How to Say No to your Landlord and When to Say Yes
There are a number of situations where it is completely appropriate for you as a healthcare tenant to say ‘NO’ to your landlord, just as there are times when you should say ‘YES’. The times when it can be totally appropriate to say ‘NO’ are those situations where your rights as a tenant may be violated, and you are protected by the legal system.
For instance, if your landlord would prefer an oral agreement rather than a formal lease or other written document, that should definitely be an idea that you veto. It might easily come back to haunt you if there is no legal document supporting your case, and then you would have no legal recourse. Tenancy laws require that all dwelling periods of at least 12 months must be documented in some kind of lease agreement.
How to say ‘NO’ to your Landlord
Of course, you could incur some ill will by repeatedly rejecting requests from your landlord, and that will not bode well for long-term residency. That means you should find a more subtle way of rejecting those requests, so they don’t sound like outright rejections, and so no bad feeling is generated. The best way to reject a request without causing resentment is to supply a simple reason why you can’t comply with the request, and limit your response. Anything too elaborate might invite additional queries or repeated requests.
As an example, if your landlord were to ask you to shovel snow off the sidewalk in front of your facility, that is really his/her responsibility. You can politely say ‘NO’ to this by responding that you are totally booked and really don’t have the time. You might also respond by saying that you have a number of irons in the fire at the moment, and you just can’t squeeze anything else in. Any response like this is preferable to saying something like “Hell no – that’s something you’re supposed to be doing!”
When to say ‘YES’ to your Landlord
The occasions where you are inclined to say ‘YES’ to your landlord, should be those where you genuinely don’t mind completing a request, or where minimal effort will be required on your part. It’s not a bad idea to build up some good will by agreeing to do something for your landlord – but this can carry a hidden risk. If you say ‘YES’ to one request, it could be that a whole series of additional requests will follow, and if that happens, you’ll have to consult your list of subtle rejections again.
If you’re going to be a long-term tenant in a particular facility, it’s best to maintain at least decent relations with the landlord, so you don’t run into hostility at every turn. By finding ways to say ‘NO’ in an agreeable manner, and by occasionally saying ‘YES’, you should be able to strike a good balance that will leave you in good standing for a long time.
Working with Tower Realty Partners
Tower Realty Partners specializes in finding and negotiating commercial real estate for healthcare providers in Colorado, including dental, medical and veterinary services. Tower’s expert brokers will help you determine the best real estate option for your business and manage all aspects of the process. Contact us today to start your commercial real estate transaction.