Resistance to renting the property?

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Account Closed · Answer

My thoughts exactly. I would avoid any home with a HOA, they are always trouble, but rarely can they prevent you from renting. The neighbors don't even have a way to contact me, I couldn't care less what they think.

Neighbor at my industrial property yells at me about the noise when I am on site, because she can't find my contact info. The site is zoned heavy industrial, so of course I completely ignore her. Once I reminded her she's the idiot who bought a home in a heavy industrial neighborhood. I also told her if she talks to me again or comes on my property I will have her arrested for trespassing.

Colleen F. · Answer

Let me just say " student rental" which defines the kind of resistance you can get.  The town passes ordinances and the neighbors impose a double standard.  It is okay if they have 30 people on a Saturday afternoon but not the students next door then they call the cops (not midnight - 11 am).   So you basically must  talk to the neighbors and do a good job in tenant selection.  Also don't be a go between,  if it is an issue they need to talk to  the tenant like a neighbor.  Geez working in your garage after midnight you are too loud.  People always bring up possible retaliation but it is an excuse for not dealing with the issue personally.  I try to put it back  on them.  I do appreciate a call if there i a police presence on the property but I try put the annoyance issues back between  neighbors.  I will also say  will let them know you have concerns.

When they comment they don't like who you rent to, I tell them the fair housing laws.

James DeRoest · Answer

Get your neighbors on side. Introduce yourself when you can, give them your number! And whilst you're chatting just mention that if there are any problems with a tenant, and also they keep an eye on the empty property.

Plus, you get a get out jail card when a neighbor says "that tenant of yours that left was a nightmare"....."well why didn't you call me?". Boom, instantly derailed.

Most neighbors are extremely happy if you make the effort to meet them, introduce yourself and give them your contact details. It makes them feel involved.

This only went wrong once when some old bat kept calling me about anything "they are playing basket ball in the road" "err yeah, that's kids do" "but the bouncing of the ball hurts my ears" "foxtrot off biddy". (That really was the call).

Account Closed · Answer

I love it.  This reminds me of people who bought property next to a dairy farmer in a mountain town in WA where I used to live.  Then, they complain about the smell of cows.  Well, duh.  City folk who buy in the country are not given much weight by the local bubbas.  Talk about due diligence :-)

We're talking about a mountain community a couple hours from Portland, Or, but in WA.  I had two acres on a road to the national forest.  And I can't tell you how many times I caught Portlanders either pulling into my driveway to relieve themselves, or to release their humanitarian-trapped mice.  Why on earth did those idiots think I wanted their mice on my property?!  I'd go running at them like a crazy screaming banshee, take your frickin' mice back home with you!

People are so.......fill in the blank...

Account Closed · Answer

I saw your post yesterday and didn't know how to respond.  My first though was that I wouldn't care if they liked it or not LOL.

It seems to me the deal would be done by the time any of the neighbors came around to say anything.  And then only if you were working on the house and they came by to chat.

What comes to mind is a 2 acre lot I bought in WA state once, and I cut down a bunch of trees on it and sold them, not only to let more light into the property, but to pay for some improvements, like a well.

Some of the locals (I knew them, as I'd lived in the area for some time) told me they were mad at me for cutting down the trees.  I figured out a few answers like, "Don't you live in a log cabin?"  and "Gee, the place was for sale for a couple years.  Too bad you didn't buy it."  Smile.

I'd never kiss their butts or ask them to call me if there's a problem.  Busybodies are relentless if they smell weakness :-)

Jonna Weber · Answer

Hi @Michael Worden - thanks for posting!  If there is no bylaw or ordinance against renting it out, just smile and be cordial. Be very dilligent about renting to responsible people, and usually once it is up and running, there will be nothing to complain about.  That has been my experience.

Levi T. · Answer

HOA may not want it, but as far as I know, at least in my regions, they can't stop it.

Some people don't like rentals, they see it as a sign of an area going downhill. So what, while it may be true, I've bought more properties and improved the area than not, what's good for the neighborhood is good for my business.

I think most the stigma from rentals have been dismissed after the bubble popped and many owners turned renters.

Resistance to renting the property?

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