Difficult High Maintenance tenant from Hell, Complains about everything

[Atul Mohlajee]

I have a female tenant in her 30s with a young daughter.  She started on March 15, 2023 on a 1 year lease.  She keeps texting and calling about every problem that is there or not there.  She wanted me to refinish tub.  I said no because she saw the unit thrice before moving in and tub is fine.  She asked for a deadbolt lock that I provided.  She raised a false and loud alarm about HW heater not working and threatened to report me to village.  Sent plumbers there who said it is working fine but water gets cold after 20-25 minutes after you run water.  I paid the plumber.  She reported mice droppings and hired a professional exterminator the same day.  I had scheduled an exterminator to come after 2 days while being out of State whom I later cancelled because her exterminator came in.   I gave her rent credit because she paid as I was out of State.  She complained about open lead in 80 year old but remodeled building where she signed lead disclosure form in lease.  She wanted a list of things for me to do at move in that I refused because apartment is remodeled and she saw it thrice before renting as is.  She texts me being a slum lord and dishonest landlord using unprofessional language.  Her previous landlord did not renew her lease and I will not either with 11 months to go.  I called her previous landlord after she moved in and found many inaccuracies in her application.  Initially my realtor had talked to her landlord and he had given OK reference.  Tenant from Hell.  What will you do?  Only legal and lawful solutions please.   

[Nathan Gesner]

My response would be something like this:

"You were given plenty of opportunity to inspect the rental prior to occupancy. If you are unhappy with the rental, please give 30 days notice in writing and I will return your deposit once you are out. If you insist on staying for the full term of the lease, I expect you to stop requesting upgrades and abide by the lease terms. If you continue to harass me with unnecessary repair requests or insult me personally, I will terminate your lease."

In the future, I recommend adding something to the lease that lets them know up front that you will not make improvements to the rental after occupancy. Here's mine, which I make every Tenant initial:

MOVE-IN CONDITION. Tenant acknowledges the rental was represented through marketing materials designed to attract applicants for in-person inspections. Tenant was given the opportunity to inspect the rental prior to signing this Agreement. Tenant elects to accept the property in its current condition and/or they are waiving their opportunity to inspect, at their own choosing and for their own convenience. Landlord shall not be obligated to clean, decorate, alter, repair, or otherwise improve the rental, either before or after the execution of this lease, unless agreed to in writing as part of this Agreement.