Three Different Types of Landlords

By Lev Novak

When you’re hunting for apartments, you’re going to find a lot of things to notice; the floors, the water pressure, the size of the actual bedrooms and more.

But what you’re also going to find out about are the different landlords.

Each sort of landlord comes with their own set of advantages and disadvantages, and each individual person is unique. However, in my personal experience, there are a few types to notice upfront, each with their own pros and cons.

1. The Pro

This landlord has a grizzled, implacable accent. Their office is somehow both crummy and impressive; it might be small, but there will be signed photos of them with senators if you look around. How? Doesn’t matter. This landlord is a pro.

Pros: A professional landlord or veteran is going to be capable in any circumstance. For normal problems- missing keys, late rent- he’s done it fifty times. In case of weird issues- broken pipes, rap battle basements- he’ll have more experience than anyone else you can hope to find.

Cons: Because they’ve done it so much, they’re hardened. They are not going to cut you a personal break, or help you find the weird lightbulbs that you need for the apartment. If you need help, you’re going to feel a little stupid. Compared to the pro, you will be.

2. The Small Business

This landlord- or landlords– are a small business of co-workers. Maybe it’s a group of three brothers, or some similar tight-knit group. They’ve gotten into the business relatively recent, and they’re professional in the opposite way of the grizzled pro; these guys have a nice office, for example, but no signed pictures.

Pros: Friendly. Small business’ have good service, and they’ll be both more eager to help than any veteran would. Also, they’ll be more likely to get to know you personally, which can mean that “cutting you a break” or at least “not freaking out” about the occasional late check can come in handy.

Cons: Less capable. They’ll give you good service, but if there’s ever a real problem- broken heating, etc- it may take them an extra day or two to handle it; after all, they have to figure it out amongst themselves first, etc. Still, they’ll get it done, and do it kindly.

3. The Rando

This landlord is the guy you’re subletting from, or someone from a mysterious alley with a set of keys he traded for a sandwich.

Pro: Better prices, weird advantages. They’ll be much more likely to be calm and accept late checks, or work personally with you on any issue you have. After all, with a rando, you’re more than likely their only client.

Cons: If anything serious happens, the rando is going to be the slowest person to fix it, and, more likely, they won’t even really get it done. If you’re confident in your apartment-handling skills, well, good. Because the rando is no better than you are at this. He just had an apartment to rent out.

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