You just signed your lease with your new landlord. After which, you’ve come to realize that he or she is a little harder to take than the previous owners. What could you do to be on good terms with him or her? Here are some points you could follow.

Be a good tenant. Without saying much, this should come naturally from you as a tenant. This includes complying with the rules established by the owner. It means paying both rent and utilities on time and keeping the apartment clean and even the outside area tidy.

You also have to deal with following the rules when you have guests and when you have to make changes. Before signing the lease, you should ask any other questions that are floating in your mind, such as if pets are allowed, if wall decorations are allowed to be hung, or anything else relevant.

Be communicative. As a renter, you should always go the extra mile when it comes to building a closer relationship with your landlord. If that means inviting him over to your house for special occasions, then so be it. If that means greeting him every time you see him, do it.

Be honest and concise with your needs. Although it is the landlord’s duty to see if your rental property is in good condition, there are times when the tenant needs to discuss their needs. However, this must be said in a very polite and honest way. For example, if your water line is leaking, ask your landlord to fix it. You can ask if it is necessary to contact a plumber on his side and if he will bear the service fees. In case he pays the service fees, it will be deducted from your monthly rental fee.

If there are instances where the landlord seems difficult to approach or simply uncooperative with your needs, you must comply with existing state rental property laws. There are provisions where you can probably file complaints.

Be prepared with documentation. In cases where your landlord becomes too difficult to handle with your requests, then you should be ready with the paperwork. It will be helpful to take pictures of the damage at the location where you are requesting repairs. You should write down specific dates and times that you talked to your landlord about your problems.

The landlord-tenant relationship is like other forms of relationships that need understanding to work on both sides. Otherwise, there will be misunderstandings and a wedge will be created between the two parties until the relationship becomes unhealthy.