The relationship between a tenant and a landlord is often a delicate one. While some relationships can be rewarding, others can be challenging.

One side is paying to make this condo their home, and they want to feel like they are getting what they paid for. And the other side is looking to maintain the value of their investment and to ensure rules are followed.

It’s not uncommon for issues to arise between these two parties. As long as the landlord is experienced and professional, and they understand current regulations, all matters should be solved easily without incident.

But that is not always the case. Sometimes things go wrong, and when they do, it can waste a lot of time and money for both parties.

We’ve created this blog to highlight a few of the common disputes that can occur between a landlord and their tenant.

1. Violating Clauses in the Residential Tenancies Act

Tenants have to follow many rules when they sign a lease for a condo. Some are enforced through the building, while others are laws created by the city and province. However, it’s not uncommon for tenants to violate these laws.

The Residential Tenancies Act governs all rental properties in Ontario.

When violations happen, either the landlord or the condo management company will need to step in and resolve the problem.

These violations could be something like a noise complaint, an issue with parking, or something completely unrelated. If a neighbour has an issue, they may contact the landlord or condo management board, and they will need to correct these issues if they want to avoid potential penalties.

If a tenant cannot follow the codes and doesn’t agree that they are breaking any rules, a dispute between them and the landlord can quickly arise. After a few months of issues, this dispute could quickly get out of hand, and legal action might have to be taken by either side.

Disputes with the Landlord and Tenant Board are often long and gruelling unless you have the necessary experience.

2. Missed or Late Rent Payments

Late and missing rent payments are the number one thing you should fear as a landlord.

Rent is due at the start of every month and making sure it’s been received and processed is up to the landlord. You must collect on missing and late rent payment whenever possible because this issue can quickly develop into a larger, long-term problem.

If this is happening every few months and warnings were issued, you may have to consider evicting the current tenant.

These missed and/or late payments can cause a dispute between the tenant and landlord. If the landlord is not experienced and fails to implement an effective way of collecting payments, this increases the chances of there being issues every month when rent is due.

Remember, a positive tenant and landlord relationship are important, but you must treat your rental property as a business. Don’t be afraid to start the eviction process if a tenant isn’t working out. The entire process takes months to years to resolve but is often necessary to remove a nightmare tenant.

3. Excessive Damage to the Condo

There are many risks when a condo owner turns their property over to a new tenant. While we all dream of finding ideal tenants, nightmare tenants do exist, and they can damage your property.

When general damage happens because of wear and tear on things like plumbing (sinks, toilets, faucets, etc.), this is normal damage that the condo owner will look after. But if you are dealing with damages like broken drywall, doors, and other similar things, it is the tenant’s problem.

Both types of damages will need to be managed by the landlord, and understanding the appropriate regulations is important.

Dealing with damages to the property can become a sore point between the tenant and the landlord.

Experienced landlords should document damages closely and keep a running tally of what has been repaired and replaced. When you hire a condo management company, their maintenance teams can keep an eye on the current condition of the property.

4. Eviction Notices

Many of the above items can lead to an eviction notice being handed down by the landlord.

The tenant is given a stated amount of days to pack up and leave the premises when served with an eviction notice. But the tenant has their own rights, and there will be laws the landlord will need to follow.

A landlord must respect the terms of eviction. Violating them can cause additional delays and could provide your tenant with additional legal options.

If the tenant feels they are being treated unfairly, or the landlord is not following specific laws, the tenant could take up legal action. This is the worst-case scenario for a condo owner, and it will cost them money and valuable time.

A successful landlord must stay aware of the laws that govern rental properties. But doing this isn’t easy, and getting caught up in legal battles will drain your resources. Condo management companies can help you navigate your legal options when dealing with tenants. They have developed proven processes for dealing with each of these scenarios.

Let Del Condominium Rentals Handle Your Tenant Disputes

Hiring a condo management company lets you avoid many of the disputes mentioned earlier. Property management companies have extensive experience dealing with these issues.

Del Condominium Rentals has over 30 years of experience managing properties in Toronto and throughout the GTA. We know how to properly enforce the rules for your condo, limiting the number of disputes that you’ll receive.

And if something does come up, we’ll minimize the overall disruption and handle it for you.

Please call us at 647-952-3644 if you’d like to learn more about hiring Del Condominium Rentals or email us at sales@delrentals.com .

Are You Interested in Working With Del Condominium Rentals?
Submit your info below to download FREE eBook and learn more about our services, management cost and more