Am I wrong (by LisaFL [FL]) May 11, 2022 12:05 PM
Am I wrong (by Ken [NY]) May 11, 2022 12:20 PM
Am I wrong (by Pat [VA]) May 11, 2022 12:21 PM
Am I wrong (by LisaFL [FL]) May 11, 2022 12:48 PM
Am I wrong (by Jim in O C [CA]) May 11, 2022 12:49 PM
Am I wrong (by Allym [NJ]) May 11, 2022 12:50 PM
Am I wrong (by Terry [ID]) May 11, 2022 12:54 PM
Am I wrong (by RR78 [VA]) May 11, 2022 1:22 PM
Am I wrong (by Ken [NY]) May 11, 2022 1:24 PM
Am I wrong (by Scott [IN]) May 11, 2022 1:25 PM
Am I wrong (by LisaFL [FL]) May 11, 2022 1:31 PM
Am I wrong (by RB [TN]) May 11, 2022 2:03 PM
Am I wrong (by LisaFL [FL]) May 11, 2022 2:04 PM
Am I wrong (by myob [GA]) May 11, 2022 4:39 PM
Am I wrong (by Vee [OH]) May 11, 2022 8:09 PM
Am I wrong (by Robert J [CA]) May 12, 2022 8:22 AM
Am I wrong (by Oregon Woodsmoke [ID]) May 12, 2022 1:06 PM
Am I wrong (by LisaFL [FL]) May 12, 2022 7:51 PM
Am I wrong (by LisaFL [FL]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 12:05 PM Message:
I don’t think I’m wrong but I don’t want to overreact. I just got pushed a little over the edge. How would you address this.
Tenant is relatively quite but always difficult when needing anything. Contractors has remarked about him too so it’s not just me. He’s been there 13 years, pitches a fit over every rent increase and has violated the lease over the years which I let slide (adding pets, additional people, “fixed” things without authorization, etc.) I call him out on them when discovered but always let it slide because he’s been there so long I didn’t want him to view it as a control issue.
Anyway his rent is ridiculously below market. House could easily rent for $1800 in this market. Although it would need some freshening up. He was raised in January from $1065 to $1150. I reminded him he was month to month and could move at any time. He failed to return his increase notice form until I gave him an ultimatum.
He recently had a plumbing leak and I got a my plumber to pull off another job to take care of this for me within a couple days. Instead of the normal “thank you for getting this fixed so fast” I received a scathing text that they replaced the shower value with one that doesn’t have the ability to control the water flow. And that he was going to go to Home Depot and replace it with the right one. He was not happy because of all the water he was now going to be wasting!
I informed him that he was not authorized to make plumbing repairs. The shower valve type is what is typically used now and all my units have them. And reminded him the showerhead is low flow and nobody had ever complained about it before, then thanked him for letting me know it was fixed.
Then, thinking if Sid, I suggested I could get an estimate from the plumber as to what a return trip charge would be for an upgrade but he would be responsible for the charge.
But I ruined that because I was so irritated and know the plumber would be as well so I followed with “Actually I think I’m just going to keep it. I will probably look into selling the house next year unless you move sooner.”
I know most of you probably would have put him in his place awhile ago or gotten rid of him and I need to stop second guessing myself. I can understand if he was a little disappointed that he got a different shower value type but his handling of it is what I can’t take.
Maybe I just needed to vent. Maybe his next increase will be $200 a month but I’ll include an upgraded shower valve. Or maybe I should have said, “I’m sorry you might lose a few dollars on water per month. I know the feeling being as I lose several hundreds of dollars each month renting to you so far below market .”
--75.89.xxx.xxx |
Am I wrong (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 12:20 PM Message:
Might be a good time to jack the rent to $1800,if he is going to complain you might as well get what it is worth --74.77.xx.xx |
Am I wrong (by Pat [VA]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 12:21 PM Message:
You're human, you can't help how you feel. A lot of tenants feel like they own the place when they've rented it that long. We like for them to show respect and appreciation, but that doesn't always happen.
I think most people on here feel like it is a business so run it like a business. I am in a similar situation with one of our nicer houses right now. Seven years this month with only ONE rent increase (went from 600. to 650.) That is literally half what it should be renting for in todays market. Except for one thing, the houses that are asking that are staying empty. This is a nice, childless couple that take really good care of the place, so we let it slide for now. I'll be happy when they move, but am going to have to go up on them again soon. --216.126.xx.xxx |
Am I wrong (by LisaFL [FL]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 12:48 PM Message:
Ken, that has crossed my mind but it would likely price him out and require some cleaning/upgrades which I’m not available to deal with now. Of course I could sell it as-is and still do fine. The Florida market, especially my area is still very hot. Giving him 25% off shows I’m being fair. Right now he’s getting more like a 37% discount.
