Haphazard screening and tenant selection often results to tenant - landlord problems, a property expert has said.

In a paper titled 'Universal approach and simple suggestions to help your property management business run smoothly', Sonia Khan said it is important to screen tenants by checking their credit history, references and background before renting out an apartment to them.

" A tenant who pays the rent late or not at all, trashes your place or lets undesirable friends move in, this often results in misunderstandings between the tenants and their landlords."

She advised landlords to use a written lease or month to month rental agreement to document the important facts of their relationship with tenants, including when and how they handle tenant complaints and repair problems. "It is important that landlords stay on top of maintenance and repair needs and make repairs when requested, if property is not kept in good repair, you'll alienate good tenants and tenants may gain the right to withhold rent."

She said provision of a secure premises must also be taken into consideration, thus security deposits must be handled properly.

"While making sure your tenants and property are not used as easy marks for criminals, you must assess your property's security and take reasonable steps to protect it. You must also establish a fair system of setting, collecting, holding and returning security deposits."

She added that provision of notice before entering and obtaining insurance are points that must be taken into consideration amongst others.

"Landlords must learn about the tenants right to privacy and must give the tenant a 24 hour notice or the minimum required by the law whenever they plan to enter their rental unit; they must also purchase enough liability and other property insurance to protect them from lawsuits by tenants for injuries or discrimination and from losses to the property caused by everything from fire and storms to burglary and vandalism."