Why Family Can Become Your Worst Tenants – Connecticut Property Management Education

Family as tenants Family tenants and friends can cause conflicts and require you to choose between your business and your relationships.  A family member living in your property might require a little tough love, and that can be difficult.

Having a rental property is having a business, and you must make decisions based on what’s best for that business.

Downfalls of Renting to Family

When you move family or friends into your rental property, you typically aren’t going to maximize the return on your investment. That’s unfortunate because the return you earn on this property determines whether you’re making money on it or losing money.

Screening and Rent Collection

Your screening process, needed for finding a great tenant, will likely be ignored when you’re renting a place to family. It will also be hard for you to charge them a fair price. Instead of checking comparables to make the rental price a fair market value, you’ll probably accept whatever they can pay. This is not good business.

The Benefits of Property Management

We get many phone calls from people who have rented to their brother or sister or a family friend and I always know what they’re going to ask. They need the situation fixed. Either rent isn’t being paid or the lease isn’t being properly followed and enforced. Sometimes, there’s not even a lease in place.
In most cases, there are too many emotions involved, which a property manager can take out of the situation. Professional managers can handle these things better than you can because the relationship they will have with your tenant will be strictly business.

If you are renting a home to your family members, remember you’re not providing charity. You’re running a business and you need to take care of your business responsibilities. If this is going to be too difficult for you, hire property management services or do something else with the property.

When you’re not sure what to do with family or friends who may be living in your property and creating an uncomfortable situation, contact us at Idoni Management. We’d be happy to help you.

Share:

More Posts

Send Us A Message