Buzz
About 25% of people admit to having a neighbor they simply can’t stand, often due to complaints like loud noise or trespassing. While it’s frustrating when the person next door is just an inconvenient stranger, imagine if that person was the very landlord of the property you’re renting?
If you’re about to move into such a situation—or already find yourself in it—there are three crucial steps to take right away to make sure your living arrangement doesn’t spiral into chaos.
Build a rapport
Good communication is essential when dealing with both neighbors and landlords. You’ll need to engage with your landlord and neighbors, so the first step when settling into a property near your landlord is to create that connection. Not only does interacting with your neighbors offer psychological and practical benefits, but you also want to avoid the awkwardness of only meeting your landlord when you need something fixed.
Building a friendly relationship with your landlord can make handling issues or requests much smoother. It also helps to shift your relationship from just a name on a rent check to a neighbor—someone your landlord can connect with on a human level.
Set Clear Boundaries
However, creating that relationship with your landlord doesn’t mean you need to become best friends. This is still a business relationship, and you should approach it as such. Being friendly is important, but you need to establish clear boundaries to avoid awkward situations, especially if a dispute arises.
Effective Communication. Keep your interactions with your landlord and neighbor separate. There should be a specific way to communicate with your landlord about apartment issues, as opposed to casual neighbor chats. Find out how they prefer to be contacted—via text, email, or phone—and stick to that method. Unless your landlord prefers face-to-face interactions, treat them as two different people: your neighbor and your landlord.
Avoid Over-communication. Respect the balance. Don’t knock on your landlord’s door every time you have a concern. But don’t let them cross boundaries either by constantly inserting themselves into your personal life or commenting on your decisions. Legally, unless they harass you or violate your privacy, you have limited recourse, but you can always remind them of the preferred communication style you agreed upon—and follow those same rules yourself.
Protect Your Privacy
One of the challenges of having your landlord live next door is the fear that they’ll become the self-appointed 'Fun Police,' constantly observing your behavior and intruding on your space. A nosy neighbor can be bothersome, but when that same neighbor is also your landlord, they can knock on your door and demand changes, making you feel powerless and invaded.
Here are a few steps you can take to safeguard your privacy:
Understand the local laws. While landlords have a legal 'right of entry' and can access your apartment under certain circumstances, tenants are also entitled to 'privacy' and 'quiet enjoyment.' This right may also be outlined in your lease agreement. Although most landlords don’t spend their time snooping through your home, it’s important to know your rights before you walk in and find them in your fridge.
Add privacy without risking your deposit. The old saying 'good fences make good neighbors' rings true here: Making it harder for neighbors to invade your space can help protect your privacy. Taking simple, renter-friendly steps will also prevent your landlord from inadvertently seeing things you’d prefer to keep private. Consider options like installing privacy film on your windows, using tension rods to hang curtains, adding potted plants to your outdoor areas, or placing a screen on your patio. These solutions are inexpensive, safe for your security deposit, and can provide real privacy in your home.
Living next to your landlord doesn’t have to be a nightmare. By setting clear boundaries, opening up communication, and safeguarding your privacy, you can ensure that sharing a space with your landlord as a neighbor can be a positive experience instead.
