When renting room-by-room, keep tenants the same gender?

Question

I'm encountering issues with male/female tenants getting along in my single family house. I'm house hacking and renting room-by-room to increase monthly cash flow. Recently, my male and female tenants in one property are not getting along and I need to address this.

I think if I rent my room-by-room properties out to one gender less tenant issues will occur.

Have you experienced this in your business? Is this good thinking?

It's challenging to know if tenants will get along even after they meet each other before signing a lease. I want less head aches in this business, not more, so seeking advice!

Please share your feedback and thoughts. Thank you!!!

Daniel Haberkost · Answer

Hey Kyle, I've been doing the same thing for years down here in The Springs. I have both males & females in the house at the same time and have not had issues and I believe it comes down to setting very clear standards with people and being mindful of their schedules/daily routines.

I do all of the standard screening procedures (background check, call their boss, call their last two landlords, etc) but I also make it very clear what I expect of them (don't make noise at night, keep kitchen/bath clean, pay me on the 1st) and this has helped quite a bit.

In addition, I make sure everyone has different schedules so nobody is trying to use the kitchen at the same time and everyone gets home in the evening at different times. I believe this has been important as well because then everyone has their own space when they're getting up in the morning/home at night.

What disputes are coming with your tenants? What does your screening look like?

Dan

Hossam Elaskalani · Answer

@Kyle Smith

I don’t have experience with tenants not getting along (trying to buy my own rental right now actually) but if their leases are year long then I’d say you need to sit down with them and be the “mediator” and figure out ways they can live with each other

Kyle Smith · Answer

Thanks Daniel! That feedback is encouraging. This has been my first experience with my tenants not getting along.

I can do better setting expectations like it's quite hours after 9pm - good idea.

My recent disputes have been two male/female tenants not getting along at all (2 weeks into the new male tenant lease). They both get under one another's skin, already have been in arguments with each other. They had a large argument this morning which made me realize I need to do something about this. They just don't seem compatible which is hard to figure out during screening until they actually live together.

My pre-screening: credit check, job reference check, past landlord check, income verification.

This is my first real issue with tenants not getting along.