Actions speak louder than words. We often share this old adage with our schoolchildren, teaching them that the things they do are more important than what they say. This same quip can be applied to the landlord-tenant relationship as well. Your actions as a landlord have serious consequences for the terms of your lease. No matter what the words of your agreement might say, you could be doing more harm than good by acting otherwise.

When Do Actions Speak Louder?

The first thing we need to evaluate is when actions speak louder than the words of an agreement. Too often, landlords are afraid to rock the boat by holding tenants to the terms of the lease. They may be willing to make an exception for pets, late rent payments, and other terms that weren’t originally agreed upon. It’s probable that the landlord believes they are doing the tenant a small favor for a short period of time.

For example, the tenant forgets to pay the rent by the first of the month. You may give them a short grace period of three days before contacting them to state that their payment is now due. When you reach out, they give you a heartfelt apology and an excuse for a family emergency. You feel sorry for them and agree to allow them to pay the rent the following week.

Your words say that the rent should be due by the first of the month, but your actions say it doesn’t particularly matter. This could be a problem if you continuously allow the rent to be paid late each month. Of course, the same sentiment holds true for other actions that a landlord might allow that are contrary to the terms of the lease.

Can I Take It Back?

Are you wondering whether you can take back the new “terms” that have accidentally been established? Unfortunately, you might not be able to turn back the hands of time. You could make some attempt to repair the lease, but it may not hold up in court. Most attorneys would state that you showed implied consent by allowing the behavior in your rental property for an extended period of time.

It’s important that landlords uphold the terms of their contract from the very beginning. Even one deviation from the standard could be problematic. Control and adherence to the rules can be essential in helping you maintain order for the property. Don’t be hesitant to file notices or to force an eviction if a tenant refuses to pay rent on time. These things can come back to haunt you when you tacitly allow the behavior to happen.

You can avoid some of the hassle with your rental property by enlisting the help of the best San Antonio property management company. Pyramis Company can help you to find top-notch tenants and deal with the headache of paperwork that comes with property management. Give us a call today to see how we can help you to take better care of your property!