Skip to main content

How to start off on the right foot

How to start off on the right foot


With the arrival of new tenants in your building, it is important to remain vigilant in order to avoid friction between the tenants, and to promote a smooth transition in order to maintain or improve the quality of life of your tenants.

The integration of a new occupant into a building involves risks which you should seek to minimize. Naturally, the first stage consists of selecting a tenant who will be able to their obligations under fulfill the lease. But your role doesn't stop there.

Building owners are well advised to oversee the integration of new tenants into the building.

The management of the moving process is definitely important for starting things correctly: a tenant who moves into a dwelling which is in bad condition is likely to be left with a negative impression for a long time and this will colour their relations with you and the other tenants. In concrete terms, this means that you need to to ensure that the dwelling is delivered to them in good condition by preparing things head of time with the tenant who is leaving the dwelling. When this isn't possible, it is necessary to be able to clearly explain to the new tenants the corrective measures which will be taken and the time you require require to do so.

Once moved in, you should explain the rules regarding use of the of the common areas of the building to the tenant. This stage is important because an inadequate understanding of these rules is likely to degenerate quickly into conflict.

Then comes the management of infractions by your new tenants: it is important to act quickly because your chance of correcting improper behaviour decreases if you let too much time go by. Noise at improper hours, domestic animals left alone, or whose waste is left on the premises, failure to respect assigned parking space, and improper use of the laundry facilities are among the many examples which can create conflicts between your tenants.

Tenants must be adequately informed in order to allow them to properly understand the reasons the behind the corrective measures required of them. For repeat offenders who don't conform to the rules in spite of your explanations, it is important to send them a written notice request requiring them to correct their behaviour. If this second step is unsuccessful, legal action will probably be required.

Vigilance and action remain the key elements which will enable you to maintain, and even improve the quality of life of your tenants. Do not forget that we are always available to help to determine what course of action to take, ideally before you act rather than afterwards.

About the author

Me Martin A. Messier

Me Martin A. Messier a fait ses études au Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf avant de continuer ses études en droit à l'Université de Montréal. Il est membre du Barreau du Québec depuis 1992, et œuvre auprès des propriétaires de logements locatifs depuis 1993.

Il est entre autres président de l'Association des propriétaires du Québec, propriétaire d'une compagnie de gestion immobilière. Il est fréquemment invité comme conférencier dans le cadre de conférences et de séminaires juridiques et de gestion portant sur le louage immobilier.

Join now

Not already member of the APQ ?

Take advantage of all our services by joining now

This site uses cookies in order to provide you with the best possible user experience. By continuing to browse this site, you agree to the use of cookies.