How To Treat Your Subtenants The Right Way

By Emily Plummer on December 30, 2015

Subletting your place to new subtenants is a sensitive period of transition. It sets a precedent for how your subletter-subtenant relationship will continue on during your time together. And for this reason, it is incredibly important to present yourself in a way that elicits the respect, fear, camaraderie, etc. that you wish to receive from your subtenants.

So how you portray yourself as a subletter those first few weeks with new subtenants will depend on how you envision your relationship with them. Each subletter will approach this idea in their own way based on their own personality.

But of course, whichever path you embark on, you must be able to command the respect of your subtenants. Without this, your subtenants may act irresponsibly in your apartment, delay rent checks, or disrespect communal utilities.

Being a friend

Maybe you see yourself as more of a people person. You would like to buddy up to your new subtenants, see them as your acquaintances, friends, even extended roommates, rather than people simply sending in rent money each month.

If this is the case, welcome new subtenants as they move into their apartments. Go visit them on moving day if you can (or soon after, as moving day can often be a chaotic mess of cardboard boxes and designating bedrooms) and introduce yourself as more than a subletter, but also a friend. Talk about shared interests and give them recommendations for places to eat or things to do in the area.

Maybe you’ll ditch your superior image and be pals with those you supervise, like Michael Scott here.
(Image via Fanpop.com)

The role of being a friend and a subletter, however, can be tricky. As much as you can joke and chat with your subtenants as equals, you are still involved in a professional relationship with them. You are responsible for their behavior in your apartment and for the collection of their rent each month — both subjects that can get touchy between friends if you have not already set a precedent for how to handle them.

Even as you welcome them into your apartment as a neighbor and a friend, ensure they understand your role as a subletter first and foremost. Hopefully if they respect you as a friend, they will respect your position as a subletter and fulfill their responsibilities to you without any issues. However, if not, you will have laid the groundwork to deal with them professionally, so as not to have your work interfered with by a friendship.

Being an authoritative figure

On the other hand, maybe you wish to be seen as a more authoritative subletter. You hope to exude an image of power or at least, deserving of respect.

So again, you have to lay the groundwork. Introduce yourself to new subtenants as they move in. But go in with confidence, and give them a breakdown of their expected behaviors and actions as your subtenants. Make sure they understand up front what action can and will be taken against them by the landlord if they disobey these expectations and rules.

Most importantly in this position, you have to follow through. If you want to be seen as an authoritative subletter, you have to comply with the rules and retributions you set out for subtenants. If you hear a complaint about misuse of laundry machines from your neighbors, do not wait, address it or let your landlord know immediately. This will ensure that your authority is both accepted and respected among your subtenants.

Somewhere in between

Not everyone falls neatly into either of those two categories. Many subletters simply do their job without commanding authority or building friendships. Regardless, you must be able to gain respect. Without that, you will not be able to do your job well or efficiently. Doing this is as simple as making yourself known in your position among subtenants, laying out rules of the property, and enforcing those rules promptly.

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