Pat, you are extremely charitable. My rents are all very low but there comes a point where you either need to make money on your equity, or at least derive satisfaction from having grateful tenants. When your charity is not appreciated or recognized it loses its appeal. But but good tenants such as yours and all the rest of mine know when they are getting a deal and they’re not going to balk at a reasonable rent increase. I went up 10% in some cases last year and every tenant expressed gratitude, except the one described who already has one of the lowest rents of all.
I try really hard to consider both sides but have learned that some people are just big, spoiled babies. --75.89.xxx.xxx |
Am I wrong (by Jim in O C [CA]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 12:49 PM Message:
You get what you allow. --99.23.xxx.x |
Am I wrong (by Allym [NJ]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 12:50 PM Message:
Sometimes when people stay long it gets complicated. YOu don't want them as a tenant anymore so you are not playing the game properly. If you wanted the tenant you would say "sorry the plumber gave you a cheapo shower head, I will get him to put in a better one." He is living in a rental that probably is not up to par with recently renovated and higher priced apartments or houses. Can't say it's worth the higher rent until you make it worth the higher rent. A few months without rent while you renovate will not make you any happier. --108.24.xx.xx |
Am I wrong (by Terry [ID]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 12:54 PM Message:
Hi Lisa - This tenant of yours sounds like he is trying to bully you (hmmm, maybe because you're a woman? I don't know). I would keep your conversation "by the book" and in writing just in case. Rent increases I would send, not certified because he probably wouldn't sign for it, I would mail "proof of delivery" signed by the mailman proving your letters are delivered...
Secondly, from the sounds of your topic, that he is disrespecting you...if you would really like him out, I would give him maybe a 60-day-notice, since he has been such a long-term tenant. My hesitation with this is, do you think he would tear up your house to spite you? This situation could turn real nasty, real fast, and it might not be worth it to you. Maybe a hefty rent increase might solve the situation without getting too nasty.
I would not give him any personal commentary (or your opinions in spite of your frustration with him) like you told him he could get out or you might sell the house, whatever you told him. Keep it strictly business...don't get personal. Don't give him any reason to give you grief. Keep it in writing, texts are ok as you can print them out to give to the judge for proof. Phone conversations don't hold water. Like Judge Judy says it's not a contract if it's not written ON the contract and signed by both parties.
I say, weigh your options, figure out what is important to you, choose your battles. Good luck. --75.174.xxx.xxx |
Am I wrong (by RR78 [VA]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 1:22 PM Message:
Since month to month. I would go ahead and raise it at least a couple hundred again. No matter what you do on the shower.
As a side note. If you had a Delta brand installed. The trim and cartridge can be changed to convert to the model that has control over the flow. Dont have to repeat work and change the whole valve in the wall. --73.40.xx.xx |
Am I wrong (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 1:24 PM Message:
Lisa,stop being concerned about being fair,in my mind fair is tenant paying full value of rent. By you being concerned about being fair makes me think he is intimidating you and you are justifying leaving the rent to be fair --74.77.xx.xx |
Am I wrong (by Scott [IN]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 1:25 PM Message:
Classic entitlement issue. After they have lived in a place for a long time, some tenants think that they are the owner, and you are their employee. This tenant requires training. I would send a text stating that each time the tenant acts disrespectfully to you or others, his rent will increase by $50. You must follow through on that threat. Failure to do so will weaken your hand in dealing with this tenant.
Remember Aldo's rule. --107.141.xx.xxx |
Am I wrong (by LisaFL [FL]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 1:31 PM Message:
Terry [ID],
You are correct of course. But being what I told him is true I thought the timing was good to put him in notice. I am always fair, never retaliatory. He will either get a termination notice or significant increase in January because I don’t ordinarily do increases more than once a year.
I hope the notice now gets him planning and he moves but really doubt it will happen. And no, I doubt he would do something intentionally spiteful and I’m by not means afraid of him. I was on the fence with my future plans for this house and his behavior has just helped me decide the route to take.
