Ask Kari: “Karen Tenants: How to Keep the Drama at Bay”
By Kari Negri, Chief Executive Officer, SKY Properties, Inc.
- Dear Kari, I’m about at my wits end…One of my tenants is so demanding that it’s making me crazy? What should I do?
Karen (Slang / Noun):
A slang term originating from internet culture and popularized in the 2010s used to describe a stereotypical person, who exhibits entitled and demanding behavior. Typically associated with individuals who frequently complain, make unreasonable demands, and seek to assert authority over others in various scenarios; often characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a tendency to escalate minor issues into conflicts, and an expectation of receiving preferential treatment.
As property rent regulations continue to lean in the favor of tenants, dealing with tenants can get trickier. Now more than ever, tenants are savvier about what they are entitled to, and they are not afraid to speak up. At the very least, they expect proper living conditions and fair treatment, but sometimes entitlement creeps in and the requests surpass the basics. New air conditioning and heating, new flooring, extra parking, special privileges…the expectations from renters are higher than ever before. Many of today’s tenants will have no reservations about negatively hitting your social media or trying to rally city departments to get their way.