Overly sweet tenant taking over control of MF!

Overly sweet tenant taking over control of MF!

Rental Property Investor · West Des Moines, IA · Member since 2018 · 447 posts · 64 votes

I am currently cohabitating as a live in landlord with two other tenants in a multi family setup. One of the tenants has been with us for quite sometime now and the the other tenant has joined us only recently. They are all families with young kids. I as a landlord am friendly with my tenants but not friends. A pattern I have been noticing for quite sometime now my older tenant generally tends to get overly sweet with my new tenants I get and sort of wins their ‘allegiance’ to the extent it starts feeling like the older tenant is the landlord and they are in total control. This tenant even helped plan a ‘great escape’ with my prior tenant with a shortest possible notice during this pandemic, while I was out of station for an extended time. I am not a domineering kind of landlord and very flexible with the terms, I was very surprised back then as the tenant could have easily given me ample heads up before moving out. Fortunately it all ended well as I could find another tenant fairly quickly but what concerns me now is this overly sweet behavior of my older tenant with the new comers that can potentially disrupt my relationship yet again. Am I overthinking on this? Should I just overlook , anyone here had a similar situation? Appreciate your inputs.

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  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    5y

    I would just reinforce with the new tenant that any questions about the property or your policies they should come to you. Make sure your policies are clear and concise so they don't need to ask anyone.  If you have an opportunity to correct behavior do it.  Another words if the tenant says  Nancy said it would be alright with you to park in that space etc, let them know the policy is this, but please ask me and not Nancy in the future.  I want to be sure that you know i am available by email etc. 

    People bond over little kids so if you don't have any you may not be in the club.  Don't get overly concerned about this. Make sure they know how to reach you and what your policies are.

  • Rental Property Investor · West Des Moines, IA · Member since 2018 · 447 posts · 64 votes
    5y

    Thank you. This was helpful, aside from that one of the things I noticed is that tenants get together, gossip around personal matters about the landlord, it just creates such a negative environment, anything can be done to curb this?

  • Joe S.Pro Member
    Investor · San Antonio · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Peter Morgan:

    Thank you. This was helpful, aside from that one of the things I noticed is that tenants get together, gossip around personal matters about the landlord, it just creates such a negative environment, anything can be done to curb this?

     You basically have two choices. Talk directly to the tenant that’s giving you annoyance or ignore them. Actually you have three choices :-) do one and two together. :-)

    What you’re describing is just another reason why some people would rather make less than do a house hack.

  • Rental Property Investor · West Des Moines, IA · Member since 2018 · 447 posts · 64 votes
    5y

    @Joe S.

    Sound like a Zen Koan :-)

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