Inherited tenants not responding to my emails/text/calls

[Leon Lee]

Hi, BPers

I recently closed on a fourplex in a C- area. All my previous rentals are SFH or condos and this is the first time for me to own/manage small MF. After the closing, I sent emails to tenants setting up new ways to pay rents online. Previously, they just dropped the checks at a local management office, while I am not local.

After my emails to four tenants, no one was responding. So I texted them a day or two later, but only one replied telling me she didn't get the email. After I re-sent and asked her to confirm whether she received emails, no responses anymore. I tried to call all of them, but one hung up immediately after knowing I am the new owner and the other three never even picked up the phone calls. 

This is new to me, as all my other tenants (in SFH and Condos) are always very polite to me and our communications were smooth and effective. I used to hear from a BP episode in which the guests saying something like "I don't know what happened to those people who live in apartments compared to those living in SFH, but their mentality is different". Now, I seem to have just tasted a little :).

I don't understand why these tenants hate their landlords so much, by hanging up immediately on them. I always try to give orientations to my past tenants that I am helping them by providing a comfortable/affordable living space and they help me on the mortgages, so that we are creating win-win situations.  

My question is: for you experienced MF owners, what would you do when this happened to you? Will you drive to the apartment and knock on the door? Is this more of an issue related to "inherited tenants" or to "tenants living in apartments" in general? 

Many thanks in advance!

Lee