Should you consider a tenant as a friend? If you are renting your property out privately and you are not appointing letting agents, then you want to consider this question and its answer. Although it is significant that you are capable to get along with your tenants, you besides want to make sure that you do not get too associated and friendly. You can imagine that if they are fond of you, they will look after your house better or that possibly could give rise to them to pay on time. Have you wondered about your situation if the companionship gets very friendly? Have you thought about what possibly could happen if you commence socialising with your tenants. What happens if they throw a celebration? Have you thought about what happens next? Obviously, you do not want to hurt them. If they have asked you to a social gathering, would you accept the invitation? Are you going to feel relaxed being at the social gathering in your property? It is always good to receive a party invitation, especially for the female landlords, who enjoy geting dressed up in their special womens evening dresses. Everything is going right now but what possibly could happen if it doesn't stay this way? What happens if your friendly tenant starts paying their money behind schedule? How do you think the tenant, who may view themselves as your companion now, will feel if you want to sell the property or request for the house back and have to serve them eviction notices? These tenants have now become your friends, are you going to be able to create business decisions without feeling guilty? The rent starts coming in late, or they are having difficulties paying, do you then get more forgiving with them or do you treat them in the same way as other tenants you know, on a purely professional basis? Had you thought about this ahead or were merely trusting that everything should be fine? It is probably more likely that you believed becoming friendly was more of an advantage and may shield you from some of these situations, but that is not invariably the instance. However, as a property investor, your properties are your occupation and you have to make sure that you manage your business properly and successfully. You ought to sustain your landlord/tenant relationship strictly as a business relationship rather than a friendship. This does not bring about that you can not be friendly towards your tenants and get along with them in the course of the natural contact you experience with the tenants, for example when carrying out an inspection but you need to see to it that that you keep check on these relationships. By associating too much with your tenants and becoming too sociable, can have an affect on a forthcoming situation. Your tenants might not all the time appreciate or pay attention to you in the same way as previously they did, now that they regard themselves to be your friends. They may ask or want more time, understanding or unique treatment. Remember that if you do socialise at all with your tenants whether it is being polite n accepting a formal invitation or attending a certain affair, that your behaviour is imperative. How you dress (whether it be women's cocktail dresses or suit), language and conduct should portray your professional image even in these places. By having a good professional relationship without the trouble of friendship could make the management of your rental business much easier and avert any tricky difficult situations.