What You Need to Know About Landlord-Tenant Communications

Good communication is probably the most important aspect of customer service for a property management company. Fort Worth managers who respond slowly to tenant requests will find their rental units vacated in a hurry. Prompt responses to complaints or maintenance needs are a big part of what makes good communication for rental property management. Fort Worth property management companies can improve their complaint response by following these pointers:

1.    Multiple Channels for Communication

It may feel odd to provide tenants with several ways to file a complaint, as though you are inviting the complaints. But really this is the first step to good communication. When a tenant is frustrated and looking for a way to be heard, having a difficult time finding an open line of communication can add insult to injury and ultimately make it more difficult for you to recover from the initial concern. Make this step easy. Companies like Specialized RPM provide excellent support with:

●     a 24/7 emergency live person hotline

●     a non-emergency phone number for business hours

●     an email address

●     an electronic submission form through a website or tenant portal

2.    24 Hour Response Time

A prompt response is key in providing quality communication and complaint resolution. Even if the issue detailed in the complaint can’t be resolved within a single day, the tenant should at least get word that the complaint reached rental property management. Fort Worth managers who are unable to respond within this timeframe should offer an apology for the delay when they do respond.

3.    Update Regularly

Once the complaint is filed and received, it will most likely need additional time to resolve for a property management company. Fort Worth tenants should be able to expect this series of communications until the issue is resolved:

●     The tenant files a complaint through one of the many channels available

●     The property manager responds within 24 hours with a courtesy acknowledgment that he or she received the complaint and would be working quickly to address it

●     After reviewing the issue, the property manager outlines the steps needed to resolve the concern (this could include hiring a contractor, working with a neighbor, etc.)

●     The property manager then calls the tenant to inform the tenant of when the issue will be resolved

●     Finally, after the issue is addressed, the property manager again calls the tenant to confirm the issue is completely resolved

Communication is certainly a skill, and because it’s a skill, it’s something that can be practiced and learned. Following these steps will set you on a great path to good complaint-resolution communication. Specialized RPM has expert communicators on their team with a 98% customer satisfaction rating. Ask today how they can help you have a more hassle-free leasing experience. Information at http://www.specializedrpm.com/

Physical Disabilities and Your Lease Agreement

For people with a mental or physical disability, renting instead of buying a home can sometimes be a better option. Individuals with disabilities are a protected class of citizens, whether it’s mental or physical, and discrimination against them for their disabilities is a serious offense. Fort Worth property managers should take care to ensure their lease agreement and screening process are free from discrimination.

What qualifies as a disability?

●     The person has written record of an issue legally classified as a disability

●     The person experiences an issue, whether mental or physical, that limits his or her ability to perform major life activities

●     The person is recognized by others as having a disability

Why are people with disabilities protected?

The Fair Housing Act protects people from being denied housing because of race, color, sex, religion, presence of children, or disability.

What am I required to do as a property management company?

Fort Worth management companies should fully educate all employees on the requirements of the Fair Housing Act and the nuances of applying it. Things as simple as asking how severe a disability is for an applicant is not acceptable and could be grounds for a lawsuit. Service animals are not pets and should not be treated as such with pet fees and policies.

To navigate the complicated waters of the Fair Housing Act, enlist help from expert Fort Worth property managers at Specialized RPM. Put their professional team to work for you today. Learn more at http://www.specializedrpm.com/

How Can Fort Worth Property Managers Avoid Legal Mistakes?

Fort Worth property managers should be aware that the business of real estate comes with plenty of legal considerations. When working with people and their belongings, ignorance of the laws protecting them can lead to costly legal mistakes. It’s important to be well-informed to protect your tenants, yourself, and your business. Here are three legal mistakes Fort Worth property management should avoid:

1.    Do Repairs

Tenants have a right to a safe and “habitable” living environment. This means legal protections to ensure working heat, electric, and water appliances. Roofs and windows should be free of leaks. Although a landlord can hire out work as needed, the landlord is responsible for ensuring the property is well kept and up to legal living standards. Refusing to repair something in this category can lead to a lawsuit against the unit’s Fort Worth property managers.

2.    Do Honor the Right to Privacy

While a tenant doesn’t own the property outright, after the lease is signed and the keys are handed from the Fort Worth property managers to the new tenant, the tenant has a right to privacy. A landlord should provide at least a 24 hour written notice to the tenant before the landlord needs to enter the unit for any non-emergency needs. While emergencies can be an exception to this, managers should always be respectful of their tenants and their living space.

3.    Do Follow the Fair Housing Act

Screening tenants is an important part of responsible Fort Worth property management, but respecting protected classes is a vital part of legal Fort Worth property management. You cannot deny renting a unit based on race, religion, national origin, color, gender, disability, or family status. Be careful that your questions and screening processes do not reflect discrimination in any way. You can screen based on credit checks, rental histories, criminal backgrounds, and even terrorist activities

Specialized RPM has the experience and in-house legal team that keep property owners in compliance with all regulations and laws pertaining to their property. Learn more about the benefits of having the professional team of managers from Specialized RPM on your side at http://www.specializedrpm.com/

Fort Worth Property Management Gets Greener

“Going green” isn’t a new idea— and now is just as important as ever to ensure you’re environmentally responsible. Being responsible doesn’t have to mean changing to a special diet or buying a different car, and it could be as simple as changing a few small habits around your Fort Worth property management office. Here are a few ideas for property managers. Ft. Worth will thank you for your green efforts.

