How to Be a Good Tenant

Being a good tenant has many benefits. It makes your landlord want to keep you around, which means your lease renewals will not come with large rent increases. Your landlord may honor your requests faster. Being a good tenant can also increase your credit score and give you someone to contact when you need a good credit reference. Here are some tips for being a good tenant.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Pay your rent on time. This means pay it on or before the first of every month. Most states allow you to pay the rent by the fifth of the month, but mortgages are due on the first. If you save your landlord from four to five days of phone calls from their lender, they will appreciate you.
2. Keep your home and yard clean. Having excess dirt in a home will hasten wear and tear on the unit. Your hard floors will become scuffed. Your carpets will need to be replaced, costing your landlord more money.
3. Let your landlord know when you need repairs. While you may think that bothering your landlord will make him or her displeased with you, never bothering them at all will worry them terribly. A tenant who ignores the need for repairs during their tenancy will cost their landlord more money in the end.
4. Follow the rules of your lease. Do not take in pets without permission, especially if this is spelled out on your lease. Do not move extra people into the home without permission. Do not make unauthorized alterations to the apartment.
5. Give notice when it is time to move on. Leaving your apartment or rental house on good terms is also very important to your relationship with your landlord. You never know when you will want to rent from them again or when you will want to use them as a credit reference.