6 Common Complaints Heard in Student Housing

By uCribs Admin

When you’re a landlord in student housing, complaints are bound to happen. Things break. Other things stop working. One bad tenant annoys everyone else. What separates a great landlord from everyone else is how they deal with the complaints when complaints happen. Through our reviews and emails we received from students, we have compiled a list of the top complaints we’ve heard in student housing and how you can deal with them to keep your tenants happy.

1. The Internet is Too Damn Slow

This is the number 1 complaint from students. For most students, the internet is the be all and end all. It’s not enough to just offer internet service to residents. Students are connected 24/7 with multiple devices and expect to have lightening fast internet that always works. The internet has to be fast and able to handle all the streaming students do these days. When deciding on what to offer your residents, some things to keep in mind are: What options are available to your residents? Do you offer more than just a basic service? Can a student pay to upgrade for a premium service? Are there Wi-Fi hotspots available for residents in the common area space? Getting your internet right should be a top priority for all landlords.

2. ______ Never Works

You can fill in the blank with pretty much anything: air conditioning, heater, shower, toilet, etc. Things are going to break and students understand this. What is important to students is how a landlord handles this. When dealing with repair requests, some things to keep in mind are: Are requests for repairs handled in a timely manner? How long does it take to make the repair? Is the repair done correctly? Getting those items right are necessary to keeping students happy. And don’t forget about keeping common area amenities working as well. There’s no use having that game room if the XBox is constantly broke.

3. Great Place to Live If You Like Loud Noise 24/7

When you’re living with 500 other college students in an apartment complex, there’s bound to be some noise. After all, this isn’t your grandmother’s senior living facility. Believe it or not, some students do need quiet time so they can study. Common noise complaints from students include loud music from neighbors, late night parties or noise after set quiet hours, barking dogs, you name it. Many of these complaints aren’t due to the property itself but rather how it’s managed. Noise complaints will happen, but the key to keeping a resident happy is having proper rules in place and enforcing those rules to deal with issues when they arise.

4. This Place Isn’t Safe to Live In

When it comes to renter safety, there’s more to it than just location. An apartment building in the safest neighborhood can still have safety issues while another in a rough part of town can feel like the safest place on earth. The important thing for landlords to do is to create the safest environment for students no matter the location. Some safety issues can occur in the tenant’s apartment like unsafe appliances or faulty electrical / mechanic items. Other safety issues can occur on apartment grounds including unsecured building access points. The key is address any deficiencies the property might have in order to provide the safest living environment for students.

5. The Staff, When Available, Was Rude

When complaints arise, and they will happen, your staff’s interaction will make or break a tenant’s experience. A lack of professionalism when dealing with an issue can reflect negatively on a property. Just as important as being courteous is actually being available. Are there set office hours where someone is always available? How fast are after hours complaints responded to? A prompt and courteous response can sometimes calm an angry tenant down fast.

6. With All The Animals Running Wild, This Place Feels (and Smells) Like a Zoo

It’s pretty common these days for student housing properties to allow renters to have pets. It’s actually a great selling feature to potential renters as many students have a pet with them at college. However, its important to have rules and procedures in place to deal with potentially hundreds of pets and the waste that comes with them. Some landlords have gone as far as DNA testing pets to catch any tenants who don’t clean up after their pet. After all, no one likes the smelly sensation of walking on a pile of dog poop. If there is available space, offer designated areas where renters can take their furry child. Also, be sure to include bags and trash cans to dispose of the waste.

Dealing with tenant complaints is a fact of life as a landlord. In today’s world of social media, complaints travel much faster than compliments so its important to treat each resident with respect in a timely manner. Dealing with complaints in a timely and professional manner will help ensure positive reviews for your property. And remember, happy tenants = more renewals and referrals.

Share this article: