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New to job - Landlord Forum thread 328672

New to job by Newbie (kentucky) on December 12, 2014 @22:24

                              
I am taking over for a property manager who is retiring. I am new to this business but have experience in human resources and customer service so I am familiar with the "dealing with the difficult" part of the job. Here is my question/problem: Previous manager is a people person who has not enforced any rent collection policy. She has the system set up where she hand collects rent from each tenant - some once a month, some every two weeks, some every week. Most pay in cash so I am left packing several thousand dollars around in a bank bag all day. Very uncomfortable with that. It also feels very unprofessional to visit these people like they are my friends and not my tenants. There are some tenants who are 3 or more months overdue in rent and no late fees are ever charged to anyone ever. I am attempting to correct some of these issues but I am needing advice. I want to set up "office hours" where they will be able to bring rent to me instead of me trying to track them down. I am still trying to get the "office" cleaned up and usable but I need to find a good way to transition tenants to new policies. Any advice would be appreciated.
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Re: New to job by Anonymous on December 12, 2014 @22:58 [ Reply ]
Are you a licensed property manager?
Re: New to job by Anonymous on December 13, 2014 @09:28 [ Reply ]
charge the landlord a collection fee for each tenant that you have to physically go to. make them deal with the lease changes.
Re: New to job by catherine (il) on December 13, 2014 @09:40 [ Reply ]
1. approach the owner and come up with a management transition plan; letter to all tenants informing them of the turnover of management.
a.in the letter, express the new by-laws that all rent is to be paid on time in the office; no cash accepted - certified or money orders, personal checks
b. all late rental payments will charged late fees
c. outstanding rent owed from the beginning of January will accessed and if not paid up-to-date eviction proceedings will begin
2. don't be their 'friend' - it's a job, treat it as such
3. most importantly, explain to owner that they should not have contact with tenants - sometimes owners are stupid and sympathetic to deadbeat tenants - allowing them to get behind in rent
4. wish everyone a merry christmas, happy new year and welcome to the new management rules and regulations
- no exceptions
Re: New to job by Anonymous on December 13, 2014 @14:43 [ Reply ]
Problem here is that this is probably a lower income complex and may have many immigrants and others that do business all in cash. Many of these people cannot get a bank or checking account. However they often will do business with money orders. You can ask for postal money orders instead of checks. You also need a good computer program to keep better track of this mess.

My advice it to go back to a system where the rent is due the first of each month for everybody. You also need to make a plan regarding those people in arrears. Do you make a plan to get them caught up? or do you evict and get better tenants.

What is your plan for placing new tenants? This will be a big deal going forward. Seems that subpar tenants are the norm in this place - again perhaps this is a lower rent type of complex.
Re: New to job by Joel on December 13, 2014 @16:21 [ Reply ]
It sounds like you know what you are doing, but I am wondering why so many rents are being paid in person and in cash.

Is there a reason these people don't have checking accounts?
Does the lease have to be modified with a change of terms to make rents payable by check, electronic payment or money order?

I know in some areas, tenants need a more hands on approach and have to be collected from any way you can. If they don't know someone is coming to the door for the money, they'll never take the initiative to actually put the money in the bank and write a check and buy envelopes and stamps and go to a mailbox or post office.
If they are those type of tenants they may not be able to handle going the extra distance.
Good luck.
Re: New to job by Anonymous on December 14, 2014 @09:59 [ Reply ]
You are not cut out for this job as a property manager. You do not know your landlord tenant laws and whats required. You have no legal authority to change terms or conditions, only the landlord or property owner has this right to modify the lease terms. As another poster asked, are you licensed to be a property manager in your state?

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