Rising Tenant Debt Challenges in a Down Economy

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by Bill Gray

As The Landlord Doctor, I have reviewed over 70,000 cases of tenant debt, encompassing more than $200 million dollars. Every day, I witness the negative impact of our economy on landlords and property managers across the country who seek my advice and instruction in reducing or collecting tenant debt. As I sit on boards of professional associations and talk to the people who attend my conferences, I am astounded by the increased spark of questions and concerns raised by landlords because of the economy.

As more people are displaced from their homes, those questions and concerns will continue to rise. The need for extensive tenant screening will increase as people become victims of the economy, and the need to collect tenant debt will be a pressing issue for landlords. There has already been a tremendous increase in landlords seeking my assistance in these areas, which is why I thought I had share two common questions which have been posed in the past few months.

My tenant is three months behind on rent. He is always been a good tenant, but has lost his job. What should I do?

First, like you, I sympathize with your tenants situation. However, three months is a long time to receive free housing.

My tenant skipped out on their lease and damaged my rental. How can I collect what they owe?

This situation can be more complex. While its certainly something no landlord wants to encounter, it happens. Though this situation is more common during tough times, efficient property managers have learned to minimize it by applying good business practices from the time the prospect walks through the door, until he or she moves out of your rental.

While I know that each of those situations has its own unique set of circumstances, a common theme prevails”an increasing number of landlords and property managers are experiencing a rise in cases of tenant debt. These new challenges should make us more aware of the need for prevention, education and remedies in screening and the collection of tenant debt.

Use this difficult time to hone your skills as a property manager and your focus on the details. Improve your business practices by making small changes and improvements. As a result, youll decrease incidences of tenant debt and increase your profits. These are critical areas landlords must address to survive in any economy.