How to Resolve a Dispute with Your Landlord
There may be situations over the time you are a tenant when
you have a dispute with your landlord. This can be a threatening situation.
Landlords are authority figures. You also have rights as a tenant. Your
needs are important. It’s best to maintain the same respect for
your landlord as when you first met him or her when you interviewed for
your apartment. It takes honesty, clear communication, and patience to
settle a dispute with a landlord. You also have to be considerate to your
landlord and you may have to compromise something to resolve a dispute.
It is worth the effort. You want your landlord to be a future reference
for you.
- When you have a disagreement with your landlord remain truthful.
Honesty is your best resource when you feel conflict with another. This
will help you remain clear about your disagreement. Warning: being honest
does not mean you should tell your landlord off if you have resentment
toward him or her. You need to show your landlord respect. Honesty means
that if something you value does not seem right between you and your
landlord you may need to communicate this to him or her.
- Landlords are human beings and they do make mistakes. Calmly
talk to your landlord about your problem. Tell your landlord specifically
about how you understand the situation should work. Listen to your landlord’s
response. Then respectfully describe to your landlord how you think
things are going differently from the way they should. You can explain
how this is an inconvenience to you.
- Have patience with your landlord. Listen to your
landlord’s response to your version of the conflict. Consider
your landlord’s point of view. Recognize when your landlord is
taking your point into consideration. Understand how he or she is trying
to address your concern. You may have to compromise to a change in policy
or a different understanding of the situation from yours. The change
might not be all that bad. Recognize how you can still get what you
need out of the situation.
- Avoid arguing with your landlord and yelling at your landlord.
If this starts to happen, back off. Learn to recognize that you are
losing your temper. Calm down and think the situation over. Make a plan
to talk to your landlord about the dispute at another time. This shows
your landlord respect and that you value his or her authority. The satisfaction
of telling your landlord off is not worth the pain of getting evicted.
Later you will want to be able to get a good tenant reference from your
landlord.
- If you still feel that your rights are being denied or your
landlord is being intolerant to you, decide to get legal help.
Contact Pine Tree Legal Assistance at (207) 774-4753. You do have rights
as a tenant and your landlord has an obligation to you. Avoid taking
the law into your own hands. Good, sound legal advice will always help
your situation.
You need to be honest, communicate clearly, remain patient and be respectful
in order to solve a dispute with a landlord. Be considerate of your landlord’s
authority and point of view. Recognize that you might have to compromise
some of your wants in order to continue meeting your needs. Avoid getting
angry directly to your landlord. Finally, get legal support if you need
it. By following these steps you have a great opportunity to resolve any
disputes you may have with your landlord.
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