Fostering Mental Wellness In Your Tenant Community

As a landlord or property manager, you play an important role in the lives of your tenants. Whether you’re running board meetings or facilitating the day-to-day maintenance of an apartment or dwelling, you are responsible for the well-being of others. It’s important to be mindful of your own mental health and that of your tenants so you can best serve your community.

First and foremost, take care of yourself. Are you in a position to take care of your property and the residents who live there? Do you have all the resources you need? Take time to regularly review your maintenance schedule and check in with any partners you work with to help keep up your properties. Having a plan in place and making sure everyone involved is on the same page can alleviate stress and minimize maintenance surprises.

If you’re taking care of yourself, you can take care of your property and your residents. If you have an on-site office, consider keeping a list of local resources for community engagement handy. This is particularly beneficial for new tenants. Options to consider include information for the local mental health group, yoga classes, hiking trails, cleaning services, tutors, and ongoing community events. As a landlord or property manager, you might be the first connection a new tenant has with their new community.

Attracting new tenants and making them feel welcome is just one end of the community spectrum. It’s becoming more common to age in place. In these situations, landlords and property managers often find themselves stepping into an accidental caregiver role. Instead of taking on that role with full responsibility, consider what you can do to help older residents maintain their independence and feel comfortable in their space without becoming directly involved in their day-to-day lives. 

Regularly checking in with your residents is important. Consider administering regular surveys to your residents to seek feedback on things they feel could use extra attention. Giving tenants the opportunity to weigh in on the issues they feel are important helps create a sense of wellness and connectivity in the community and helps you stay on top of repairs and other issues before they have a chance to escalate. You don’t need to have all the answers or provide all the tools to make sure your tenants feel a sense of wellness in their community, but a little bit can go a long way. Reach out to other landlords, property managers, and association board members to check in and find ways to keep prioritizing the health and safety of your community.