Today, people frequently talk about how you can’t watch the news without receiving some “misinformation.” Whether the story is national, state, or local, people can make assumptions only to find out pieces are missing from the story.

How can anyone make an informed decision if they only receive a portion of the facts? Vital details could change their mind and provide a bigger picture of the topic. The same is true for property investors with single-family homes in North Texas. And if you are trying to manage a rental around Allen, Texas, while living out of state, that could happen often.

Some out-of-state landlords have a good relationship with their tenants. The renter may be a family member who has demonstrated responsibility. Or a tenant came with glowing references and a stellar credit score. Things could go well for some time, and then something happens to cause tension. For instance, the out-of-town landlord checks in to see if everything is okay at the rental. Are there any maintenance issues that require attention? The renter may say everything is fine. But they forgot to mention that there’s been a bit of sewage backup in the bathtub. It tends to drain back down eventually, so the renter doesn’t say anything.

Then, at some point, the sewage backup worsens, and by the time the landlord becomes aware of it, an underground pipe bursts, making it an expensive emergency. Additionally, since the landlord is out of town, the renter assists by obtaining estimates for the work. Then they send the expensive quotes, thinking the more expensive quote is the better one. At this point, the misinformation has cost a property investor thousands more than they weren’t expecting to pay. If there had been a local Property Management team in Allen, Texas, involved, it could have been handled better.

An expert local property management firm helps both tenants and landlords

Now, let’s flip that story around. What if the tenant is diligent and provides all the details, but the landlord doesn’t respond with the same urgency? For instance, let’s say the sewer system to the house is ancient, and there is frequent sewage backup in the bathroom. The tenant tells the landlord, and a plumber is called. The plumber explains that the problem is related to sewage issues caused by a mature tree in the front yard. The work to clear and restore the underground pipes could be extensive and expensive. So, the out-of-state homeowner decides to sit on the problem for a few months. Throughout that time, the tenant has been struggling with bouts of raw sewage.

Perhaps the landlord isn’t aware of the fact that tenants have rights in Texas. For instance, every tenant has “a right to a safe and habitable living environment.” And if a renter is well-informed and proactive, they’ll know their rights. And they deserve to have the problem handled with urgency. If the landlord continues to dismiss an environmental hazard, it could escalate into a legal situation.

It doesn’t matter if the tenant is a friend or family member. It doesn’t matter if the landlord is giving them a “great deal” on the rent. Tenants have rights, and if they choose to use them, that could cause an out-of-state landlord to make several unexpected trips into town to a courthouse.

Just in case you are interested, here is some information that every North Texas landlord should know, courtesy of the Texas State Law Library.

The message here is it’s better to find a top local property management Allen, Texas firm. We can handle urgent situations before they become expensive headaches for a landlord. And that includes keeping property investors thoroughly updated on the “news” about a rental home.