Renting a property is a thoughtful process. The budget, location and legal obligations should all be considered before finalising the deal. Negligence of any sort can leave you in unfamiliar territory with additional charges waiting to erupt.
Speaking of considerations during the rental process, it is equally important to select the right type of landlord for a hassle-free rental tenure. While some landlords may seem heaven-sent, there are other types you should steer clear from. We have compiled a list of the types of Landlords to avoid for ensuring a smooth rental experience.
Tenant-Landlord Relationship
Regardless of the type of property you rent, a healthy tenant-landlord relationship is compulsory for ensuring a smooth experience for both parties. Tenant and landlord interactions are more than likely to happen, particularly if the landlord resides in the same vicinity.
Tenants can be exemplary with all their duties but bad landlords can still find a way to spoil things. Like other non-professionals of different fields, bad landlords remain oblivious to their legal and moral obligations. The onus lies on the tenants to look for red flags upfront and reconsider the decision before signing the leasing agreement.
Types of Landlords to Avoid
Whether you are renting an office space in Dubai or a residential property elsewhere, the type of landlord matters. Wondering which type of landlord should you avoid? We got you covered. Let’s go through some troublesome landlord types to avoid and enjoy a hassle-free rental tenure.
THE LAZY LANDLORD
Part of being a landlord is ensuring property maintenance, however, some landlords choose to look the other way. A broken lock, leaking drainage pipe or other similar issues are not uncommon in households. Usually, the rental contract deems the landlord responsible for all such repairs.
If you come across a lazy landlord, they will use excuses and tactics to avoid spending money and delay tasks. Moreover, these types of landlords may avoid your calls or messages and hope that the tenant will get things fixed. There are already some hidden rent costs in Dubai and other cities and these over-the-line expenses may disturb your budget.
Under these circumstances, remind the landlords of their responsibilities and tell them their actions are against the terms of the contract. If you have used the services of a real estate agency for the rental process, let them know about the situation. Furthermore, if you get any of the maintenance work done at your expense, it is advised to keep the receipts. The bills can be shown to the landlord to ask for a reimbursement.
THE INTIMIDATING LANDLORD
These are also among the major types of landlords to avoid. An intimidating or aggressive landlord often harasses the tenants for early payment of rent. They may also constantly remind you of how much you owe them for rent. Moreover, an aggressive landlord may pressurise the tenant to renew the rental contracts in case you have planned to move out.
The UAE has set laws for tenant rights in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other cities of the country. In case of any threatening activity, the authorities may be informed. Furthermore, if you notice aggressive behaviour when meeting such a landlord upfront, consider opting for a different property.
THE NOSY LANDLORD
Tenants have the complete right to privacy in the property they rent. A nosy landlord prevents that from happening. You can often find these types of landlords lurking around in the corridors – hoping to get a peek inside the house or listen to what’s happening inside.
Furthermore, nosy landlords may ask inappropriate questions or try to gain personal information. If you come across such landlords who seem too good to be true during the leasing proceeding, it’s better to look for other options. As an added measure, you can also inquire other residents of the community about the landlord’s hidden traits.
THE GREEDY LANDLORD
These are also among the major types of landlords to avoid. Greedy landlords are on the lookout for ways to make more cash. They might declare an old defect your fault and ask for a share in the repair cost. Moreover, greedy landlords can threaten to cut the amount for such repairs from your deposit.
Luckily, the laws are all in place in the UAE to get security deposit refunds in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other cities in the country. Additionally, you should do a thorough inspection of the property with the landlord before moving in and point out all defects. Consider the landlord’s greediness a red flag, and try to look for another place to live peacefully.
THE COMPLAINING LANDLORD
Whether you live in a rental apartment in the UAE, or a villa, you will find these types of landlords around your property more often than not. They have a habit of complaining about anything and everything and are very vocal about their not-so-important concerns.
You can expect to hear about the rising prices and how it’s hard to survive as a landlord with income from low rents. These tactics can be their way of indicating an increase in upcoming rent. If you sense any such trait during the initial process, move on to the next offer. If you find it out months after you have signed the deal, start looking for a new place.
Furthermore, the UAE government also got you covered in this area. For instance, with the RERA rent calculator you can calculate the average rent and negotiate accordingly.
These were all the major types of landlords to avoid when renting a place. The whole house rental process can be exhausting and people spend a fair amount of money to ensure it goes smoothly. With the aforementioned bad qualities in landlords, your time, money and renting experience may feel like invested in the wrong place.
When looking for a rental property, consider these types of landlords to avoid and enjoy a stress-free rental tenure. Similarly, you can also check out the types of roommates to avoid and further enhance the rental space experience.
If you are stuck with any of these types of landlords and looking for a new property, check out the following:
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