In topic: Marketing Your Property
M
I recently received a negative review from a former tenant after I charged them for damage to the property, including a kicked-in front door.
In the review, they claimed that I communicated poorly, took too long to address the situation, and unfairly withheld their security deposit. From my perspective, those claims are completely inaccurate.
The tenant had my cell phone number and could text me directly for a quick response. I also provide a website maintenance portal so tenants can submit and track maintenance requests without anything getting lost.
After the lease ended, I sent the itemized security deposit statement within 11 days. During that time, I had to repair the door jamb and sheetrock, hire painters, and take care of the other necessary repairs. I also charged only $500 for cleaning and repairs, which I felt was reasonable given the work involved. This is in Texas.
What bothers me most is how difficult it can be for landlords and property owners to respond to reviews that they believe are misleading or unfair.
When I was traveling through Italy, I noticed something interesting. If someone left an unfair review about a small landlord or host, other people would sometimes provide context about the guest's behavior and experience. It gave potential renters or guests more information when deciding who to trust.
So I'm curious how other landlords handle this.
Do you respond publicly to negative reviews? Do you provide additional context about what actually happened? Have you ever successfully had a false or defamatory review removed?
And where do you think the line should be between protecting a tenant's privacy and allowing a property owner to defend their reputation?
I'd especially like to hear from landlords who have dealt with this situation firsthand.
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