Although the workload of the landlord diminishes when a tenant has settled into his property, there are still routine duties to perform and unscheduled problems to attend to:

- monitoring the tenancy
- organising repairs
- dealing with complaints.

First, though, the developing new relationship between landlord and tenant is worth exploring as failure to adjust can create long-term problems.

Responding To The New Situation

The relationship between landlord and tenant changes enormously when the tenant moves in to a property and makes it his or her home. This can often result in a marked change in attitude from the tenant. A landlord’s first visit to his tenant’s new home, too, can be unsettling.

The tenant has almost certainly marked his or her presence by not only adding personal effects, but also by moving around all the carefully laid out furniture!

Sometimes this can create difficulties.

Recognising the symptoms

The tenant may seem:
- unfriendly
- edgy
- brusque
- wary.

Because of this you may feel:
- upset
- annoyed
- worried
- suspicious. 

Finding the solution

- recognising the signs
- adjusting your own expectation levels
- reassuring the tenant your presence is not threatening by the use of suitable behaviour.
- Adopt a style suited to a visitor in someone else’s home.

Can you think of other suggestions to help establish a good working relationship between landlord and tenant?

Coping with the settling-in period

Sometimes there can be a busy settling-in period at the start of a tenancy as the tenant becomes acquainted with his or her new home. They may call on you for help, advice, or with problems and you will have to respond. Match your response to the nature of the query and, to save your time and effort, ask yourself:

- Is this really my problem?
- Can I deal with this by telephone?
- Will meeting the tenant to assess and discuss the problem be easiest in the long run?
- How can I prevent this happening again?

The length of the settling-in period will depend on the tenant and how well you have made your preparations.

The odd hiccup will happen with the most thorough of preparations and ought to be accepted as such by both parties.

Providing Communication Channels

Adequate channels of communication between you and your tenant are essential for a good working relationship.

You are legally obliged to provide your tenant with an address to which correspondence can be sent to you. Often this will be a home address but other options can be:

- a business address
- a forwarding service
- via your solicitor or agent.

Setting up a telephone link

A telephone link can be very useful in speeding up contact between you and your tenant and in dealing with minor issues which do not need to be formally recorded.

Coping with absence

If you find that you are going to be out of contact for some time, and assuming you have no agent, an alternative point of reference for your tenant has to be planned. What arrangements can you make to ensure your tenancy will run smoothly while you are away?

Monitoring the tenancy

The routine task of monitoring your tenancy is vital in:

- preventing minor problems becoming serious
- avoiding expensive court action
- showing the tenant you are checking
- providing records to back you up.