The relationship between landlords and tenants is complex on a theoretical level, but for the most part tenants and landlords that try their best will get on well far more often than they don’t.

According to a study cited by Landlord Today, two-thirds of private tenants have a positive relationship with their landlord, and only 13 per cent claim that they have a negative one, leaving the remaining tenth feeling somewhat neutral.

These findings have surprised some observers, particularly in the wake of legislation such as the Renters Rights Bill and its somewhat pointed observations of the sector as a whole, but the answer is similar to why people perceive travelling by aeroplane as more dangerous than it is.

Most tenants and landlords get on fine, or the latter use letting agents to take a more hands-off approach to their rented accommodation, but because it involves people’s homes, the negative stories can become somewhat intense with disputes that can escalate.

What is the secret to a harmonious relationship between landlord and tenant, and what can a landlord or letting agent do to foster it?

Maintain A Line Of Communication

A positive relationship does not necessarily mean that landlords and tenants have to be friends, but simply that there is a positive, constructive line of communication where issues can be discussed and resolved easily and freely.

Thankfully, many tenants have reported that this is the case, with the majority of them saying that their landlord is easy to get a hold of if they have a problem with the property that needs fixing.

Conversely, landlords provide plenty of advance notice for regular utility checks and essential repairs.

Most landlords already have a system of communication and will take the contact details of each tenant, so it is a matter of being constructive, responsive and helpful.

Proactive Support

Another aspect of supporting tenants is offering to help with property issues even if they are not strictly requested.

These help make a property feel safe and help a tenant feel like their landlord cares about their experience living in the property. Good deeds are often returned in kind in the form of maintaining the property, taking a stake in its maintenance and paying rent on time with no issues.

Allowing Tenants Acceptable Leeway

Most of the time, renters will follow a somewhat strict tenancy agreement that often includes rules that ban redecorating, adding pictures or posters to walls and keeping pets, with some including these as grounds for potential breach of contract and eviction.

Some of these changes are set to be incorporated into the Renters Rights Bill, but the best landlords allow tenants to make their rented accommodation feel like home.

Not only is this good for its own sake, but it builds a better reputation because it proves that a landlord is reasonable when it comes to their property. By creating exceptions, the other rules will often be more strictly respected by landlords.

Ultimately, tenants are people, as are landlords, and the secret to positive relationships is based on the same principles of respect, politeness and professionalism that other interpersonal relationships are.