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3 causes of disputes in residential tenancies

On Behalf of | Mar 30, 2023 | Property Law

Residential real estate is not as complicated as commercial one. Managing a residential property can be more manageable, but this doesn’t mean issues won’t arise. The chances of having at least one hard-to-manage tenant are high. You may be in dispute with such a client now and then.

Below are three factors that can contribute to disagreements. 

1. Nonpayment of rent

A tenant not paying rent is an issue for most landlords. Before allowing a tenant to sign a lease, the chances are you observed all the required steps to confirm they can afford the rent. However, despite doing this, a tenant may fail to pay rent in the future or make a habit of paying late. 

If this happens, you should speak to them to find out the problem and come to an understanding. Nonetheless, if they keep doing this, you may have to consider other options.

2. Repairs

In your lease, you should have a clause that discusses repairs. However, disputes may arise when a tenant feels you don’t respond to problems on time or when they cause the property damage themselves and expect you to do repairs even though the lease agreement states otherwise.

How fast to conduct repairs and which party is responsible for them are among the leading contributing factors to disputes in residential tenancy.

3. Breaching lease terms

Your lease agreement should clearly state the terms and conditions of the tenancy. A tenant should have adequate time to understand the contract before signing. After which, they need to observe all clauses. A tenant breaking a term can result in a dispute.

Landlord-tenant disputes in the residential space can be common. If this is your experience, it will help to get legal guidance to avoid costly mistakes.