5 types of landlords you'll encounter in college

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As a young person, the odds of you encountering a landlord of some type are high if not guaranteed. However, which type of landlord you meet is the real question.

Just as all people vary, so do landlords. Meeting these quirky landlords is one thing, but managing them is another.

A far cry from living with your parents’ rules (well, sometimes), navigating the complex relationship between landlord and renter can be tricky to do. But with the proper preparations and a knack for problem solving, you can handle even the worst of them.

Here are five landlords you might encounter.

1. The Family Landlord

Whether it’s a house you rent from your parents or just living under your parent’s roof, a family landlord can be complex at best. With your family, there is no polite, professional barrier between you. If there’s something wrong, you’re going to know about it: immediately and without a sugar coating. It’s also likely the rest of your family knows about it too.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is pick your battles. Don’t start large arguments about insignificant things, but if something is truly bothering you, don’t hesitate to speak up. Make sure your interactions with your family (and family landlords) stay civil. Try not to bring small annoyances into arguments unless you really want to start something ugly. Keep your communications clean and you should stay sane.

2. The Nosy Landlord

This landlord is in everyone’s business, including yours. When they drop by, they’ll tell you everything that your neighbors are up to. Exactly how they uncovered these horrible details about everyone’s lives, you have no idea. Depending on your personality, these accounts may be dreadful or horribly entertaining (maybe a mix of both).

Either way, you’re duly aware of how you’re acting, wondering what in the world they could be spilling about you. Keeping your information as private as possible is definitely your best bet.

3. The Intrusive Landlord

Forget knocking, this landlord walks in like they own the place. And while technically they do, you find yourself constantly on edge for fear of their party crashing ways. You obsessively keep cleaning wipes in every cabinet, fret when leaving a loose sock on the floor, and almost keel over dead at the thought of dirty dishes in the sink.

Good news is, you never worry about fixing problems because you can always just tell them when they pop in — well, if you’re at home. If you do submit a complaint, you never know if they’ll show up in five minutes or midnight next week. Either way, live your life. They know what they’re getting into when they barge in and if seeing you with just a towel is a bother, hopefully they’ll learn to reschedule.

4. The Friendly Landlord

Unlike the intrusive landlord, this landlord will pop in, but probably with a beer and some board games. Sometimes they act so casual with you that you forget you actually have to pay them rent at the end of the month.

This landlord can be likened to an RA in a dormitory. They’re constantly trying to intrude on your social life. If you like them, it’s nice, but if you don’t, trying to get them to go away can be a real issue. You don’t want to seem rude or off-putting so planning get-togethers becomes an underground affair. But sneaking around in your own home seems wrong.

Yet, having your landlord reply to your plumbing issue with “sure dude, be rite on it XD” also seems wrong. It’s difficult to find a balance between friendly and being too friendly, but maintaining their favor is important. Keep them around occasionally, but don’t feel obligated to be besties.

5. The Business Landlord

The complete opposite of the friend landlord, this landlord is all business. Your correspondence comes through professionally formatted emails. You feel pressure to keep your space in tip-top shape at all times in order to please this landlord. Your payments are in order. Your utilities covered. And this works well if you can organize, but might be super stressful if you don’t.

When they come over to check on things, you can feel their judgement on every scuff mark, dirty dish, or dust mite lying around. Impressing them seems like the most important thing in the world sometimes. Don’t let their strict outward appearance intimidate you; they’re probably more forgiving than you give them credit for.

Knowing what to expect from a landlord can be tricky. They aren’t just your friends, your parents, or your partner. Developing a good relationship with them depends widely on your personality and theirs, but even despite differences, it can be done. Ultimately, be prepared for these types of landlords, but also be prepared for anything. Best of luck — who knows what other types of crazy landlords may be lurking out there!