The tenant is demanding to know who the owner is. I own my rental in an LLC

[Moises R.]

I just bought a inherited tenants with a new rental property i purchased through my LLC. One of the tenants is asking my manager to tell her who the owner is so she can speak to the owner. Are we obligated to do that legally? She seems like a problem-tenant. I'm a pushover so that's why I hired someone to deal with the tenants. Could anyone suggest some response ideas for my manager? Thank you

[JD Martin]

Quote from @Moises R.:

Thank you everyone for the responses. Me nor my friend, who is my manager have a lot of experience with this, so that's why I wanted to get more experienced input on this. Is there any trouble we could get in by not providing the tenant with my name and presenting me as the owner (even though the owner is technically an llc)? The tenant demanded to know who the owner is saying she "knows her rights" and it's her right to know... She wouldn't accept that it's just an llc. She wants to know who we report to.

Doesn't seem like a pleasant person. 

I like tenants assuming I'm just another handy man. 

I like the idea of just taking a message to deliver to the owner. 

Thoughts:

1. It sounds like you need a professional manager, not your friend, no disrespect intended to your friend. A professional manager would have handled this for you and you wouldn't know anything about it. The tenant is entitled to deal with the owner or the owner's authorized representative. If you have a professional property manager, this isn't a problem as S/he is your authorized representative by law - and if your friend isn't licensed, and your state requires it, then you *do not* have a professional property manager and someone who represents the LLC will have to deal with the tenant. So first you need to determine if your friend can legally manage your property.

2. If you are in an easy-out state, I'd give this tenant their walking papers at the earliest opportunity as I have a no PITA rule and she would be breaking it. 

3. If you are afraid to identify yourself as the owner, then you *really* need a property manager. All of my tenants know I own the properties and I don't care that they know. I spent my entire career dealing with sob stories and hard luck cases and angry people and it has zero effect on me. The handyman thing can really backfire because if/when someone figures out the truth you either look like a total wuss or a liar.