Adopted tenant lease question

[Dylan Meeker]

I recently purchased my first income property.  The property is a duplex and the bottom unit came with inherited tenants. The lease doesn't specify whether the washer/dryer is the tenant or landords responsibility. This is my second month as their landlord they've been late both months and actually still owe me for this month. I didn't really intend on supplying washers/dryers to tenants and it seems every time I have contact with these particular tenants they have a new problem or excuse why they can't pay. Back to the topic, my question is, since it's not specifically mentioned in the lease do I need to fix or replace the washer that they've complained doesn't work?

[Jim K.]

@Dylan Meeker

Ah-ha. Well, I didn't want to pile on over there, but:

1. Your real problem is the nonpaying tenants, not the washer. Stop bargaining with them and get ready to evict. Especially now at the beginning of the relationship, you need to be straightforward about this. I know it's "only 30 bucks from last month's rent" and this month's rent. Doesn't matter. Get ready.

2. As a new landlord, you need to become fully aware of the eviction laws in your area. This is going to be your first eviction, and it's going to be an expensive learning experience. It's sad that it's happening like this to you, but it happens to a lot of people. Get your real estate lawyer to do the eviction and watch him as he goes through the process. If you do not have a go-to lawyer on your team, you need to get one -- the lawyer is right up there with the accountant, the plumber, and the handyman (if that's not you) on the list of people you have to be able to rely on.

3. Who owns the washer and what are your legal responsibilities regarding it? Talk to your lawyer. Who knows what the rental property ordinances/bylaws in Burlington, Iowa are, and if they deviate from generally accepted practices? Not the BP community. That would be YOUR LAWYER.

4. As soon as you can, buy a copy of a book called "Landlording: A Handymanual for Scrupulous Landlords and Landladies Who Do It Themselves." There are other books you could buy on managing rental properties, but I really like this one and it has awesome cartoons. There's a process and a learning curve to being a self-managing landlord. Most landlords fail to realize this and consequently do lots of silly things at first. It is not a measure of your quality of character if you do not naturally know how to be a good landlord the second you hand over the cashier's check to buy your first investment property. If you attended a seminar to learn about REI and the speaker said squat about the difficult of being a landlord as he enthusiastically pitched the notion that running rentals was the Very Best Way to build passive income...yeah, that's how to goes with REI seminars.

5. Tenants who do not complain about anything at all when they see you are few and far between.

Good luck to you.