Tenant Issue - What Am I Responsible For?

Tenant Issue - What Am I Responsible For?

Home Sellers · Duluth, GA · Member since 2013 · 24 posts · 1 vote

Hey guys!

So I've got quite the predicament.... My tenant just moved in about a month and a half ago and has been pretty good so far. However, recently she has been complaining about a sewage smell in the house. Right before my wife and I moved out, we started to smell some pretty foul smells OUTSIDE and it only happened every so often. We did not think that there was anything wrong with the house and had even gone to our community forums and heard of other people having the complaints. We told her this, but she persisted that the smell was unbearable and that it was even waking her up in the middle of the night. I had a plumber go out there and he said that he smelled it too, but couldn't find the source and recommended doing a smoke test... which costs roughly $600... I'd like to avoid that at all costs. Then, I got an email from our HOA saying that the water treatment plant was to blame. There was a fire and all the sewage was released into an emergency reservoir, which is it's sole purpose for being there. The plant hasn't made a full recovery yet, but they are still working on it... I sent this to my tenant hoping that it would get her off my back because there is nothing that I can do about it... Then she mentions to me that her water is starting to smell weird and that the water is looking hazy and complaining that it may be a health hazard to her and her kids. Now, I'm one of those guys that wants to make sure that I'm treating others the way that I'd like to be treated... If I was her, and what she is saying is all true, I'd be upset and blowing my landlord up as well. So, if I can fix it relatively easily, then I'd like to... So any advice for that would be great! I'd also like to just know legally, what am I responsible for doing. Am I doing too much? Any help would be great!

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Real Estate Agent · Villa Rica, GA · Member since 2017 · 38 posts · 28 votes
8y
@Mitchell Smith I would contact the water plant personally and see exactly what has been affected, what their treatment plans are, and what the time line is. If the issue your tenant is having is truly from the water plant, there is nothing you can do about it. Enter the phase of the tenant should boil the water before you use it, or buy bottled water, and wait for the problem to be resolved. If the water plant says the problem is not from their issue, then you have bigger fish to fry.
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  • Real Estate Agent · Villa Rica, GA · Member since 2017 · 38 posts · 28 votes
    8y
    @Mitchell Smith I would contact the water plant personally and see exactly what has been affected, what their treatment plans are, and what the time line is. If the issue your tenant is having is truly from the water plant, there is nothing you can do about it. Enter the phase of the tenant should boil the water before you use it, or buy bottled water, and wait for the problem to be resolved. If the water plant says the problem is not from their issue, then you have bigger fish to fry.
  • Craig CurelopBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Post Falls, ID · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Mitchell Smith - I agree with Jennifer. Your first step should definitely be to figure out the problem at the water treatment plant. 

    Your tenants are clearly unhappy and the last thing you want should be upset tenants. You should think of your real estate investment as a business and your tenants are your customers. You need to make them happy. Until this problem is fixed, I would suggest either reimbursing part of their rent OR purchasing bottles of water for them. 

    You can go to Costco and get a 40-pack of water for under $10. If you buy 4 or 5 of these, your tenants should be okay until the water treatment plant fixes their problems. 

  • Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    8y

    Test the water for your own piece of mind, get the details regarding the time line for the HOA to resolve though issue and inform your tennat. If that is not sufficient to satisfy your tenant too bad, you have fulfilled your responsibilities as a landlord.

  • Home Sellers · Duluth, GA · Member since 2013 · 24 posts · 1 vote
    8y

    Awesome! So I called the water treatment facility and it's going to take some time for them to fix the smell, but I will have someone come by to test the water and make sure everything is SAFE. Beyond that, there isn't much else I can do!

  • Joe SplitrockPro Member
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    Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
    8y

    @Mitchell Smith for under $100 you can install a carbon filtered water tap in the kitchen. Do it under the condition that she is responsible for replacing the filter every 6 months. Many cities have smelly or dirty water which is safe to drink, but still doesn't taste great.

    On the smell and water quality, make sure your response to her is documented. Send her a letter explaining what the city told you about the smell and with the results of the water test. I would mail the letter and attach it to an e-mail. In the e-mail say, the attached letter was also mailed to you. 

  • Plano, TX · Member since 2017 · 42 posts · 51 votes
    8y

    I would do none of that.  Get a report from the city acknowledging the water is safe and forward that to her. If she is still unhappy tell her she can move out in 30 days and this is one time offer.  This tenant is going to be nothing but a pain the entire time she is there.

  • Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    8y

    @Chris Lynch

    Your probably right but he could offer to add the carbon filter at her expense. Complainers usually clam up preaty fast when their own money is on the line.

  • Home Sellers · Duluth, GA · Member since 2013 · 24 posts · 1 vote
    8y

    well I’m worried that if she moves out that I will have trouble with getting a new tenant... 

    And if that test comes back safe then I’ll just have to tell her to suck it up... may decrease rent a bit

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