The Frustration of Dealing with Unprofessional Landlords
Renting an apartment can be a stressful process, especially when you’re a responsible tenant armed with a polished application, verified credit checks, and glowing references. You’d expect landlords to appreciate the effort, but too often, you’re met with silence, excuses, or outright unprofessionalism. From ignoring messages to choosing short-term tenants for supposedly long-term rentals, some landlords make the process unnecessarily frustrating. Here’s why this behavior is a problem and what tenants can do about it.
The Ghosting Game: Ignoring Messages Without a Reply
Picture this: you find a promising rental listing, spend hours crafting a professional application, and hit send with high hopes. The landlord sees your message-you can tell from the read receipt or platform notification-but days pass with no response. Not even a polite “Sorry, the apartment is rented.” Just silence.
This isn’t just rude; it’s lazy. Responding to a message takes minutes, yet some landlords can’t be bothered. They peek at your application, decide you’re not their pick, and move on without a word. For tenants, this ghosting is demoralizing. You’ve invested time and effort, only to be left wondering if your application was even considered. A simple acknowledgment would go a long way, but too many landlords lack the basic courtesy to provide it.
Failing to Update Ads: A Four-Second Fix Ignored
Another common issue is landlords who fail to update their rental ads. You message about an apartment, only to hear-days later, if at all-that it’s already rented. Why wasn’t the ad marked as unavailable? Updating a listing takes seconds, often doable right from a phone. Yet, some landlords leave ads active, wasting tenants’ time and raising false hopes.
This laziness doesn’t just frustrate applicants; it reflects poorly on the landlord’s ability to manage a property. If they can’t handle a simple ad update, how will they deal with maintenance requests or lease agreements? Tenants deserve better than this half-hearted approach.
Choosing Short-Term Tenants for Long-Term Rentals
Perhaps the most baffling behavior is when landlords claim they want long-term tenants but choose renters who stay only a few months. You submit an application showcasing your stability-verified credit, solid references, and a desire to stay for years-yet the landlord picks someone who moves out shortly after. This makes no sense for a property advertised as a long-term rental.
Why does this happen? Some landlords skip proper tenant screening, prioritizing quick deals over quality. They might choose the first applicant who responds, even if their background suggests they’re not in it for the long haul. Others may not verify tenants’ intentions or financial stability, leading to a revolving door of short-term renters. This not only disrupts the landlord’s income but also frustrates tenants who were ready to commit long-term and got overlooked.
The Bigger Picture: A Lack of Accountability
At the heart of these issues is a lack of accountability. Some landlords act as if renting is a side hustle they can half-ass without consequences. They don’t communicate clearly, sometimes barely speaking the local language, making it hard to trust their judgment. When you call to follow up, you might get vague excuses or a dismissive “It’s rented.” Worse, you’re left wondering if they even checked the chosen tenant’s papers or references.
This unprofessionalism isn’t just annoying-it’s unfair. Tenants put in significant effort to present themselves as reliable, only to be ignored or outdone by less qualified applicants. Landlords need to step up: screen tenants properly, respond to messages, and update ads promptly. If managing a rental is too much work, they should hire a professional property manager or reconsider renting altogether.
Your unprofessionalism and lack of accountability cause you to rent to first person was in viewing without background check. You skipped a reliable tenant with five years of solid references, eager for long-term renting. That’s your loss- hope those you chose don’t stay, in long term and don't pay the bills in time. that will reflecting your poor mindset.
"I’ve found a couple of houses, and they replied promptly about viewings. One landlord called right after reading my application, checked my references and credit report, and confirmed fiber internet. He’s keen to rent to me. I’ll view his large house with a garage soon. That’s professionalism-carefully selecting the right tenant, not just renting to the first viewer without considering better options"
Wish me luck, and I hope that cold landlord just few mins ago, unprofessional landlord who rudely just peak the message. faces karma for their lazy, careless behavior.
xo
shay