5 Tips On Being A Duplex Landlord When You Live Next Door

So, you’ve officially closed on your duplex. You’re house hacking, and you just moved in.

Then reality hits. It’s 9:00 PM on a Sunday, and they’re knocking on your door because a lightbulb flickered.

Living in a small multifamily property is a brilliant financial move, but it comes with a unique social challenge. If you don’t set boundaries early, your “home” can quickly start feeling like an “office” you can never leave.

Here is my field guide to being a landlord and a neighbor without losing your mind.

1.Don’t be friends. Remember, this is a business. While you should certainly be freindly to tenants, becoming full-blown friends with tenants makes it nearly impossible to raise rent or evict someone.

2. Set Clear Boundaries on Common Spaces. Shared driveways, backyards, and laundry rooms are the “danger zones” for conflict. Don’t leave your expectations to chance. Define them in the lease:

• Who mows which part of the lawn?
• Where exactly do the trash bins go?
• Can guests park in the shared driveway?

When the rules are in writing, you aren’t the “mean neighbor” for complaining; you’re just the owner following the lease.

3. Keep money separate. Never, ever collect rent in person at your front door. It feels transactional and awkward. Use an automated online payment system. Ideally, have rent automatically withdrawn from the residents bank account on a specific day of the month. This not only removes the “neighborly” guilt of asking for money, but it also eliminates the excuses “the check’s in the mail” or “I’ll have it for you Friday.”

4. Pets mean more rent. There’s nothing worse than having to have a conversation with a resident about the pet they didn’t get permission for. This is especially true when you live next door. When leasing the unit, make sure you’re clear about what your pet policies and any accompanying fees may be.

5. “No” is a complete sentence. If a tenant asks for something out of the norm, it’s better to just say “no” than offer either “I don’t know” or a lengthy explanation. The latter often create the illusion of the matter being open for discussion. The simple word “No” says it all.

By setting firm boundaries on day one, you ensure when you house hack that your home remains your sanctuary—not just a workplace. You want your tenants to respect your space just as much as you respect their privacy.