The economic downturn left most consumers strapped for cash. Many people are currently exploring innovative ways of generating an additional income. Not everyone has the time or energy to get an extra job, however letting a backyard cottage or studio unit to a student or young professional can be a simple method of generating a few extra bucks. With internet access, advertising an apartment for rent is as painless as a few clicks. However, sometimes the admin and headaches that accompany a new tenant or an apartment for rent is not worth the extra money. If you are lying awake listening to loud music or dealing with additional guests who seem to move in by the minute, you might want to reflect on some creative ways of parting with your tenant. Following official channels can take months and might be a very costly exercise especially if the lease is for a longer period of time. Here are some suggestions (that are probably not viable but will make you feel a lot better):
Politely insist that your tenant attend a daily 06:00 breakfast at your house as this “extra” is included in the monthly rental. Just make sure the tenant is not a morning person!
Start a rumour about how robberies in the area increased in the past weeks.
If you have small kids, make sure they visit your tenant at regular intervals.
Put the kennels directly next to the tenant’s apartment.
Wake the tenant in the middle of the night to politely ask him to move his car.
Make it clear that he should start contributing to household tasks like mowing the lawn.
Finally (on a more serious note) you can spare yourself a lot of trouble by advertising the apartment for rent together with your requirements on a reliable property website. A credit check, salary slip and references from former landlords are probably the easiest way to ensure that you find a tenant that you would like to keep in the months (and years!) to come.