STEPS TO AVOID!
In Trinidad & Tobago, being a landlord has its advantages, but just like any other business, it has its disadvantages. Being a landlord requires dedication and patience to deal with these problems. As a landlord, it is important to involve legal counsel when settling a dispute. This ensures no party is taken advantage of.
One of the major problems faced by landlords is property damage claims. In Trinidad & Tobago, one of the worst-case scenarios is having an angry tenant who destroys your property because of petty issues between you and them. Some tenants can revenge their landlords by causing thousands of dollars worth of damage. Some go to an extent of stealing appliances and smashing walls. In these situations, the most common solution is fixing any raising issues in your space. When signing a lease, consult a lawyer so that you can take action in case of these situations and also protect your property.
Failure of tenants to pay regular rent is one of the biggest concerns among landlords in Trinidad & Tobago. Apart from being stressful, it is time-consuming. Talk to your tenants to see if there is a way you can solve the issue before evicting them. As a landlord, keep rental payment records so that if you decide to evict them, you will present proper transactions records. Insurance comes in handy in these situations, as they can cover loss of rent and any costs incurred during eviction.
Because of a lot of paperwork, it can be hard for landlords to stay organized, which can end up in legal trouble. A lot of work can be stressful and one can lose very important files which will lead to mismanagement or missing important details.
In Trinidad & Tobago, just like any other business, property management comes with a lot of responsibilities which sometimes the landlord is not prepared for. Important tasks like screening tenants, rent collection, keeping the tenants happy, dealing with day-to-day complaints can be stressful to deal with. Having to deal with all these can take a toll on landlords.
As a landlord in Trinidad & Tobago, it is mandatory to understand all laws governing the tenant and landlords, which can be a very long and hard process. Understanding these laws can help you avoid any legal troubles.