tenant complains that she is always cold

[Greg Smith]

I am fairly new at landlording. I've been at it maybe 2 years and have had mostly positive experiences. I have a few section 8 rentals. An older woman just moved in a SFH and complains of being constantly cold. She says the heat wont stay on (handyman checked - it heats to the set temp, 80 degrees and then turns off). The previous tenant never mentioned a problem. The furnace is maybe 10 years old. The house feels warm when I walk in. She has a space heater going in her bedroom and sometimes uses the oven in the kitchen. She hasn't been sleeping at the house because of the cold and it isn't even winter yet. What should I do? Should I let her out of the lease? This would be a hard time to replace her but an unhappy tenant is a headache. I am going over this week to winterize the windows with plastic.

[Deanna McCormick]

2 things by using a space heater the regular thermostat is not registering the proper temp in a room,, or by using the stove,, the stove is a fire hazard and by no means should be used for heating.. who's paying for the fuel to heat or run the stove.. just plain wasted energy

Get rid of her, let her out of lease all, she's accident waiting to happen and write her up for not properly using appliances,, NO space heater should be used in your lease,, that alone unattended is a fire hazard.

You will never satisfy her