Nightmare demanding tenants- advice

Nightmare demanding tenants- advice

Investor · Lexington, KY · Member since 2016 · 9 posts · 8 votes

Any advice would help:

I have a property that had a sump pump break and water come into the finished basement of a SFH. The tenants emailed and called a couple days after the rain storm. I dispatched my handyman to assess the situation and he arrived within 1 hour of first report. He said the carpet was soaked and appears the sump pump

burnt up. I then called a water extraction company and they arrived within 4 hours to extract all the water, set industrial floor dryers and a dehumidifier. I emailed and informed the tenants that the dryers would need to work for 12 hours (per the carpet company) and then someone would check to see if the carpet would be dry in time to be saved. Each of the vendors who had gone there expressed to me how rude the tenants were stating things like “He has another thing coming, he will replace this carpet ASAP or else, we are going to sue him for his negligence etc”. The next day one of the tenants emailed and was very nasty saying that “there was a flood in their house and how quickly will it be fixed, how much am I pro rating rent and they expect to be reimbursed for using their electricity to run my machines”. I responded with a very nice email saying that we are working as fast as we can and at the mercy of some of our vendors, and unfortunately stuff happens, but we need to have realistic expectations. Needless to say I got roughly 10 emails during the night threatening lawsuits, calling the media, calling me a slumlord etc. I called a mold remediation company to set up a testing. My question is have I done everything I can and how do I deal with such unreasonable people?

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Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
6y

Sorry, I’d offer them the choice of...

1) I’m fixing it at my expense as fast as I can, probably faster than you would fix your own home.

2) this is a one time offer for you to leave at the end of the month, no hard feelings, pick one and be happy.

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  • Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    6y

    Sorry, I’d offer them the choice of...

    1) I’m fixing it at my expense as fast as I can, probably faster than you would fix your own home.

    2) this is a one time offer for you to leave at the end of the month, no hard feelings, pick one and be happy.

  • Realtor · Hanover Twp, PA · Member since 2018 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    @Ronnie Mossotti, don't lose any sleep. It sounds like you are being MORE than diligent about dealing with the issue.

    If they got under my skin I would tell them I would prorate the rent for the number of days the house was not inhabitable. Attached is your check for $0. lol

    Seriously, at most I would give them a credit for the electricity maybe $20 which is more than the electricity used I'm sure.

    If they are month to month tenants I would probably give them their notice. If they are near the end of their lease, I would probably give them a kindly heads up that their lease will not be renewed.

    The benefit of dealing with things head on as you have is that you don't need to second guess yourself. You are doing exactly what a stand-up type landlord should do. So, don't let this tenant's nonsense bother you. 

  • Investor · Lexington, KY · Member since 2016 · 9 posts · 8 votes
    6y

    @Bill Brandt I like it thank you I will use that! It seems no matter what they are not happy. Every vendor or contractor that goes out there does not want to go back, those relationships are way more important than a short vacancy.

  • Investor · Lexington, KY · Member since 2016 · 9 posts · 8 votes
    6y

    @Kevin Sobilo thanks, some people are just so miserable that they will never be happy. I have learned it is not worth trying to reason with unreasonable people. Thank you for your kind words.

  • Member since 2018 · 563 posts · 562 votes
    6y

    @Ronnie Mossotti you responded very fast, same day, in an hour. you were professional, polite and responsible. It is not humanly possible to do anymore or faster. I always deal with these types of situation from the perspective of how's my actions gonna sound being recalled months later in a courtroom. The few frivolous lawsuits that i have defended against were quickly dismissed when the judge determined that I did the right thing in the right time and the tenant was just being a turd.

    Terrible T's....first one is Tenants! Hang in there and best of luck.

  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    6y

    @Ronnie Mossotti  Bill is right.  You dealt with this quickly, give them the two options and explain that the trades people are doing their best and the easier they make it for the trades, the quicker it will be done.  (by easier your mean they shouldn't be buttheads, but saying that wouldn't go over well).

    When they text, do not reply right away.

  • Rental Property Investor · Concord, GA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    I think you would be better off if these people were someone else's tenants. I'd work in that direction.

  • Sean McKennaPro Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · Goffstown, NH · Member since 2019 · 80 posts · 59 votes
    6y

    @Ronnie Mossotti

    Ugg some people can be right aholes. I deal with these people by killing with kindness.

    Say things or respond with phrases like I appreciate your understanding and support through these unforeseen events. Be sure you respond in such a way that shines you in a great light should someone read out your words in court.

    If possible have one of your vendors write you progress update email. Where they mention the tenant impeding progress and being rude to the workers.

    The electricity is a tangible loss for the tenant. I would probably cut them a $30 check for that.

    Do not deduct from the rent. Rent is always due.

    Your check to them is documented.

