Effective communication is one of the keys to maintaining a successful relationship with your landlord. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when speaking to your landlord in person or over the phone:
- Prepare ahead of time. It can be helpful to write down your main points in advance, or have a practice conversation with a friend or family member.
- Consider your timing. Try to avoid having a conversation when you are upset and emotional. If possible, give yourself some time to cool down before approaching your landlord.
- Stay on topic. Bringing up irrelevant issues can derail the conversation and make it difficult to address your primary concern. If your landlord is getting off topic, acknowledge that you have heard what they are saying, but then try to refocus them on the original conversation.
- Consider their perspective. Try to be as empathetic as possible. An effective communicator is respectful of the other person’s perspective, while also clearly and calmly stating their own.
- Be professional. It is in your best interest to be professional when dealing with your landlord, regardless of how they have treated you in the past. Stay focused on getting the best possible outcome, rather than getting carried away in an argument.
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