Why you should be heartless with your bad tenant
- Property Protect
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Yes, we said it.
We always say that good tenants should be treated like gold. Once you've got a good tenant, they are hopefully with you for the long term, paying off your investment property bond and helping you to expand your property portfolio.
But bad tenants? Bad tenants must be dealt with immediately and ruthlessly. Your bad tenant manipulates you emotionally, and relies on your kindness. In our sympathy, we forget that the bad tenant is damaging our investment and our future earnings. If the property is bonded and you can't pay it off, it puts you at risk of repossession and damage to your credit score.
The tenant can cause even more damage
Landlords are sometimes afraid to deal with bad tenants effectively, fearing what the tenant might do. Or they hope in vain that the tenant will honour their promise this time, and pay at the end of the month. But your tenant can do even more damage if you don't deal with them decisively. In addition to lost rental, they can cause damage to the property itself.
Your bad tenant doesn't care about your finances
Your bad tenant will never feel sorry for you. You have power over them and are probably wealthier than they are. Unfortunately, it's common human nature to view wealthier people as undeserving of that wealth. It helps people to mentally balance the perceived social inequality relative to you, to make themselves feel better.
If your bad tenant is not paying rent, it's most likely because they are struggling through financial difficulty. They simply do not have the money or perspective to care about your investment ROI. They will never care about your financial loss, and will make empty promises to pay rent at the end of next month if necessary - they are desperate and have no choice.
Being kind and lenient is admirable - but the statistics show that the next month's rent is most likely not going to come in. If your tenant is not paying rent, they are either (a) employees who have lost their job, or (b) entrepreneurs who are not making enough. In either case, they are unlikely to be able to recover.
Get eviction attorneys involved as soon as possible.
In eviction cases, it's best to get attorneys on the case immediately. You need to be heartless with your bad tenant, and let the attorneys be the bad guys if necessary. It takes the emotional burden off you, and blocks the tenant from pleading with you directly. With that pressure off, you can focus your efforts where they should be - growing your property portfolio and other investments.
Are you being manipulated by a dishonest tenant?
Cut your losses now with Property Protect.
The above information is for illustrative purposes only and does not take into account your specific circumstances. It therefore does not constitute legal advice. Please contact us for comprehensive advice to address your circumstances. Under no circumstances should any person use the above information in an attempt to circumvent the provisions of legislation or contract, or to cause damage to any other person. Always ensure you and your company are in compliance with the law in all dealings. This information is accurate as of the date of publication. Property Protect is not insurance and does not pay out any claim amount. It is a Value-Added Service (VAS) provided at a discount, directly from our law firm. © 2026 Maybery Attorneys Inc. All rights reserved.
