Tenant Requested Improvements

[Ted Klein]

I have an elderly tenant that has requested to have a walk in 4 piece shower kit installed and is willing to pay for the improvements. The unit has just had a remodel and is in new condition so it is just a matter of convienence.

I have agreed to allow the improvements under the condition that my contractor would do the installation. I have submitted three requests for quotes and am preparing to submit the quotes to the tenant for their review and approval. Not sure how much they were expecting to pay, but the quotes are between 3-4k for labor and materials.

I have a certain expectation on the quality of materials that will be used to ensure that the improvement fits within the existing quality of the unit and the materials included in the quote are near borderline to that expectation being a cheaper shower valve, a 4 piece shower kit over the existing 1 piece unit and a low cost shower door.

I am not a fan of the multi piece shower installation kits thinking they look cheap. Should I demand a higher quality shower kit or provide a quote with the installation being tile walls? Tile walls could end up looking bad if the cleaning is not adequate and since the existing 1 piece shower/tub surround is pretty much tenant proof and is in very good condition, I am somewhat hesitant to even proceed.

I might add, I am getting slightly above market rent and the tenant pays on time and has expressed an interest in staying as long as they can so I am thinking that if I allow the improvement, then the tenant becomes more invested in the unit and is more likely to stay.

What experiances do you have in situations like this and what advice can you provide? Providing that they approve one of the bids, are there any additional liabilities that I could be held to since they are paying for the improvements?

[James Wise]

Originally posted by @Ted Klein:

I have an elderly tenant that has requested to have a walk in 4 piece shower kit installed and is willing to pay for the improvements. The unit has just had a remodel and is in new condition so it is just a matter of convienence.

I have agreed to allow the improvements under the condition that my contractor would do the installation. I have submitted three requests for quotes and am preparing to submit the quotes to the tenant for their review and approval. Not sure how much they were expecting to pay, but the quotes are between 3-4k for labor and materials.

I have a certain expectation on the quality of materials that will be used to ensure that the improvement fits within the existing quality of the unit and the materials included in the quote are near borderline to that expectation being a cheaper shower valve, a 4 piece shower kit over the existing 1 piece unit and a low cost shower door.

I am not a fan of the multi piece shower installation kits thinking they look cheap. Should I demand a higher quality shower kit or provide a quote with the installation being tile walls? Tile walls could end up looking bad if the cleaning is not adequate and since the existing 1 piece shower/tub surround is pretty much tenant proof and is in very good condition, I am somewhat hesitant to even proceed.

I might add, I am getting slightly above market rent and the tenant pays on time and has expressed an interest in staying as long as they can so I am thinking that if I allow the improvement, then the tenant becomes more invested in the unit and is more likely to stay.

What experiances do you have in situations like this and what advice can you provide? Providing that they approve one of the bids, are there any additional liabilities that I could be held to since they are paying for the improvements?

 As your tenant is older the argument can be made that she needs this modification for health reasons so you likely don't really have a choice. You must accommodate any reasonable request for things like this. That said, I would only provide her quotes for renovations that meet your standards as well as the standards of the rest of the home. You do not want to create a negative for your property b/c you will eventually need to re rent the unit to another person.

[Brie Schmidt]

@Ted Klein - is this a request because of a disability?  If so, read up about fair housing laws

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/disabled-r...

[James Wise]

Originally posted by @Ted Klein:

I have an elderly tenant that has requested to have a walk in 4 piece shower kit installed and is willing to pay for the improvements. The unit has just had a remodel and is in new condition so it is just a matter of convienence.

I have agreed to allow the improvements under the condition that my contractor would do the installation. I have submitted three requests for quotes and am preparing to submit the quotes to the tenant for their review and approval. Not sure how much they were expecting to pay, but the quotes are between 3-4k for labor and materials.

I have a certain expectation on the quality of materials that will be used to ensure that the improvement fits within the existing quality of the unit and the materials included in the quote are near borderline to that expectation being a cheaper shower valve, a 4 piece shower kit over the existing 1 piece unit and a low cost shower door.

I am not a fan of the multi piece shower installation kits thinking they look cheap. Should I demand a higher quality shower kit or provide a quote with the installation being tile walls? Tile walls could end up looking bad if the cleaning is not adequate and since the existing 1 piece shower/tub surround is pretty much tenant proof and is in very good condition, I am somewhat hesitant to even proceed.

I might add, I am getting slightly above market rent and the tenant pays on time and has expressed an interest in staying as long as they can so I am thinking that if I allow the improvement, then the tenant becomes more invested in the unit and is more likely to stay.

What experiances do you have in situations like this and what advice can you provide? Providing that they approve one of the bids, are there any additional liabilities that I could be held to since they are paying for the improvements?

 As your tenant is older the argument can be made that she needs this modification for health reasons so you likely don't really have a choice. You must accommodate any reasonable request for things like this. That said, I would only provide her quotes for renovations that meet your standards as well as the standards of the rest of the home. You do not want to create a negative for your property b/c you will eventually need to re rent the unit to another person.

[Thomas S.]

I would only agree to have installed what I want in my property and would have the tenant pay the full amount of the cost.

Keep in mind that under housing regulations there is no requirement for the owner to pay the cost you are only obligated to allow necessary medical requests.

If it is not required by law then you may say no and if agreeing should never compromise your standards out of concern for the tenants. If it is their request you decide what material and standards are required. You make the decisions and they ultimately decide if they are prepared to pay or not. 

Raise your standards to suite your property and submit the estimate to your tenant. Never compromise for the sake of a tenant. Remember your tenant could die tomorrow.

[Uchenna A.]

I would allow the improvement with the understanding that the unit must be returned to its original condition at the end of the tenancy. Think of this like a request to paint a bedroom purple 😀

[Ted Klein]

@Brie Schmidt @James Wise @Thomas S. @Uchenna A.
Thanks for the replies. I am going to re-submit my bid requests and raise the standard to have tile installed to meet the standards of the rest of the unit. We already have quartz tops throughout the unit and I am afraid that the shower kit would downgrade the look. There are two bathrooms and putting a shower kit in the master bathroom would look cheap. Sounds like a win win to me.

[Uchenna A.]

Should not matter to you how it looks while the current tenant who would pay for it wants it that way and lives in it. Should it? All you should be concerned about is how it looks at the end of the tenancy. 

[Account Closed]

Would think about holding added escrow funds to restore property to its original condition. Probably would not require, but would at least think about it. 

[James Wise]

Originally posted by @Ted Klein:

@Brie Schmidt @James Wise @Thomas S. @Uchenna A.
Thanks for the replies. I am going to re-submit my bid requests and raise the standard to have tile installed to meet the standards of the rest of the unit. We already have quartz tops throughout the unit and I am afraid that the shower kit would downgrade the look. There are two bathrooms and putting a shower kit in the master bathroom would look cheap. Sounds like a win win to me.

 That's the move I would make.