Tenants are the lifeblood of the investment real estate business but can also be the most frustrating aspect of your day. If you are a landlord, you understand how great it is when your tenants are amazing. They pay rent on time, and they leave the cozy condominium in immaculate condition every time they move out. However, nothing is ever truly perfect in life. You are going to run across a few bad eggs in your real estate career.

Tenants that are high maintenance, constantly nagging your property manager, or who bring you nothing but headaches are the worst. Their bad attitude can seep into your building and create an unwelcoming environment. You will also have to deal with situations where lawyers may be required only to resolve conflicts, thereby prolonging the length of an already frustrating process.

Here are some ways to deal with bad tenants on a delicate level:

1. Listen to the Complaint:

No matter how angry it makes, you always listen to your tenants’ complaints. Not only will you be able to offer them a service that they will value and appreciate, but you will also be able to find a solution to their problems.

2. Verify the Claim:

Investigate every claim made by the tenant thoroughly. It may turn out to be something that your property manager can solve, or it could be something that needs to be addressed by the maintenance staff.

3. Show Genuine Concern:

Do not demonize the tenants at any level. Show them that you take them seriously and want to help them resolve their issues. Give them your time and attention as you might not always be able to resolve their issues immediately.

4. Keep a Strictly Business Relationship:

Once you have verified the claim and managed to find a solution to their problem, do not go out of your way to be friendly or talk about unrelated topics. Maintaining a strictly business relationship with tenants will ensure that they are respectful of every interaction. You may even impose a clause in your lease stating that you will do business only on business-related topics, thereby preventing them from discussing personal matters.

5. Communicate If You End Up Caving to the tenant:

If you are unable to convince the tenant to go with your decision for whatever reason, never be ashamed to admit to them that you have caved in to their demands. Communication will be of utmost importance to establish a healthy professional relationship.

These are just a few ways that you can deal with your tenants delicately. Remember that regardless of the situation, the first step is to listen to the tenants’ claim and then either verify it or not.