I try to give everyone every benefit of the doubt but my tolerance has its limits. I’ve come to realize that some people are just self-centered, entitled, big babies. I have always been firm but fair. I’ve been wanting to give him a head’s up to think about moving, this just gave me the excuse to do so. But in hindsight, I should have refrained and done it down the road. But I also know I’m not changing anything until next year, so at least now he won’t be surprised if/when that happens.
(This is the same guy who must have forgotten when he asked me to lower his rent when his first wife left him, that I gave him an $80 rent reduction and kept it that way for years). --75.89.xxx.xxx |
Am I wrong (by RB [TN]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 2:03 PM Message:
Your generosity has (finally) reached its limit.
Next ! --24.183.xxx.xxx |
Am I wrong (by LisaFL [FL]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 2:04 PM Message:
Well I just received a text from tenant with the new shower valve. It came with a photo and the following words: It does look nice though.
Apparently my message got through and he decided to humble himself a bit.
The older I get the more I realize that life is just too short to put up with nonsense. Like Jim said, you get what you allow. I’ve always had that mindset- or so I thought,
Thanks for the tips on the valve. I did not know a new one wouldn’t be needed. The old one was a Delta but we usually use Moen. I will check to see what the plumber used this time. --75.89.xxx.xxx |
Am I wrong (by myob [GA]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 4:39 PM Message:
I would have put him in place 11 years ago. ANOTHER PLACE!!!!
Someone said generosity? the door mat has worn through. --99.103.xxx.xxx |
Am I wrong (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: May 11, 2022 8:09 PM Message:
Someone elses place. --76.190.xxx.xxx |
Am I wrong (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: May 12, 2022 8:22 AM Message:
What's worse than your situation is one of mine. Owning a rental property with "partners" that since I'm a contractor, it's my job to fix things and deal with the tenants. Plus the tenant is like yours, entitled, never any gratitude for a same day upgrade instead of just a repair. And the tenant lies to the other partners making me look bad. So what did I do?
Respond only with text messages as proof of our conversation. Wear a body button camera with audio. Came within 2 hours of the tenant reporting a plumbing problem. I showed the the tenant 5 samples for the kitchen replacement faucet. Spout pull out sprayers. Side mounted sprays. Single handle and some two handled faucets. Finish in Chrome or Brush Nickle --
I let the tenant choose the replacement faucet. Then I get a call from my partners, Why did I replace the faucet with a piece of crap AND why did it take me a week to respond to this tenants needs?
So I had a meeting with the partners. Almost non of them believed me. So I made them a deal. If I could prove the tenant lied, we would evict "them" regardless of the cost. They agreed and I let them read my text messages with the tenant --
2 hours for me to respond and not a week. Also the video of me letting the tenant choose the faucet. When our eviction attorney said it would take 2 to 3 months to evict, the partners refused. So I turned in my keys and said, "Get someone else to deal with all of the tenants on this property"!
With the cost of labor being up, now their replacement handyman/ contractors will cost at least double. And the parts, more than triple. My last disposal replacement for the partnership was $80 for a 1/2 HP Moen disposal and $75 for the install -- $150.
They paid their discount plumber $400 for the same thing, 1/2 hp disposal replacement, but the unit he installed was a builders grade low end unit. So instead of me fighting with the tenant and my partners, I'm letting them deal with setting up appointments and paying 2 to 3 times the price. My sweet revenge. I stall have too much stuff that I own all by myself that keeps me busy. --47.155.xx.xxx |
Am I wrong (by Oregon Woodsmoke [ID]) Posted on: May 12, 2022 1:06 PM Message:
[[[[[....... always let it slide because he’s been there so long I didn’t want him to view it as a control issue......]]]]
It should be a control issue. Someone has to be in control and there should never be any doubt in the tenant's mind that it is the landlord who is in control. If the landlord does not take firm control, the tenant will take control.
I have some tenants who are under market, but they are excellent tenants. They are easy to work with, the yards could go on the cover of house beautiful magazine, and rent is always early. There is no way I would keep a PITA tenant for years at $700 a month missing from my own pocket. --76.178.xxx.xxx |
Am I wrong (by LisaFL [FL]) Posted on: May 12, 2022 7:51 PM Message:
Oregon Woodsmoke,
I am, as usual, 100% in agreement with you. I don’t put up with nonsense anymore. Being a long term tenant, he’s gotten off easy as I learned along the way. But your thoughts are definitely spot on. I still have room for improvement. --75.89.xxx.xxx |
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