I had a tenant go nuts. She had previous painted her unit using a brown paint and now wants me to re-paint it using a off-white colors in oil base paint. She expects to go to work and return after 5 PM and have the job complete. I've explained that since she's a smoker the walls have to be washed, primed and dry before they get painted. This will take a couple of days to complete, when the weather is warmer. Not when it's around 48 degrees.

So at 5 AM this morning she started to call my home number and wake up the family. I had explained everything in person and over several text'ed messages to no avail. So I told her not to call back until after 8 AM.

I don't know who is crazier - the landlord or the tenant!

Boy! I wish I had thought of that for the crazy neighbor at one of my rentals. I could have forwarded her call to the local alderman’s office or local police community officer office.

Every time I get a new phone, I have to immediately add her number, under heading Annoying Neighbor, so I can then block her calls. I don’t know how many times she calls, but each new phone, there have been more calls laced with all the profanities, until I block her number.

Calls are, ‘those darn kids are out there playing basketball again’ I’m gonna call the cops’

I always invite the cops to come join us for a game if they have the time. SFH, kids play in their driveway, well away from street. Mom makes them come in before dark. I’ve said to the cops, what else would you like a 14 kid to do? He’s not out stealing cars, And he’s always respectful. Neighbor lady has four bedroom house, chooses to always sit all day and watch TV in the back bedroom, closest to where the kids play b-ball. I’ve also said to cops, why doesn’t she just watch TV all day in living room, which is on opposite side of house? She also complains that mail carrier bothers her dogs.....

A 14 year old kid, not fourteen kids...

Robert J, you sure have a lot of interesting experiences.

You may not get rent know.

Keep us updated.

How long have you been renting? If I remember correctly it has been a long time.

Do you only rent apartments?

Creative solution...

I'm with the others, though. Why does a tenant have access to contact you in the early AM? I only give out Google Voice number, and it goes into "Do Not Disturb" mode between 7 PM and 7 AM. Business hours. Voice mail tells them the utility company's phone number for water or gas shut off, for police & fire call 9-1-1. Everything else, leave a message. 14 years, only had one emergency, and they still had to call the water dept.

some thoughts on this:

Robert J can afford loss of a few months rent. I think quite easily.

This tenant was using really aggressive behavior against someone she thought she could bully. People like that sometimes need a wake-up call in order to change, or, their behavior will get much worse. I wonder how many people at her work she was bullying? One re-routed call and boss fired her? Boss was probably thankful to have that call. Was looking for the 'final straw'. It takes a lot to fire so-called 'at-will' employees. Just like it takes a lot to terminate some tenancies. If she was an otherwise great employee, boss might have had a chat, suggested counseling.

Perhaps this will give this person the wake-up call she needed. Some people need to find absolute rock bottom before they look to change their ways. (and the funny part, she was giving wake-up calls. Maybe this was her cry for help? )

Long time ago, I had a boyfriend who started drinking. Behavior started getting erratic, when sober. One time, we had an argument, and he slapped me across the face. I said, get out of my car, and run, I'm putting it in gear. We're done. Couple of weeks later, his dad called to see what happened. He thought we would eventually get married. I explained to dad that his son needed help, was drinking. Dad had been an alcoholic, but was sober entire time I knew him. Dad attended meetings regularly. Dad said he would get son help. I was done.

Two- three years later, I ran into sister. She said her brother was doing great, completely stopped drinking, now was dating a great girl, and was engaged. Fantastic! As someone who saw domestic abuse relationships in my extended family, I knew to not give the guy 'a second chance' we needed to be done. But, by going Draconian, terminating relationship right then, he got his wake-up call, and it worked out well for him. (And I met 'the ONE', two- three weeks later.)

Great points everyone, all true. I have a "Home Office Phone" that I give to my tenants. Over my 40 years of owning rentals, the moment that I make myself unavailable (Telephone wise) an emergency occurs that I'm unaware of, major damage continues like a water leak, flood or fire.

Also when I was doing outside construction work and property management for others, I'd have a 24 hour emergency service with a pager, cellphone and landline.

In 2007 I stopped with my 24 hours service for other landlords. Once your reach the level of multi-millionaire and your hair start to have some grey in it, one needs their beauty sleep.

I have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars upgrading my properties so I won't have emergency issues that require immediate attention and I can get a full nights sleep. Example, exterior pressure opening clean-out caps so sewer back-ups won't flood units. Water Heater pressure relief valves and pans so leaking water heaters are drained to the exterior.

My "Crazy" tenant's boss told me a few years back that if I have an issue with her, I should let him know anytime. She's had many jobs during her tenancy and can always find employment without too much trouble. And she has a large retirement account so if necessary, she can survive years without a job. Being on rent control, if she moves, I can easily double her rent to reach market levels.

Thanks everyone, I needed to vent and get your feed back.

Robert J,

Sounds like you do very well with it though.

RobertJ it was genius to route the call to her boss and now she's fired. Does she need a warm and fuzzy feeling. Send her a teddy bear...

Since she is fired can you evict her? Oh Yeah Evictioning the Crazy Nut Case Teni!!

For the posters that mentioned bite the hand that feeds you. UMMM. I don't think RobertJ much cares about losing this nut case.

Hey at least RobertJ is up right and not in the corner in a fetal position. After 40 years of dealing with the politics of LA, West Hollyweird and Santa Moaners. Then add Rent Control on top of that; there are times when you do the unorthodox, or just think outside the BOX...

Tenant got FIRED!!! Now eviction time and the next tenant can enjoy the freshly painted unit.

Got to LOVE the Left Coast of Cali-for-ni-a.

UMMM Evictioning Where in the H e Dbl Hocket sticks did that come from.

Oh Yeah Evicting the Crazy Nut Case Teni!!!

Evictioning???

Infection control???

OK makes sense???

Get rid of the infection from the unit....

...Evcitioning meaning: getting rid of the infection from the unit!!!

Alright new word...