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Updated almost 8 years ago,

User Stats

22
Posts
2
Votes
Mara Witt
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Manchester, NH
2
Votes |
22
Posts

tenant says heat "not working right"

Mara Witt
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Manchester, NH
Posted

So here's the situation, tenant (has been there for a year and a half, month to month lease, never any problem except she doesn't pick up dog poop, which I have been way too lax on so far, because she has been a very good tenant otherwise) text’s me on November 22 saying that her heat is cycling but not getting above 60 in her house. I immediately get back to her, schedule an appointment for my handyman (who has a background in heating and ac) to come check it out. We go in the next day, it is 72 degrees in her house, granted it was not a cold day and she also had a space heater running (not allowed per her lease) He looks at heater and said it is running fine, but suggests I get it serviced (yearly) as it will help it to run “smoother” also found two radiators that were not working, so he ordered the parts, which took a week to come in, I made an appointment for service (first available appointment was Dec 19th, which I thought was ok, scene it is not “broken”) and I bought her plastic to put on her windows. It’s an old house I always plastic my windows as well. So, he installs the new valves on the radiator, a week later and minutes after she texts me that the heat is still not working. Then, I'm outside and she STORMS out of her house, I ask her “have you adjusted the valves?” and she starts screaming at me that this is unacctable  that I am not having it serviced oil the 19th. I explain to her again that it is not a repair service or an emergency (because her heat is working), it is just maintenance and that that is the soonest I could get an appointment. she goes inside and slams the door. The temp outside during this conversation was 55.
So, Monday we had our first snow, I’m shoving outside and she comes home, I ask her to pick up the dog poop that is in front of me ( it gets way grosser in the snow, so I want to get on it right away Especially because i know that there are at least 20 piles from her dog underneath the fresh snow) so I ask her to pick it up, she says “Of course I always do” (uhhhhh?!) then says ( with attitude) “its still really cold in the house” Ok, she wants to start and argument, it goes on, I tell her I’m doing everything I can to help her I've made the appointment, had the valves fixed, and gave her plastic, I was told it is working fine so it is not an emergency situation. It goes back and fourth and she says “it was 20 degrees in my house the other night” ( if it’s 20 degrees in the house I'm thinking that WOULD be an emergency, and I should have got a phone call then, not mention it two days later because I asked you to pick up dog poop.) She also brings up a leak in her bathroom, that I am aware of it had leaked during a major rainstorm before she moved in, so any time there is major rain, I text her to make sure it isn't leaking, it has only happened 3 times in 3 years so Its on my to do list, but it has not happened in over a year. So, I’m offended, she's accusing me of not doing my job as a landlord and I’m taking it personally. Its hard to take her seriously when 1) I was told the heat was working 2) she's bringing up problems with the house that do not affect her (leak in the bathroom) 3) she tells me to my face that she cleans up her dog poop when i can see 20 piles! 4) that she opens the door wearing a t shirt (if its that cold in your house put on a sweater!!!)
I just want to make sure I’m doing everything right, she said “according to the state of NH” I’m not. alluding to reporting me. This is all so out of character, so I’m assuming there is some other problem in her life. But I am taking it personal, I pride myself on taking good care of my tenants so I’m offended that she's implying I don’t. Also, now it IS cold out, I really want to make sure there is not a real problem so I tried to get a sooner appt for service but have not herd back yet. I also want to tell her NO space heater, as it is clearly stated in her lease, but haven't mentioned anything about it. If I’m doing anything wrong please tell me.

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