Have you had another argument with your landlord? Have you been kicked out of your apartment for the umpteenth time? Have you had to pack your bags yet again and frantically look for another place to move into? If yes, your first reaction may have been to blame the landlord. It wouldn’t be surprising, as no one likes getting kicked out of their place.

But after the anger has settled down a little, maybe it’s time for a little introspection: Was it really all your landlord’s fault? In case you missed it while reading up on tips for moving out on your own, your relationship with your landlord is one of the most important things to keep in mind. The fastest way to a bad relationship with your landlord is by being a bad tenant. Below are six of the most common types of bad tenants.

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The Non-Payer

Of all the bad tenants, the non-payer is the easiest to describe: He fails or refuses to pay the agreed-upon rent to his landlord. Obviously, the landlord leases out his property in order to generate income. You, as the tenant, are obliged to pay him his due. There could be many different reasons why a tenant cannot pay his rent. But no matter how tear-jerking a tenant’s reason maybe, at the end of the day, he still has to pay rent. Not paying rent is actually one of the most common legal reasons for tenant eviction. If a tenant continues to live in the landlord’s property without paying rent, the landlord can call for police assistance to evict the unwanted tenant. Ouch!

How to avoid being a non-payer: When looking for a place to rent, be sure it is one you can afford. Make sure your income is stable enough to cover the price of your rent. Try to find a place where you only have to spend 20 to 30 percent of your monthly income. This will give you a buffer when unexpected expenses come your way.

The Late Payer

The late payer is a variant of the non-payer. Unlike the non-payer, the late payer manages to pay his rent. He is, however, unable to pay his landlord on the agreed-upon date. Not paying rent on time obviously causes problems for the landlord. As mentioned above, not being able to pay your rent on time is actually legal grounds for eviction.

How to avoid being a later-payer: Again, look for a place you can afford. Be considerate and take the time to get that rent check in the mail early enough that it gets to the landlord on time.

The Rule Breaker

The rule breaker, as his name states, is one who likes to break the rules. And breaking rules can make any landlord ask his tenant to leave. Every place has its own rules. The rules are there for a reason, and they should be followed. Some rules are set by the landlord himself, meaning these rules arise from the landlord’s own personal preferences. Some of these rules might include no pets, having a no more than a maximum number of visitors, or always keeping the gate closed. Each landlord has his own different set of rules, and no matter how unreasonable they might seem to a tenant, the tenant should respect and follow these rules. At the end of the day, the place is the landlord’s property, and it is up to him to set the rules.

Aside from the rules of the landlord, there might be additional rules from a building manager. This is especially true when it comes to condominiums. Condominiums usually have building rules that every unit owner/tenant has to follow. Even though the tenant does not own the unit, living with the other unit owners in the same complex means he has to follow those rules.

How to avoid being a rule-breaker: Know the rules and follow them. If some of the rules prevent you from living your daily life in a happy and comfortable manner (for example, if you have a dog you love very much and one rule of the house you’re considering renting is that no pets are allowed), consider looking for another place to rent. Make sure that if you agree to the rules set by the landlord or the building manager, you follow them.

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The Destroyer

The destroyer is a kind of tenant who destroys, defaces or damages his landlord’s property. There are two ways that a tenant can become a destroyer: intentionally or unintentionally. An unintentional destroyer damages property without meaning to. This usually happens in the way of accidents, like knocking over a cabinet or dropping a ladder straight through the wall. The second kind of destroyer is the intentional destroyer. Some tenants really do intentionally damage their landlord’s property.

There are also the tenants who may not cause physical damage to the property but intentionally alter it without the landlord’s permission. When a tenant moves in, he may want to design his new home according to his own taste. In some cases, that’s probably fine. But by doing so, he might unwittingly make alterations or changes to the landlord’s property that the landlord doesn’t like. For example, a landlord might not be too pleased about large holes in the walls, a new coat of paint, or new flooring. What might look like cute little improvements to the tenant may changes that are unacceptable to the landlord.

How to avoid being a destroyer: Each landlord is different. What may be OK with one may not be so OK with another. Always consult your landlord before attempting to make any change. Reading up on some landlord-friendly design tips and home improvement projects are also helpful.

The Illegal

Of all the bad tenants, this one is probably the worst of the lot. In fact, he might be considered a “worst nightmare” for many landlords. The illegal is a tenant who carries out illegal activities, such as using and/or selling illegal drugs, on the landlord’s property. If what the tenant is doing is illegal, the landlord has every right and reason to throw him out.

How to avoid being an illegal: It’s simple: Avoid illegal activity—and not just to keep from getting kicked out of your place, but to stay out of jail, too.

The Clingy Tenant

In romantic relationships, there are clingy types. In landlord-tenant relationships, there are clingy tenants. Clingy tenants are tenants who insist on staying in their landlord’s property after their lease contracts have expired. The landlord has the right to continue or discontinue a lease contract after it has expired. Clingy tenants will keep asking for extension after extension after their lease contracts has expired.

How to avoid being a clingy tenant: Clingy tenants usually insist on staying because they have no other choice. Most of the time, they haven’t found a new place yet. To avoid being caught in this position, you need to plan ahead. A few months (or more) before your lease is up, either talk with your landlord about extending the lease or start looking for a new place to live once your lease contract expires.

So, there you have it. Sometimes landlords are considered the problem, especially with all the common misconceptions about landlords. But sometimes, tenants can be the cause of the problem. So if you are a tenant, or about to become one soon, avoid becoming the bad tenant by following the guidelines listed here.