Water Bottles

Many offices provide bottled water to employees and clients. Ditch the plastic water bottles for an installed water filtration system. Millions of tons of plastic waste are thrown away every year, and this small change could make a difference in reducing that amount of waste. Gathering around the water cooler is still possible with a filtration system and your Fort Worth property management team can still solve the world’s problems with conversations around the cooler.

Light Bulbs

Changing from fluorescent and incandescent lights to LED lights can feel like a costly switch, but it’s truly an investment. LED lights last longer and use significantly less energy than other bulbs. LED lights are also free from the mercury or toxic gases found in many other bulbs.

Paper

Offices are often filled with stacks of papers on desks and in filing cabinet draws. Moving to as much of a paperless process as possible is the way to go for both cost and environmental reasons. Paperless isn’t necessarily possible for 100% of our work, so supplementing with recycled paper made of PCW (post-consumer waste) is the way to go for Fort Worth property management.

Vendors

You don’t have to save the environment single-handedly. Looking for partners through supportive vendors can be an easy way to contribute. Purchasing office supplies and cleaning supplies from “green” vendors and companies could show your “green” intentions to your clients and property managers. Ft. Worth businesses striving for environmentally-friendly efforts can often make the greatest difference when working together. A few simple changes can go a long way.

Specialized RPM is the Fort Worth property management company that cares about our community. Learn more how they help owner and tenant clients have a hassle-free leasing experience. Find them at http://www.specializedrpm.com/

How Property Managers Handle Noise Complaints

Whether it is from one tenant disturbing another, a tenant disturbing a neighbor, or the surrounding neighborhoods affecting your tenant, noise complaints are common issues for all property managers. Fort Worth managers should know how to keep things quiet so tenants can get adequate beauty sleep and have happier dispositions. Here are a few general rules of thumb to keep peace and quiet in the neighborhood:

Tenant-caused Noise

Most noise issues originating from the tenant can be easily addressed if the policies governing the issues were clearly outlined in the rental agreement. If the lease details noise expectations, including quiet hours and penalties for violations, this agreement makes the response easy from the property managers. Ft. Worth residents should be informed of the complaint raised against them and reminded of the policies and consequences for not following the policies. If the issue occurs again, the property manager can simply respond as outlined in the lease. It is always a good idea to verify the legitimacy of the complaints as well to ensure your tenant is fairly treated.

Neighbor-caused Noise

A situation where neighbors are bothering your tenant can be difficult since there is not much within the control of the property managers. Fort Worth residents making noise can be courteously asked to reduce the noise, and often good communication goes a long way to resolving the problem. When communication doesn’t do the trick, find out what local quiet and curfew laws are in your area.

Making an effort to ensure your tenant is comfortable is vital to keeping them in your unit as long as possible, so advocating on their behalf is important. Noise issues can also escalate into larger, more complicated contention between neighbors. Addressing what may seem to be a minor noise complaint can be the first step in preventing bigger problems. Never do anything illegal, including damaging property, trespassing, or retaliating.

Specialized RPM has property managers in Fort Worth with local experience that can help with a hassle-free leasing experience for you. Find out what their team can do for you today. http://www.specializedrpm.com/

Preventing Lead Poisoning in Your Rental Unit

Some people see lead poisoning as a thing of the past, but last year’s focus on Flint, Michigan and lead-poisoned water, has reminded us to be aware of the potential for lead in rental units and the harmful effects it can have on a tenant’s health. For property management, Fort Worth managers as much as Flint managers, our responsibility is to maintain our units to be a safe living environment.

Bringing things a little closer to home for property managers, Fort Worth metals toxicologist and expert on this topic, Trey Brown, a faculty associate at the University of Texas at Arlington, said that, “childhood lead poisoning is the number one environmental contaminant-driven disease in the country, and nobody knows this.”

Here are some tips for your property management. Fort Worth rental units can be free of lead paint if you follow these steps:

1.    To remove lead paint, completely clean one room at a time as you work through the unit. Seal off doorways, vents, or other air ducts to prevent contaminating other areas. Clothes, hair coverings, and gloves that can be thrown away after the removal are best to keep your exposure to a minimum. Use goggles and respirators. And, for those without experience in lead paint removal on your team of property management, Fort Worth has skilled professionals who can ensure it is done correctly. The property managers with Specialized RPM can help oversee that paint removal is completed as safely as possible.

2.    For paint too difficult to remove, you need to completely seal the paint with a new, high-quality paint on top. By adding this layer of paint, the lead paint underneath is no longer a threat. Don’t go cheap. It’s important this paint lasts without chipping. Check for chipping during your routine maintenance inspections of the unit.

Poisoning from lead paint is a real threat to the health of your tenants. Keep your tenants safe and address your lead paint today with the help of experts at Specialized RPM. Learn more about our comprehensive list of services at http://www.specializedrpm.com/