Needy Tenant - How to respond to unreasonable request?

Question

I have, in many ways, a great tenant. They've been renting for 3 years and have never even had a late payment. It's a mid-range property in my area ($1,200/mo.) and I'm really lucky to not have a vacancy for this long.

Although over the last year they've been sending more and more texts to "fix" things. Some are reasonable, which I've promptly addressed. But others fall firmly under the tenant's responsibility.

Please help me respond to this message from last night. I'm not sure if it's best to mention the increasing requests, or simply to say why this one isn't valid.

Their message was that there have been ants in the house, and they would like me to spray, or even TENT (!) the house.

Ants are part of life this time of year, and there isn't an infestation by any means (I worked in their house last week) and live next door.

How should I respond to this request? Whether it's simply stating that is their duty, or addressing my larger concern of them constantly asking me to do little things like this.

Thank you very much.

Ryan M. · Answer

If there are ants, spray around the house to show good faith. No big deal, we get a few requests every spring.

Who cares what the lease says, it's your house, do you want ants in it?

Just my .02

Dima Tupchik · Answer

How much does PM cost a month for a landlord?

Account Closed · Answer

I think Ryan M. has the best solution here, especially since you live right next door, but that doesn't address your larger problem. You have a choice between putting up with their annoying requests and just accepting that as part of being a landlord, or pushing back and risking losing good paying tenants. It depends on your annoyance tipping point. Good luck!

Jason Goretzki · Answer

Dima,Our PM is 10% & the first months rent, which I think is about average from other research that I have done.

Joel Owens · Answer

Be thankful that is all they are asking for and that they pay on time. The minute to them you become just another slum landlord who doesn't seem to care they will move. Then you will get a tenant you don't want and wish you had them back.

The ant problem is easy. You just spray around the doors outside and the building. The ants go away. A pump sprayer at Home Depot is ultra cheap.

You can also remove yourself as a direct contact landlord by having a large complex where you have full time PM manager and maintenance and you never go to the property or talk to the tenants. Commercial with triple net you can get away from that as well. Much higher dollar amounts of investing to have that luxury (usually a few hundred k or higher) to get started.

Liz Brumer-Smith · Answer

I agree with Brenda Layman. I am currently renting and really like my landlord. He actually brought a can of ant spray by when I complained about the same thing (although mine was a little more repetitive and right when I moved in). I've been renting here for 2 years now and am a great tenant and I honestly haven't left because I know I have a great landlord that is pretty hard to come by. It might be annoying but it's kind of the role of the landlord. It's one reason I want to be as removed from the tenant and responsibilities as possible. Being the bank is the way to go.

Good luck Scott J.

Lynn McGeein · Answer

Maybe drop off a can of ant spray along with a highlighted copy of the page in their lease explaining their responsibilities as tenants, and politely remind them that they are responsible for things like this and that you brought the copy so they can keep it for future reference.

Matt Devincenzo · Answer

I would start by looking at your lease and see if there is a clause about pest control, if there is then explain that the terms of the lease they signed say they're responsible for it. You can also use this time to go through the lease with them again so you can explain what it is they are responsible for as a reminder.

If not I would explain that ants are attracted to food, and while impossible to completely prevent their food sources like crumbs and dropped food, that will go along way. And then follow with you have no control over the prevention of the ants since it is not you that lives there, and therefor the treatment for them rests with the tenant.

Obviously if you would like to keep them you need to be tactful about saying it and don't have it sound like you're saying they're dirty, but at the same time let them know you're not going to just take care of items that are theirs to prevent and treat.

Charles Baisden · Answer

Hey Scott - just curious... does your lease specify who's responsibility it is to maintain the pest control needs of the property?

I know that we maintain the termite policy on the house, but our tenants are responsible for maintaining their pest control.

If it is addressed in the lease, the may be the answer.

Needy Tenant - How to respond to unreasonable request?

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