it green--i hope they never leave because last time i was upstairs there is a whole lot of wear & tear (2 little boys) i dont look forward to fixing. I rented 2 sfr's to a rehab owner for men aged 18-25 in recovery they were OK but the kitchen suffered ... 

  • San Jose, CA · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Jai Reddy:

    @Sue K.

    NBA Rookie and his coach.

    A doctor and his family.

    This is interesting.  I had a San Jose Earthquakes (soccer) rep approach me about a rental for a new player from an African country. I said yes, the guy was okay but had a habit of talking loudly in barely any clothing on the shared back balcony LOL.  But, they cut him from the team just 2 months later and he moved back to his country and left the place a mess.

    Then, this rep approached me about a corporate rental agreement on an apartment.  Uh, no.  Unfortunately, I learned that this type of tenant pretty much had nothing left to lose and didn't understand or respect the lives of their neighbors. Maybe this would work for a single family home, but even then, I dunno.  Unless they moved in with a wife and kids, they can be crazy party animals.

    The doctor with his family - I totally get.

  • San Jose, CA · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

    Interesting you mention that law students were trouble free. One of my worst tenants was an attorney. His family of six lived in my house for 6 months before they broke the lease. It looked like they lived there for 3 years based on the condition. Out of control kids and since he was an attorney, he squeezed me on the termination and damage fees. I didn't loose money, but I learned to be careful with attorneys because they know how to break contracts. 

    Ironically one of my best tenants currently also an attorney. He takes immaculate care of the home, pays rent early and is a really nice guy. He is a single guy in a four bedroom house, so very little wear. 

    Maybe the lesson here is to not stereotype groups of people. The other lesson is more people = more wear.

     There was a really funny episode of a TV series - was it law and order?  I forget - where one of the main characters applied to rent from a landlord who turned her down because she was a lawyer because lawyers were a PITA and then she sued him so he'd have to rent to her LOL.  It was an apartment with a view - maybe CSI Miami?  I forget.

    I do think there is a huge difference between law students and lawyers, though.  I rented very small studio apartments with zero yards, zero balconies, zero in-house washer/dryers.  In other words, just one step up from a roommate situation - but- I promised a quiet place and I delivered that.  

    Anyway, renting to a law student who has no wife or kids and zero life other than studying, and who will normally study only at the law library, pretty much only comes home to eat and sleep a few hours.  And, if you let them sublet their apartment over the summer, when they have to go do summer internships somewhere else, they will usually stay through their entire 3 years of law school, and if they are going to take your state's bar exam, they'll probably stay another year for that, and then if they are going to look for a job in your state, they'll probably stay even longer.

    So, the key is to get them before they pass the bar and get married and have kids :-)

  • San Jose, CA · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:
    Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

    Interesting you mention that law students were trouble free. One of my worst tenants was an attorney. His family of six lived in my house for 6 months before they broke the lease. It looked like they lived there for 3 years based on the condition. Out of control kids and since he was an attorney, he squeezed me on the termination and damage fees. I didn't loose money, but I learned to be careful with attorneys because they know how to break contracts. 

    Ironically one of my best tenants currently also an attorney. He takes immaculate care of the home, pays rent early and is a really nice guy. He is a single guy in a four bedroom house, so very little wear. 

    Maybe the lesson here is to not stereotype groups of people. The other lesson is more people = more wear.

    There was a really funny episode of a TV series - was it law and order? I forget - where one of the main characters applied to rent from a landlord who turned her down because she was a lawyer because lawyers were a PITA and then she sued him so he'd have to rent to her LOL. It was an apartment with a view of the ocean next to a beach - maybe CSI Miami? I forget.

    I do think there is a huge difference between law students and lawyers, though. I rented very small studio apartments with zero yards, zero balconies, zero in-house washer/dryers. In other words, just one step up from a roommate situation - but- I promised a quiet place and I delivered that.

    Anyway, renting to a law student who has no wife or kids and zero life other than studying, and who will normally study only at the law library, pretty much only comes home to eat and sleep a few hours. And, if you let them sublet their apartment over the summer, when they have to go do summer internships somewhere else, they will usually stay through their entire 3 years of law school, and if they are going to take your state's bar exam, they'll probably stay another year for that, and then if they are going to look for a job in your state, they'll probably stay even longer.

    So, the key is to get them before they pass the bar and get married and have kids :-)

    Oh, and have a unit too small for a spouse and kids to move into.

  • Real Estate Agent · Cupertino, CA · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    Often these problem free tenants who pay on time and does not give tenant find a home to move in and call it their home.

  • Adam TafelBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · St. Paul, MN · Member since 2017 · 592 posts · 402 votes
    6y

    This thread is awesome, love the positivity! I rented a furnished apartment (Airbnb) to an older couple for 4 months. Not only did I cashflow $1200/mo on the single unit (yes!), they completely improved the entire space. Did some work on a leaking faucet, got rid of some old furniture and replaced it with new, made a ton of tasteful decorative updates to decor. They were friendly and helpful to my real estate business, great for networking, and obviously paid on-time. They were moving to Europe and selling most of their possessions. Knowing that I'm in the Airbnb business, they left me at least 25 towels, sheet sets, comforters, etc, all in perfect condition. Unbelievable ! 

    Upside Property Sales 4.9108 Reviews
  • Investor · Port Townsend, WA · Member since 2014 · 103 posts · 50 votes
    6y

    I bought a property 7 years ago and had it rented out after a few fixes. My PM asked me if I could stop by the property to meet with the tenants which I thought was an odd request but I did it anyway when I was told they were two middle-aged ladies. It turned out that they were really nice lesbian couple (my first time meeting a lesbian couple). I complimented on their choice of arts (drawings/sculptures, etc), spent maybe 10 minutes with them.  They seemed like any ladies I would meet in my then corporate job, college educated, reasonable/level-headed people. They are the best tenants I have so far, trouble free, pays on time, reasonable for any request they make.

  • Rental Property Investor · Everett, WA · Member since 2017 · 12 posts · 4 votes
    6y

    I have 4-doors (SFR and one triplex) and have great tenants in all. Best tenants were a young family (late 20s) in the SFR who were the first to live in it after a MAJOR rehab. I think they felt lucky to be living in such a nice home! My other favorite is a senior woman we inherited in the triplex when we purchased it. She is like a mother-hen of the young kids on property. She always pays her rent around the 25th when she gets her social security check. Intentionally we have kept her rent a little below market. We make good cashflow off of the other 2 units on property so morally I don't feel the need to increase rent on a senior citizen.

  • Chicago · Member since 2019 · 75 posts · 49 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:

    We talk here about high-maintenance or problem tenants all the time.  I'd love to hear about your most trouble-free tenant you've ever had, or what types of rentals or tenants you have found to be the easiest to deal with or require the least amount of your time.  I think this would actually be helpful information for investors, including me, when looking at perhaps a tenant base we had never thought of before.

    For me, managing a 25 unit apartment building next to a university, my most problem-free tenants were law students by far.  They have no time for drama and are never home to do any damage.  The most I ever had to do with them was to send them a text reminder to give me the check that was already written out and sitting on their dresser, or to just touch base to ask if they had a running toilet or leak or anything else that needed attention and they'd always be glad I asked and give permission to enter when they weren't home to fix anything.

    What about you?  

    My problem free tenant happens to be from my SFH female in her mid thirties. She has government assistance but I almost never hear from her except once a year during the HUD inspection. She pays her portion before rent is due and keep the property in amazing condition. Hats off to her!!!!

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