tenant threatens me with "serious actions" over minor repairs

[Tom R.]

I woke up to this text this morning from my tenants new roommate Tom. He moved in a few months ago with my permission.

"Good morning- hope you are doing well? Regard your home on Atkins and my addendum. First I'm looking for you to be fair with Yari . Second I'm very disappointed as there is still no direct air from cooler into the room used by Yari. Second we need to discuss the spraying of bugs and weeds. I'm not allowed to be around poisons while in chemotherapy. We had ants yesterday in my food . What is your plan? I need that by this MO. Also please change the cooler pads as the salts are sprayed all over my bed, the living room etc. Again I'm not supposed to breath pollutants while on chemo. Failure to ignore and respond by this MO will start serious actions by myself. Would rather work with you for sure."

First no one has requested direct air not even Yari. Second insects and yard care are the responsibility of the tennent according to the lease. Third the cooler pads are relatively new more than likely I put too large of a pump in the cooler. I don't mind making repairs and improvements. Ive already added updux in the bed rooms and installed a programmable thermostat at the Toms request but when you threaten me I don't want to do anything for you.

Just now I received a call from Yari. She got a job offer out of state and is moving in a couple of weeks. Her lease isn't up until December and she has agreed she will continue paying her part of the lease until a replacement is found and I have agreed to help her find a replacement.

I will look at the cooler and remind them of their responsibilities. I am willing to let the yard work slide for the time being so long as the weeds are cleaned out when the tenants vacate the property. I don't know what can be done about bugs without using (which have never been a problem until now).

I guess I'm looking for advice on how to handle these new developments. Also what kind of accommodations do I need to provide for my tenant who has cancer?

[Marc Winter]

A few thoughts:

1.  Do the words "Jointly and severally" mean anything to you?  They should be in every lease.  Simply put, they hold all tenants individually and as a group responsible for the rent and any damages.  

2.  Tell your tenants NO MORE TEXT messages.  Email or written requests only.  I understand, we all just love to text, however an email is much easier to read, reproduce, search...  and it won't disturb you as much during sleeping or driving.

3.  Tell them to RTFM (i.e. read the lease).  The lease should CLEARLY state the terms and conditions of being a tenant in your property.  If they don't make it priority #1 to get it straightened out.

4.  If the tenant does not live up to their end of the agreement, for example, their job to do landscape work, let them know you will have it done professionally, and add the bill onto their regular rent as 'added rent' (another term that should be in your lease.)

5.  Fear no tenant--accept no threats.  Ask the tenant directly "what does 'serious actions by myself' mean exactly?"  Tell them you read that language as a threat to you, and ask Is that what they meant it to be?

6.  Allow a graceful way out for the tenant.  When they back down, ease up, smile and say, "ok, good.  Now that we're on the same page, lets see what really needs to be done, and who's responsible for what."

7.  IMO it's fantasy land to think the tenant that's leaving will be paying rent to you after they are gone.  Hope this dream actually comes true for you.  First chance you get, lose Tom.

Get a little stronger with the tenant, and good luck.