Lifestyle

10 Steps to Improve Your Property’s Tenant Retention

Published

5 years ago

December 13, 2020

After choosing the right property, tenant retention is arguably the most important factor for a rental property’s success. Higher tenant retention means you’ll see more consistent revenue, you’ll spend less time looking for new tenants, and you’ll suffer far fewer losses from vacancies and turnover.

However, improving tenant retention isn’t always straightforward. If you want to maximize retention, you’ll need to think critically about your approach.

How to Improve Tenant Retention

These are some of your most valuable strategies in improving tenant retention:

Find the right tenants. One of your best strategies will be finding the right tenants for your property in the first place. Tenants often leave because they’re a bad fit, in one way or another. They may only be looking for a short-term space to live, or they may not have a stable job they can rely on to pay for rent. Invest in a thorough, proactive tenant screening practice so you can secure the best candidates for your rental properties. It takes a bit more time to get someone in, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Build tenant relationships. Next, go out of your way to build relationships with your tenants. You don’t have to be close friends with every person you bring into your property—in fact, friendships can get in the way of the tenant-landlord relationship. However, you should be on amicable terms. Get to know your tenants, including their goals and long-term prospects, and make sure they’re comfortable reaching out to talk to you. If tenants like their landlord, they’ll be far less likely to leave.
Keep rent reasonable. Depending on where you live, it’s probably legal to incrementally increase rent prices every year. But this isn’t always the best move, even if it increases your cash flow. It’s important to keep your rent prices in line with other properties in the area; otherwise, your tenants will simply leave. Increase prices gradually and periodically.
Be flexible (when possible). Try to give your tenants extra flexibility whenever you can. For example, if a tenant is late on rent payment because they’re having an issue with their employer, consider giving them another couple of weeks to come up with the money—with no penalty. Be forgiving if they make a mistake, or accidentally damage the property. This leniency can go a long way in securing their loyalty.
Take care of requests immediately. Similarly, it’s important to take care of reasonable tenant requests right away. If a tenant complains about a leaking roof or a malfunctioning appliance, send a technician or visit the property right away. Fast fixes lead to happy tenants—and happy tenants tend to stick around.
Be responsive. There will be times when you can’t fix an issue right away. This is okay, but you still have to be as responsive as possible. Let your tenants know that you’ve heard their requests, and that you intend to take action on them. If you can’t get to a fix right away, let them know why and tell them when they can expect a fix. This proactive communication is vital for tenant satisfaction.
Respect privacy. Try to respect your tenants’ privacy. Don’t show up unannounced, and don’t enter their apartment without permission or awareness (even if it’s legal to do so in your area). Give tenants the feeling that this is their space and make them feel comfortable.
Listen to feedback. Occasionally, you’ll get direct feedback from tenants. They may complain about the way you manage the property or give you compliments about the way you handled a specific issue. Listen to these pieces of feedback and learn from them. They could provide straightforward direction on how you can be a better property manager, or how you can make other tenants happy in the future.
Invest in periodic upgrades. Most landlords want to keep upgrading the property with new appliances, nicer fixtures, and other quality of life improvements. Try to make these upgrades while the tenant is occupied (if you can), so the tenant can benefit directly from them. It makes tenants feel like you genuinely care about their quality of life. It will incentivize them to stick around.
Reward loyalty. Finally, reward tenant loyalty however you can. That could mean giving tenants occasional discounts or sending them a Christmas card in the mail. Even small gestures can go a long way in boosting retention.

Perfecting Your Strategy

Maximizing tenant retention isn’t something you can handle overnight. If you want to see the best results, you’ll need to adjust your strategy gradually, over time. Listen carefully to feedback from your tenants and be flexible enough to keep adapting your long-term approach.

Lifestyle

Donnette Russell-Love on How Policy Changes Are Reshaping the Immigrant Experience in America

Published

5 days ago

January 16, 2026

Michelle Langton

What happens when the rules for chasing the American dream keep changing? For millions of immigrants, the answer is anxiety, confusion, and a constant fight to stay one step ahead of shifting policies that can decide their future overnight.

This is the reality that Donnette Russell-Love, attorney and CEO of Immigration Care Service, faces every day. With a career built on both courtroom experience and compassionate advocacy, she has become a steady guide for individuals and families navigating one of the most unpredictable legal systems in the world.

A Changing Landscape

Over the years, U.S. immigration policy has shifted from being opportunity-driven to increasingly restrictive. Donnette Russell-Love has seen how these changes have reshaped not only the process but also how immigrants are perceived. She believes that leadership plays a major role in setting the tone; each administration influences whether the focus lies on inclusion, enforcement, or deterrence.

Under the current administration, the path to the American dream has become much narrower. There has been a stronger push to limit humanitarian provisions for people fleeing unstable conditions, less tolerance for long-term immigrants with even minor offenses from years ago, and growing efforts to challenge birthright citizenship.

These policies reflect a clear shift in how the United States approaches immigration. For many of her clients, the rules that once offered hope now feel like walls. Yet, her mission remains the same: to help them find a way through, one informed decision at a time.

Guiding Clients Through Constant Change

In an environment where laws and regulations can change faster than people can adapt, Donnette’s approach is built on preparation. She doesn’t just focus on forms and paperwork; she focuses on context. Her process starts with understanding each client’s story, background, and long-term goals. From there, she helps them see not just what’s required legally, but what’s likely to be asked, reviewed, or challenged along the way.

For her, education is the most powerful defense. She believes that informed clients are stronger, calmer, and more confident when facing interviews or hearings. She spends time explaining how new rules apply to their situations and how small details, like old records, travel history, or documentation, can make all the difference.

Her deep understanding of immigration stems not only from her legal training but also from her background in compliance and risk management. These skills have shaped her proactive style, allowing her to anticipate potential issues before they arise. Instead of reacting to policy shifts, she prepares her clients to adapt to them.

Leadership That Balances Law and Humanity

Running a law firm in such a turbulent field requires discipline, empathy, and vision, qualities that Donnette has cultivated over years of leadership. As the head of Immigration Care Service, she manages the balance between legal precision and genuine human care. Her team works closely with clients from diverse backgrounds, ensuring they receive not only sound legal guidance but also emotional support during uncertain times.

She also emphasizes the importance of staying grounded. Her philosophy is that immigration law is not just about policies or procedures, it’s about people. Every case represents a life story, a dream, or a second chance. And while the system may grow more rigid, her role is to help clients see that persistence and preparation can still lead to opportunity.

Moving Forward with Purpose

For Donnette Russell-Love, the work doesn’t end with one case or one victory. It’s about helping her clients understand the bigger picture, that success in immigration is not only about following rules, but about knowing how to navigate them with clarity and confidence.

She recognizes that the path to legal residency or citizenship is harder now than ever before. But her message is one of resilience: knowledge and preparation still open doors.

In a time when immigration policies seem to shift with every election cycle, Donnette’s approach stands out for its steadiness and humanity. She reminds her clients and the broader community that while laws may change, the pursuit of hope, belonging, and a better life remains constant. And with the right guidance, that pursuit is still worth every effort.