I always struggle with this:
<select class="form-control" name="type">
<option value = "" selected="true" disabled="disabled">Please select ...</option>
@foreach($types as $typeid=>$typename)
<option value="" @if(old('type', $tenant->type ? $tenant->type : NULL) == $typeid) selected = 'selected' @endif></option>
@endforeach
</select>
<option value=""
//if we have an old value from failed validation, use that
//if we are editing, there will be a value in $tenant->type
// else use null
// then compare the result with the option id and set selected if a match
@if(old('type', $tenant->type ? $tenant->type : NULL) == $typeid) selected = 'selected'
@endif></option>