Greetings lady and fellow landlords, I've been some time away from here. Quick question on an old topic;

What are you currently doing when your worst tenant constantly wants your best open apartment. She can barely afford what she already has. She always wants to bring in additional shaky "roommates" to make up the difference.

I know this and apartment swaps are typical in landlording. I got "stuck" with such a tenant when she got pregnant by another guy while her husband was in the military. She had the baby. The husband is long gone. She works now as a hotel housekeeper. The baby's father sometimes comes around, but less and less.

FWIW, I suggested to screen this tenant with a fresh application, then declining a move based on financials. My wife (who manages our tenants) screamed ABSOLUTELY NO WAY! My wife insists this tenant will interpret this to mean I am actually considering moving her and bring 25 potential roommates.

Another thought I had was this one is overdue for a rent increase on her current apartment....

Unless this is the best kind of tenant available in your area, terminate her at the end of her lease. That will free her up to get a bigger apartment and roommates in some other landlord's rental.

You don't have to move her. She has a bad landlord reference (your own)

You might try letting her know that she would have to come up with a complete new deposit for the new apartment. Tenants think they can move around at no cost to themselves and that the landlord will just transfer the old deposit over to the new apartment. No, the old deposit is going to clean up the old apartment and there will be a new deposit for the new apartment.

Hi Oregon Woodsmoke,

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I am thinking similar on this. I think my manager(wife) is intimidated by this tenant because she often implies the threat of racism. Also, this woman starts shouting matches when unhappy. Either way, it's always a "nail biter" on rent day, always pays but not always on time.

Is this tenant trainable? If the answer is no - then it is time to get them packing elsewhere.

In cases of room-mates, all room mates must qualify for the place as individuals. What happens? The most qualified person will move out and you will get stuck with the trash and the trashy resident.

I had purchased my first "C" grade apartment house, an 8 unit, back in 1997. The tenants in unit 101 complained that the old owners never fixed anything and that's the reason why that apartment looked so shabby, run down and in need of everything. Blinds, Carpet, painting and replacement appliances.

Like an idiot I bought into their explanation and allowed them to move into the newly vacant unit 102, right across the hallway. I had replaced that carpet, painted, installed new blinds and give it replacement used appliances.

WITHIN months that replacement apartment looked worse than the tenants old apartment.

I could have gotten an extra $100 a month renting to other tenants, evicted the bad tenants and gotten another $100 for that apartment as well.

Robert,

NO.

It's a complete sentence.

No explaining reasons - especially to someone who is looking for a way to "get" you.

JA, I agree to upgrade each unit as it becomes vacant. In many cases I picked up a property for a song, knowing that the City Planning Commission was changing zoning and the commercial properties across the alley from my building were going to be limited to upscale renters/shops.

With little children and dogs and tenants, if you try to be polite or subtle, they just misinterpret and think they can get their own way if they persist. So say "no" very clearly and when you say "no" enforce it, don't waffle or change your mind when they beg or "reason".

I am a VERY firm believer in saying what you want to say which in this situation is "No". Do not explain anything. Do not tell her why it never works. Do not say anything other than "No, we are renting that unit to a new tenant." When she asks who/when/etc. Just say again, "Sorry, but we aren't allowing you to transfer your lease". Others will say you should tell her you are only the manager and this wouldn't happen. I disagree for many reasons. Be firm, be decisive. Don't say you need to check. Don't say you'll get back to her. Make her understand here and now the answer is "No". Do not leave even one millimeter of hope for her so if she asks again, either repeat "no" or ignore.

Next - a shouting match requires two sides. Why is your side participating? Hang up, walk away, etc. End of the "match".