You think you’re doing everything right with your rentals. You’ve got tenants in there, the roof’s not leaking (today), and rent’s mostly showing up. Cool story. But I’d be willing to bet good money that you’re making at least one of these five landlord screwups—and they’re costing you way more than you think.
Mistake 1: Renting to People You “Know” Without Screening Them
“Oh, I didn’t do an application because I know them.” Cool. So when it all goes to hell, do you also know how to evict them?
This is mistake number one because it happens constantly. Landlords skip the screening process because the tenant is a friend, a family member, or was vouched for by someone they trust. They feel good about the person, so they hand over the keys and hope for the best.
Knowing someone isn’t a qualification. It’s not a credit score. It doesn’t tell you if they are credit worthy or are able to maintain basic compliance with their household.
Always—yes, even with friends, cousins, your pastor’s niece—run the full application. Credit. Income. Criminal History. Landlord history. Every. Damn. Time.
Mistake 2: Leaving Keys in Mailboxes or Unsecured Properties
I swear, if I see one more landlord tell me, “Oh the keys are in the mailbox,” I’m going to lose it.
This one is about convenience—and I get that. You want the cleaner, the handyman, or the potential tenant to get in without you having to meet them. But when you leave keys out in the open—or worse, just leave the door unlocked—you’re advertising to the world that your place is empty and ready to be trashed.
Every single person you’ve ever told where the keys are now knows it’s unsecured. So does anyone who’s seen them grab them.
Buy a lockbox. Hang it on the door. Change the code when needed. Stop acting like your $250,000 investment doesn’t deserve $30 worth of basic security.
Mistake 3: Accepting Big Upfront Cash Without Screening
This one is sneaky because it feels like a win. Someone comes along offering three, six, even twelve months of rent upfront in cash. You’re thinking, “Hell yes, let’s go.”
Pump the brakes.
There’s nothing wrong with accepting rent in cash or in advance. But there’s something very wrong with letting that cash replace your screening process.
Sometimes tenants offer big upfront payments to distract you from the fact that they don’t qualify. And some landlords fall for it. Every. Time.
Screen them. Like normal. If they pass, sure—take the money. But if they don’t? No deal.
Mistake 4: Using Month-to-Month Leases as a Safety Net
I hear this one a lot: “I put them on a month-to-month lease just in case they turned out to be a problem.”
That sounds smart. Until it isn’t.
Month-to-month leases don’t get you out of trouble faster. In Pennsylvania, even if you give 30 days’ notice, you’re still stuck in the eviction process if they don’t leave. You’re just as screwed—now with no lease protections and more risk.
You want to avoid bad tenants? Then do your screening, get a solid lease in place, and manage like you mean it. A month-to-month lease might give you a false sense of security, but you just sacrificed any commitment in the housing contract by relying on that.
Mistake 5: Not Raising Rent or Renewing Leases
This is the granddaddy of all landlord regrets. Not raising rent. Not renewing leases. Just letting things go because you’re scared your tenant might leave.
I get it. You want to be nice. You don’t want to cause waves. But while you’re playing it safe, your insurance, taxes, utilities, repairs, and every other cost are going up—and your rent’s stuck in 2016.
I talk to landlords EVERYDAY who haven’t raised rent in 5, 10, even 20+ years! Then suddenly they need to sell or refinance, and the property’s worth less because their rents are so far behind market. Yikes.
You’ve got to have the guts to renew leases annually, adjust terms, and raise rent as needed. Don’t be a jerk about it. Be fair. Be informed. But do it.
Your tenant sticking around is only a win if they’re paying fair market rent and following the lease. Otherwise, you’re just hosting a long-term charity case.
Final Thoughts
I didn’t write this to scare you—I wrote it to wake you up. These five mistakes are common because they feel easy, or generous, or smart in the moment. But they’re draining your profits and increasing your risk, and you don’t even realize it until it’s too late.
So now you know better. What are you going to do about it?
I’m PM Jen, the—landlord educator, real estate investor, and your favorite straight-talker in the buy-and-hold game. Hold It With PM Jen exists to help real estate investors protect their assets, grow their cash flow, and stop spinning their wheels.
Our mission is simple: help you hold properties smarter, longer, and with way less bullshit. Whether you're new to real estate or knee-deep in it, I’m here to help you hold strong and grow big.