Tenant asked to upgrade thermostat to smart one and more.

[Huiping S.]

One before retiring lady is one of our tenants. The house is a very cute brick house with all high quality staff. This property normally be rent out within few days by the first qualified candidate. She moved in with her young son. 

Good thing: she paid ahead and every 2 weeks she paid. Keep the cute house neat inside and out.

Annoy thing: since she moved in, she asked to replace dryer, then dish washer(said after washing will have water spot on dishes), then clogged under kitchen sink after Thanksgiving, add light... finally we had a quite holiday.   Few days ago she asked me to buy filter for refrigerator which be replaced just before she moved in. Among all tenants, she is the only one to ask me to buy this filter which I didn't have statement on lease. 

Next day she did this: send me the power company's rejection of discount for her electric bill when the house's thermostat is not smart one. She asked what do I think when she can get discount from her previous landlord. 

I read the message but didn't reply. She wanted to save money and asked me to spend it. I know she send that to me and wanted me to pay for it.

If she will not ask so much within few month, I will upgrade the thermostat. I felt she is training me to do all she wants and I dislike to have a high maintenance tenant. I will only repair necessary until the lease end and no renew.

Mistake we made: she complained her previous landlord and said no upgrade for her. This is a red flag. She wanted to upgrade everything since she moved in.

Please share your thought what will you do for this type of tenants. Thanks.

[John Underwood]

Quote from @Huiping S.:

One before retiring lady is one of our tenants. The house is a very cute brick house with all high quality staff. This property normally be rent out within few days by the first qualified candidate. She moved in with her young son. 

Good thing: she paid ahead and every 2 weeks she paid. Keep the cute house neat inside and out.

Annoy thing: since she moved in, she asked to replace dryer, then dish washer(said after washing will have water spot on dishes), then clogged under kitchen sink after Thanksgiving, add light... finally we had a quite holiday.   Few days ago she asked me to buy filter for refrigerator which be replaced just before she moved in. Among all tenants, she is the only one to ask me to buy this filter which I didn't have statement on lease. 

Next day she did this: send me the power company's rejection of discount for her electric bill when the house's thermostat is not smart one. She asked what do I think when she can get discount from her previous landlord. 

I read the message but didn't reply. She wanted to save money and asked me to spend it. I know she send that to me and wanted me to pay for it.

If she will not ask so much within few month, I will upgrade the thermostat. I felt she is training me to do all she wants and I dislike to have a high maintenance tenant. I will only repair necessary until the lease end and no renew.

Mistake we made: she complained her previous landlord and said no upgrade for her. This is a red flag. She wanted to upgrade everything since she moved in.

Please share your thought what will you do for this type of tenants. Thanks.

 Let her spend the money to replace a working thermostat so that she can save money. I bet the utility company offers these at a discount. 

Do you provide the AC filters? If not why would you supply the water filter?

She should have been using rinse aid for the dishwasher to prevent Water spots or a better brand dish washer detergent.

You need to nip all this in the bud.

When my tenants ask for an upgrade I ask how much extra rent is this worth to you? Conversation over