How do I veil tenants from knowing I am the property owner?

[Luke Baumbach]

I'm closing on my first property next month, and I'd like to set up so in the eyes of the tenants, I am the property manager, not the owner.

How can I get a different name on the lease?
What about mailing address?
Can I create a property management company that I then "hire" to run everything?

Thank you for your help and advice!

[Joe Splitrock]

@Luke Baumbach I completely agree with @Kevin Sobilo that as a landlord we expect honesty from our tenants, so lying about ownership sets a bad standard. Ultimately your tenant will find out you are the owner and catch you in a lie. Now you are shady in their eyes and you undermined trust. They can justify their own bad behavior, because you are not honest yourself.

This "fear" comes down to landlords not wanting to feel responsible for issues. They think it is easier to say, "I will talk to the owner", but it is a cop-out for not having the skills or courage to deal directly with issues. 

Most people are bad at confrontation and people have an irrational need to be liked (fear of rejection). They want the tenant to think they are a good person and maybe even be friends. Saying "no" is difficult for people like this. They want to blame someone else when a situation gets uncomfortable. This type of person is not a good leader, not a good manager and not an effective landlord or property manager. 

The best way to deal with problems is directly. If a tenant asks, "Can I get a cat?" it is far better to say "No, I am sorry our policy doesn't allow cats." versus saying "Let me check with the owner". Being an effective property manager means having policies and procedures for dealing with all requests. Never say, "I don't know". If in doubt, say no because that is probably the right answer anyways.

If you really can't deal with tenants and feel you need to shield your identity, you should put your property inside a legal entity and hire a property manager. It is impossible to hide your identity if you self manage.

That doesn't mean a landlord self managing should not take steps to protect their privacy and reduce liability. Here are some ways to do that:

1. Get a PO box for your mailing address. This is the address you put on the lease.

2. Use Google voice or get a business phone number that is separate from your private number.

3. Set boundaries and rules for interacting with tenants. Tell them your business hours. Set expectations on responses for non-emergency requests. 

4. Have good liability insurance.

5. Conduct inspections that include safety issues like checking fire alarms, etc. Respond to any safety related request immediately and document response.

6. You may consider legal entities for protection, but if you are actively working as the property manager, this will not shield your identity and will make it harder to protect you from liability. It is hard to separate the personal from the business when you are the one managing. 

If a tenant wants to find out who owns the property or where you live, it is fairly easy to do in most situations. Public records and basic internet searches reveal tons of information. Anonymity is near impossible, so the best hope is putting up small road blocks to make it harder for someone to find you. 

I actually find that tenants knowing I am the owner is beneficial. When you say no, they know there is nobody to appeal to. They know because you own the property, you care very much what happens. It is easier to blow off an employee than it is when you are dealing with the owner.

Don't expect to be friends with your tenants. Don't be afraid to say no. Seek their respect, not their friendship. Respect comes from treating people fairly and honestly.