Unique situation, need advice on how to handle it!

[Cody F.]

I'm in need of advice and guidance for a pretty tricky situation.

Here's the problem:

We purchased a 41 unit apartment complex, with a live on site property manager. He's been with the complex over 20 years and we kept him on when we took over because we had no experience running an apartment complex.

Now I've learned a majority of his job and can do most of it and actually have automated most of it with an online program. Mostly his job consists of keeping track of the rent roll, and depositing money orders into the bank when they come in. (Will be fully automated soon with the new program). He also posts notices when a tenant is out of compliance with their lease. And all the tenants go to him if they need something. He also mows the grass in the summertime (250 per month value). That pretty much sums up his duties at this point.

In exchange, He gets a 3br apartment, and all his utilities covered except TV and internet. Plus 500 dollars pay.

He's in his 70s, has a pretty good job he works 40hrs a week at, and is involved heavily at his church and other things in the community. Causing him to be absent a lot.

He also has a grown son in his 30s that seems to be running an illegitimate side business out of our Tool Room. He doesn't seem to have a real job and drives a nicer car than me. Which is suspicious. I guess he was given a key by his father the property manager because he helps with lawncare and other odd jobs if needed sometimes.

So, I'm in a precarious situation. The property manager is a good guy, and he's old, and has been running this place 20 something years.

I'm looking for some suggestions on how to handle this delicately.

.

[Cody F.]

Thank you all for your feedback.

I had a sit down with the property manager today. My first time having a talk like this as an employer. I learned a lot and he was very reasonable and ended up teaching me some valuable things.

He apologized for his son and said he was going to get everything removed and the situation corrected TODAY.

Then when we switched to the topic of pay and retirement, he said he knew this day was coming and had been planning for it. He just needs a little more time. We agreed to start transitioning. He told me that I didn't need to worry about anything and that I'm just being fair, and that I should never worry about pleasing everybody because you can give some people a million dollars and they'd be mad you didn't give them 2.

That man dropped some wisdom on me. I think today was a win win and I left out feeling like we agreed and that it was mutual. I just needed to sit down and communicate with him. He even told me when when he goes, he'll still be available for guidance if I need it. This meeting couldn't have went better!

.