No, I'm not A Slumlord, I'm a LANDLORD!

We have been landlords for 17 years now and never had a horror story. We feel blessed. One thing we do, other than keeping the property in good condition and being responsive, is to keep the rents a little under market so that the good renters know that they are getting a good deal and don't start looking to move the week they move in. One client was thrilled at the exorbitant rent a renter agreed to pay but the renter quit paying the second month and had to be evicted. Not fun. 

We are very responsive to our tenants. Most of them tell me they wish all their landlords were as quick to fix problems/issues.

We just signed up with Rentec to see if we can improve our services, but we didn't get the 30 day free trial. 

I have worked for slumlords and it is not pretty nor inviting to be part of such a thing

 I like the use of the tenant portal to communicate

I have been a landlord for over 30 years and cannot remember anyone with a "slumlord" comment.

If they had I have probably forgotten, because it meant nothing to me.  I wouldn't take it personal...they probably thought they were funny.

You sound like an ideal landlord, so don't waste your time being defensive.

Eve

Hi Dulcey,

Great post and so deserving of a Feature. True what David said, if you are the right kind of landlord, then the word would not be used "Slumlord". So many people in our country need to rent but not all tenants keep up the property either and ruin it for the next guy after they are evicted for non-payment.

Love your photo - it reminded me of some of my listings back when we were selling remote properties. Our area had a wave of "Hippies" back in the 70's who built such things and lived in them for a few years before abandoning them to go back to running water and electricity.

I know many of my investors flock to the cheaper homes often in more challenged areas.  But they take care of the properties and often improve the neighborhood.

It's just one of those stigmas, like real estate agents are like car salesmen. Bad jokes are all they are. 

I've had tenants try to make is seem as if I was a slumlord, from faking health issues when there was mildew on a wood frame window (they said the "black mold" was making them ill), to trashing the place.  I've always took the high road and like you, have lived in all my rental units prior to placing them in the rental pool.  I take pride in my properties!!

Dulcey-The public generally has a bias against landlords. Many of those with that perception have a low opinion of corporations and business in general. They fail to take into account bad tenants who make it difficult to operate on a profitable basis. Based on the way you run your business, nothing about which you need to feel defensive.

I've never been called a "slumlord" in almost 50 years in the business....people who select to own those types of properties do so knowing the risks and the potential for name-calling.

In many areas, state and local governments (with limited funding) are the largest slumlords!

Dulcey, I'm glad you're a real landlord!  The investor-landlords I work with go the extra mile for their tenants. They find that a well maintained and updated property attracts tenants that are likely to take care of the property and stay for a lomg tim.

Dulcey, well it looks like you hit a home run with this post.  Funny how people open their mouth and out pops the most thoughtlessl comments.  We are all better off when we think before we speak.  I used to several homes in a mobile home park and rented them to families with children.  It was a good investment and my tenants were happy to have clean, safe, and affordable housing.  I always responded within 24 hours to needed repairs or service. Only had one tenant cause any issues and it was my fault for not being consistent with enforcement of the lease.

I think of "slumlord" as more descriptive of an attitude by some owners.  The property may be fine but the character of the lord may be less.

I agree with Gary #33.  Some landlords do not care about anything except collecting the rent.  They don't care if the tenants are having wild parties, making noise, using drugs or have junk cars parked in the driveway.

We have a neighborhood watch program to try to keep crime out of the neighborhood.  The bad landlords do not support neighborhood watch and do not do tenant screening and they bring crime into the neighborhood.  The police go frequently to the rental properties for noise and disturbances. 

I've always kept up the properties I own, and I respond immediately to my tenants. I had such good experiences with my tenants, I went into property management for others four years ago.