    Keep all correspondence. Document everything.

    Keep a cool head. You have done all you can do. Don’t let these people get to you. Keep up the great work. You definitely don’t sound like a slumlord. You will laugh about this some day.

  • Rental Property Investor · Indiana...mostly · Member since 2019 · 468 posts · 245 votes
    6y

    "I'm sorry but unfortunately if the premesis is uninhabitable, I must agree to end your lease early as stated in the lease.  You are obilgated to pay for the time your retain the premesis.  Let me know your move out day and i will arrange to have utilities transferred to me on that day so that heat is not shutoff causing damage to water pipes which you will be responsible for otherwise."

  • Real Estate Agent · Southington, CT · Member since 2008 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    They just want a new carpet. That is what this is all about. Are they going about it in an extreme way? Yes, absolutely. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Southern NH · Member since 2017 · 87 posts · 100 votes
    6y

    Our first nightmare tenant experience was like what you’re describing. And I totally agree with what @Sean McKenna says above. Very matter of fact, courteous, timely responses that don’t get you caught up in their drama.

    I use a free CRM service called HubSpot that works alongside my Outlook mail app to log and time stamp every email I send and receive from tenants. All correspondence lines up directly under their profile so you’re not hunting down multiple emails if you need them for legal purposes.

    My business partner and I are both married to mental health counselors who we called on to help with handling our difficult tenants like yours. Yours sound identical to our situation and ours had clear sets of issues that amplify every little thing that seemed wrong with the apartment. Sean’s approach above is exactly how to handle this type of personality disorder which is a very difficult one to deal with. In fact there’s a whole treatment discipline built around this type of person because they’re so challenging. Our wives teach a summer college class on it!

    So against that, I’d end this lease ASAP...they don’t get any better!! 

  • Real Estate Broker · Northeast PA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y

    @Ronnie Mossotti, why didn't you have your driver pick them up and drive them to the Hilton where you would pay for their food, beverages, spa treatments and of course the cost of the hotel suite while you had all their carpeting replaced and re-painted the entire interior of their residence?

    Your lack of a "maintenance magic wand" and less-than-instant remediation show total disrespect for these 'perfect people'! 

    As individuals of such outstanding moral character, humility, and humanity, they are totally correct to threaten you and your heirs, be hostile to everyone they meet, obstruct the people there to help them, and demand your head on a platter.

    These tenants sound like they are members of the "This is totally unacceptable!" generation.

    Get rid of them!

  • Investor · Jamestown, ND · Member since 2017 · 32 posts · 32 votes
    6y

    I only do month to month leases now, this is a big reason why.  The last tenant that was a problem with constant whining was a person that evidently came from a wealthy family and just didn't know anything about living in a house, he didn't know how to mow the lawn because he had never done it before, we replaced the dryer in the house because it wasn't working and noticed the dryer lint trap had never been cleaned, couldn't plunge a toilet, complained about a weird smell all the time, complained that one room was too cold, etc, etc,.  It was almost a daily occurrence for him to call and complain about something. 

    Finally on one trip over there I told him (nicely) that obviously this house isn't meeting his standards and he should start looking for a new place to live.  That very quickly put an end to the majority of the complaints as there aren't very many houses this large to rent in our small town and he moved his large family up here so he really would have to cram into a 2-3br house or rent a couple apartments.

    Just nicely state you are working on fixing the issue and if they wish they came move out at any time.

  • Investor · Bethel, AK · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 852 votes
    6y

    I have a self serve storage facility with 36 units and 16 rental units. I use a PM for the rentals. I could never waste my time chasing down repairmen, evicting tenants, and collecting rent every day as I work too. I want my rental income passive so it’s better to do it that way. My rentals are spread all over Colorado so I end up managing PM’s. They do all the books for each property too. I’ve done it that way since day one. I let them deal with tenants like that. Imagine what your going to have when you get 20-30 rentals?? RR

  • Rental Property Investor · MI · Member since 2019 · 192 posts · 205 votes
    6y

    @Ronnie Mossotti

    Yes, you have done everything you can do.

    They are demanding, unreasonable, and down right Trouble!! They are professional Tenants who probably did this to their previous landlord.

    After this issue is taken care of, I wouldn’t trust them to stay in your house. It will be never ending. There will always be something. If their not happy, they should leave.

    Be careful of how and why you evict them because they’ll try to hit you with a retaliation lawsuit.

    You’ll find tenants who appreciate you as their landlord. These are deadbeat tenants.

  • Investor · Lexington, KY · Member since 2016 · 9 posts · 8 votes
    6y

    I agree, I have 25 properties and have never experienced anything like this. Can you say “non renewal” lol

  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    6y

    maybe take this time to rip out the carpet and put in something better.. most folks I know after a while remove all carpet anyways.. 

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