Cautious landlord, or foolish landlord?

Question

Hello everyone, so among this Covid-19 outbreak, I’ve come across an issue that has me and my partner torn, and although I see both sides I’m curious what other think.

So I bought my property a few years ago and have been renting it while also living in it ever since. My current tenants have had people coming and going in the house as if it were business as usual. I’ve politely asked them multiple times to please keep them outside, just while this is going strong still. After the 4th or 5th time, I had gotten snippy about it, and one tried saying that I can’t force them to not have people over. I said that I wasn’t, that I was asking them to not have people in and out during a pandemic.

Although part of me knows that I can’t exactly stop them from having people over, even though in the lease it says I have the right to keep anyone off the property that’s not on the lease, I feel like at the same time I should still be able to make a call like that considering what’s going on. How do you guys feel about something like this?

Kyle J. · Answer

I'd let it go.  You're just going to stress yourself out for something you realistically can't enforce.

Filipe Pereira · Answer

Hi @Aaron Caminati, I am also doing a househack in a SFH here in CT. I've had some concerns myself as one of my tenants is a paramedic so his likelihood of exposure is much greater. Thankfully he has been very good about sanitizing and letting us know if he has at all had possible interaction with someone who was transported due to COVID-19.

If I were in your situation - I would try to find the middle ground. Honestly, as landlords, property managers and investors, the middle ground is usually where things are settled. I would make an agreement with your house mate and basically say that you would very much appreciate it if their guests would at least take some basic precautions such as: hand sanitizer, wiping things down, etc. etc.

As others have mentioned we're in a crappy situation here. You can't evict and you certainly don't want to piss someone off that has access to your entire house - that could be very destructive.

The police are unlikely going to do anything, as they will likely say it's a civil issue and thus don't have any jurisdiction over it, if you will.

Best of luck.

As others have mentioned we're in a crappy situation here. You can't evict and you certainly don't want to piss someone off that has access to your entire house - that could be very destructive.

The police are unlikely going to do anything, as they will likely say it's a civil issue and thus don't have any jurisdiction over it, if you will. Best of luck.

Isaac S. · Answer

I'm thinking:

1.several vicious attack dogs

2. electric fences with intercom entry  gate and daily changing passwords

3. a moat filled with alligators

Or do what the less crazy people said before....best of luck!

Aaron Caminati · Answer

Thanks everyone! I’m not so worried about eviction, or getting the police involved, I mainly had an inner struggle with it all. I try to run my business like a business as be fun can while renting to people I know and living with them on top of it, but sometimes my partner doesn’t see it that way and I second guess myself at times because I it. Thank you for the input!

Aaron Caminati · Answer

Im not the most concerned about it, but my partner is which is where the issue is coming from. It’s a SFH that houses 4 people in it, we all share every room in the house (except personal rooms)

Marian Smith · Answer

@Aaron Caminati  Tenants in your house?  They are supposed to follow the guidelines and you can evict if for health reasons.  Show them the rulings.  You get this virus, you are sick as a dog not to mention the possibility of death.  Let it go at your own peril.

Jaysen Medhurst · Answer

Yeah, that's a tough one, @Aaron Caminati. You can't really force them to stop having people to their house. If what they're doing is in contradiction to Lamont's executive orders (I don't know if they are), then you might be able to get law enforcement involved. That's certainly going to strain your relationship even more.

For me the real question becomes what happens if they contract the virus and then can't pay or ask for a break on rent?

How do you like for Willimantic for investing? I focus on SE CT and used to live around the corner in Storrs.

Jill F. · Answer

How many units are in the building? And do you live in one of the units?

If this is a owner/occupied duplex you get more leeway picking your tenants than you otherwise would but when you sign a lease you give legal possession of your property to the lessee. Additionally, right now, in most places, since courts are closed they are not hearing anything other than 'emergency' evictions. If your tenants (or their guests) are violating stay-at-home orders, and your lease prohibits illegal activities you might try sending them a notice to cure in whatever manner you state requires. If the units have shared ventilation systems, you might be able to convince a court that this is a health and safety issue that they should hear, particularly if you are high risk (but I think its a long shot). Otherwise, all you can do is non-renew their lease when it comes up for renewal since they have demonstrated poor judgement and character.

Patrick M. · Answer

@Aaron Caminati

I think you need to chill out and realize that many larger multi-families have far more people going in and out on a regular basis.

So the alternative is that this person goes to another's home to sit with them? Sits out in a confined car with them? There is still the risk of spread.

The problem is that you are caught between being a landlord and a tenant. Right now you are dealing with a tenant to tenant issue.

Cautious landlord, or foolish landlord?

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