Duplex Tenant Drama Issue

[Brandon V.]

Hi Everyone,

Just had a lengthy conversation with one of my tenants who lives in an upper on a duplex.  This tenant is by far the best tenant I have had as he pays rents 100% of the time on or before the 1st, he's never had any real issues besides learning how to use the breaker box, responds to my texts immediately etc.  He called me up to discuss his problems with the lower unit.  Once him and his girlfriend moved in, they had got the lower unit a plant as a welcoming gift and in my opinion are just really great people.  However, for what ever reason, the lower tenant (according to the upper tenant) has been mean, rude, saying things like the backyard is only for the lower unit, they had a door decorating "competition" for Halloween which turned into the lower tenant yelling at the upper tenant.  The latest thing was the upper tenant was outside so they signed a parcel for the lower unit to try once again to be good neighbors, held the package for an hour and then gave it to the lower tenant, to which they really got yelled out at.  That's when the upper unit tenant called me, as he's never really had this problem before and really didn't think he needed to call me because they are all adults but felt it was a big enough issue and now he is thinking about not resigning the lease for next year.  

The lower unit tenant has always been nice to me.  She's a single mom with two kids and lived on a rough side of town before signing a lease at my rental in West Allis.  She has been late on rent once (paid on the 8th) but always pays on the 4th or 5th, sometimes in my bank, sometimes mail.  She also sometimes pays in partial payments which I've addressed several times.  She's had a couple maintenance requests like any normal tenant.  I have had to repeatedly ask her to keep up the lawn and shoveling, which she ended up paying for a $300 ticket for not shoveling.  

The lower unit tenants lease is up at the end of January, and the upper unit tenants lease is up at the end of March.  I have full confidence that the unit wouldn't go vacant very long at all since they are pretty nice units.  I believe the lower unit tenant would want to stay there for a couple more years, whereas the upper unit tenants have told me that they would like to buy a house maybe in the next year or two.  

With all of this information, do I just let it ride out?  What would you guys do in terms of resigning leases and handling the situation?  

Thanks,

Brandon

[Ned J.]

Late rent...partial payments.....tickets with the city for not taking care of the property....you having to keep on her to take care of the lawn etc...and big conflicts with your model tenants.....lease expiring real soon.......sooner than the model tenants........ Hhhhhmmmmmm

And you want to keep this person.....because she may be a longer term renter........ think about that some more.....let that sink in a minute....

Personally..... I would take meticulous notes and documentation of ALL the issues...dates etc etc.... and not renew her lease.

At the MINIMUM I would give her an ultimatum ....no more conflicts with the neighbors...no more late or partial payments....no issues with maintenance of the property....and make her M2M

And the model tenants should just go about their business and ignore the lower tenant