Update at the "mold house". As suggested here, and thank you!

I had given the "if things aren't working out for you here" option to both sets of tenants. I was really hoping one of them would move. Got an email and phone call tonite. The one I wanted out most took me up on my offer. Hubby and I will sleep good tonite, not phased. I thought that might happen, and silently was hoping it would happen. Interesting, his email said we could show the place ASAP after they move.

Yep, always having to control things. I mostly show before someone's gone, especially if their place looks good. Would have never shown his place while he's living there. It's clean and orderly but he's done some things I wouldn't want another to think they could do...

I'm debating whether to leave the unit empty until the downstairs leaves in Spring. It's like this: have you ever had one sour puss tenant with an attitude, poison another's attitude in the building, then have them both poisoning another person in the building and soon the whole building is against you? This is the second time in 45+ years that has happened. If I put someone in now, the remaining tenant will poison their attitude. I don't want this job if I can't enjoy it. That's why I quit my day job to do this full time. I'm in it to keep my mind from turning to mush, meet interesting people, and add to our income. Your thoughts on; have you been in this situation? how did you handle it? If not and you were in this situation what would you do about renting the unit out again, right away, wait, other?

My lease has wording that states a T can not be rude (paraphrasing).

If the remaining tenant is a pain, find a way to get rid of him as well. I would not wait until he is gone to rent the other place. If he poisons the well, you have the perfect reason to remove his tenancy.

If you leave it empty because of him you will have that in the back of your mind the entire time. That is not peaceful at all.

You are in control. Let him know that. Remind him that you gave him an out. Get the new Tenant in there. If he does ruin the new tenant than boot them both.

But whatever you do, work towards what makes you happy.

Hi Oreo : ) !

I agree with Zero.

Don't give the current "unpleasant" tenant control over you & your business.

I'm not sure what behaviors define them as having a poison attitude, but here is a sniper from my lease that addresses it. Even if it's not (yet) written in your lease, I think it's very reasonable to lay it out for them now.

The mold got fixed? Then tell the new tenant that the mold issue has been fixed. Then the downstairs can complain about mold all they want to.

Your downstairs might improve since they were told to leave if they are not happy. There was something about the two tenants that fed off of each other and one of them will be gone, so the issue might be resolved.

I know most people don't like it but sometimes you have to be confrontational with bad attitudes, don't let him control the situation or it will get worse. It's simply how bully's are wired.

The first step is to relate his actions to your lease. Most leases have a "quiet enjoyment" clause. The actions to cause a controversy in the building are a violation of that.

When he does it again, which he likely will, issue a cure or quit notice. If he does it a 2nd time then issue a quit notice giving him the required time to move out and proceed to eviction if he doesn't.

Great quote Ray!

Notice was given us yesterday. The departing tenant is once again trying to rewrite the lease. His lease says with proper notice (12 hours here, I usually give 24) I will show between XXX hours and try to schedule when he is at work. His email stating " I move into the new place on September 1st, and I will be vacated here by then as well, giving you at least a 30 day notice so you can start to show this place ASAP after that. What are the next steps we need to take to make this an easy and painless transition for both of us?"

One sided as always. Our lease even states a charge for each time we are not allowed to show or enter when there is a scheduled repair. SO glad he's going.

OREGON: You seem to have followed this closely and yes, the mold is fixed. Current lower tenant is now asking for new carpet, quote "you don't think everything going on in the basement isn't seeping through the carpet?" SHE doesn't think it's fixed. Your advice has me thinking of what to say to newbies. They will find no mold as it was never a mold that affects 95% of people.

I would not let him control the business. "One monkey don't stop the show"!

Give your proper notice and do your thing.

Lower tenant wants new carpet? If carpet is the problem, new carpet isn't a solution. Removing all carpet and either adding a couple of layers of polyurethane over the hardwood floors ( sanding/staining as needed, at owner's discretion, not tenants) OR sheet vinyl flooring, transitioned from room to room. Or, LVP, if that is landlord's preference. But more carpet? No. On the lower level, sound absorption isn't as big a factor, if I understand correctly.

And, tenant would need to be out before I'd do the poly. It needs to cure before rugs and furniture goes over. Cheap, loose-lay vinyl could be done room by room, but I suspect that isn't what tenant is after. Sounds like lower tenant is trying to angle for an upgrade, using fear of mold/ veiled threat for leverage.

I don't do multis, for just these reasons ( tenant -to-tenant conflict/ drama/ sharing bad ideas) , so take my thoughts with healthy dose of salt. I do not want to show a place with current tenant still in place, especially since I do the repairs and rehab, it might be a bit before it is ready. So, the September 1 showings wouldn't be problematic. Don't know that I 'd leave it longer just to avoid negativity from lower neighbor.

Just a thought-could one bedroom in each unit be taken out of use as a bedroom, to be fitted as a utility room, with washer/dryer hook-ups and electrical panels, and then cut off access to basements? Maybe more expense than one wants to incur, but could reduce interactions between tenants, reduce household sizes that want to apply, and allows owners to control basement space without tenant basement junk and basement habits. Making the transition to in-unit utility room would take time, giving lower tenant time to simmer down. Just a thought....

BUSY: Thanks for the food for thought. Never considered taking a bedroom out for an in unit utility room, yet that's what is popular and preferred these days.

Currently, I purposefully, advertise one less bedroom. hoping to get one person per unit. This has worked very well. We have just one person in each unit now, even the three bedrooms.

Hi Oreo,