Resident Asks for Reduced Rent

[Julie Marquez]

Due to a bad window replacement and siding job back in 2016, water was been coming in around the south facing windows every bad rain storm (like once a week in the PNW). We tried caulking up the area but that doesn't seem to help. We plan on taking off the siding and redoing everything in the summer to really fix the problem. Ugh, I hate water issues.

Anyway, resident understands that the fix isn't immediate and asked if he could get a reduced rent for his subpar living conditions (collecting the water at the two windows, cleaning it up, keeping belonging away from the windows, etc.). I told resident that he could move without any penalties, but he said he is not in the position to move right now. He does not have renter's insurance, would that help in this kind of situation?

I understand that is apartment is not to standard and will be that way every time it rains hard until we fix the issue. What do I do to compensate for that? BTW, he's not my favorite tenant, has a history of paying late, bounced checks, and lying to us to pay rent later. Some days I'd rather just kick him out (aka give hime 20 day notice him to vacate on his M2M agreement). I am not going to change his rent amount, I could just give him $40 and say deal with it. What would you do?

[Ralph R.]

@Julie Marquez. First off the repair was done in 2016. It should have been corrected long before now. Always remember your first loss is your best loss. End your lease and fix that window now, and fix it right. Replace it if necessary. In winter in Alaska we could put in a whole new window in winter if it really needed to be done. Not cheap maybe, but that water is going to ruin other things. Second you need to examine your management style. This guy is late pay, lies to you, and now wants lower rent. This is because you allow it. He probably wouldn’t be in that unit if you would have been tougher on him when he was late with the rent. Now you have him to deal with him plus the window. Your now facing vacancy, an overdo repair, and getting rid of a sour tenant. All at the same time. If you keep this tenant you avoid the vacancy and face late rent from now on. Likely he will sooner or later not pay one month and will not ever be able to catch up. You will then have the vacancy on top of lost rent. Take this opportunity to take your best loss. Your about to take a bath take it now while the water is still warm and before your loss is worse. I would take a hard look at the results my current management style is affording me and consider outsourcing management or changing my management style. You managed yourself into this position, now you gotta manage yourself out of it. The goal here is to cut your losses and get back on level ground. RR