Tenant gets "Attitude Adjustment"

[James R.]

I sometimes have to give tenants, what I call an "attitude adjustment".

Below is an email that I sent to a tenant.  In her email, she talked about invoicing me for when she had to talk to the utility company.  I sent them there to answer her questions and inspect the furnace for a potential gas leak.  That night I put her in a hotel and ended up replacing the furnace.  

Fellow BPers, let me know your thoughts.  Am I being too harsh on her, with my response? 

Stephanie,

Please refer to your Rental Agreement Part II, Line #7.

There is clearly nothing wrong with any of the appliances. I am not paying for trips to the property, for unwarranted complaints where damages caused are due to tenant negligence or in this case, no damages or repairs were found by the service repairmen, yet a service call was billed to me.

Yes, my time is valuable and no where in the lease does it say that I am responsible for removing your hair from a clogged bathroom drain (one example). I cleared the drain for you as a courtesy and did not even get a thank you!

I do not take kindly to your "entitlement attitude". I have maintained the property and appliances, per my responsibility.

I did not have to put you in a hotel. I only have to provide 1/30th the amount of rent towards a place for you to stay the night. I also could have gotten the space heaters that night, but thought you would appreciate a hotel stay near to your workplace. Did you appreciate it? I guess not!

Sending me an invoice for your "inconvenience" is another "entitlement attitude" response, which I do not appreciate.

I could charge you for ALL of the service calls to come to the apartment, but I decided to charge you for only half, accepting the other half myself. Instead, I get your less than appreciative email response.

Submit the requested payment for $99.88 in a separate check along with your March rent. Please see to it that it is deposited by my bank on or before the 1st. You have been late twice, since you moved in. The bank deposits checks the very day that they are received, however I gave you the benefit of doubt. I will not be doing that again.

On another note, I have decided to let you out of your lease effective immediately. You will have the month of March to find a new place to live.

Market rent is $875 for the apartment and I would like to pursue finding a new tenant for an April move-in date.