Tenant property complaints when rent's due

[Shawn H.]

I have a tenant, who seems to have complaints about the rental unit, when rent is due. Maybe its just a coincidence, but there have been several times when we have received calls, normally minor issues, on or around the 1st, and rent has not yet been paid. She is a good tenant otherwise. She is recently divorced, and is my guess she has probably never rented before. Whenever she has an issue I have always responded/resolved the same day or following day. Does anyone else have tenants' like this?

[Rob K.]

Is she trying to avoid paying rent and using the repairs as a valid reason not to? Is she trying to avoid the late fee?

[Ryan Pyle]

From time to time I get tenants that behave this way. I gave up a while ago trying to figure it out. Sometimes I would think they were testing me, sometimes I would think they were trying to make sure they were getting something for their money and sometimes I would think they were hoping I wouldn't make the repair so they could have an excuse to not pay the rent. Either way I always made the repairs promptly. Over time the monthly requests seemed to dwindle. Twice I have not renewed tenants' leases who behaved this way. It was nothing really against them, I just decided I didn't want them as customers. Sometimes that's the decision you have to make.

[Shawn H.]

I think she wants to get something for her money. The first few months I sent reminders that rent was due, then she paid. Then she received a settlement from a previous automobile accident. She paid the current month and a month in advance. During that period we didn't hear any complaints. Now rent is due for the current month and the dryer is acting up. Her complaint is probably legitimate, and I don't have an issue making prompt repairs, it just seems a coincidence rent is also due. She has never refused to pay because of repairs. But like I said, I have always addressed any issue the same day or the next.

[Ryan M.]

What are examples of some of the things?

[James H.]

I experienced this for a while. Not really complaints, but weird questions about things that could have led to spending money on things that were fine as they were.

My guess is either it's coincidental, or maybe, these areas of discontent tend to come up when paying rent reminds her of it. Either way, if it is something that needs to be fixed, who cares if the repair needs to be done around rent time or between?

[Suzie B.]

We used to have a tenant who would complain or ask for repairs every time she paid her rent. We took care of her concerns promptly and the requests slowed.

I can see some tenants doing what some of you mentioned and trying to hold their rent due to a minor repair, or to avoid late fees. Never understood the one we had though.

[Marci Stein]

One thing has nothing to do with another.
it's her responsibilty to pay the rent on time .
it's yours to address her complaints.

[Shawn H.]

Originally posted by Ryan M.:

What are examples of some of the things?

Handle on oven is loose. Got this one 2 or three times before I gorilla glued it. In reality the handle had been loose for a long time...one bolt was out the other was on its last thread, handle nearly on the floor.

Got a call that the refrigerator door seal was 'rotting'. Keep in mind, we previously lived in this unit, so all of the appliances we bought for ourselves and are only a few years old. So the rotting seal is actually what happens when a strawberry or raspberry fluid, possibly a pie or other sticky substance is spilled and not cleaned up. It is sticky enough that it begins to pull apart the seal.

I am fortunate that these issues are minor. There have been other repairs which were legitimate. I think some tenants don't appreciate a nice rental. I am still learning to deal with the wide variety of tenants. Thanks for the responses.

[Steve Babiak]

Maybe this tenant doesn't want to bother you at any other time of the month, but knows that the two of you will have some contact around the time rent is due? Tell the tenant it is OK to report that things need repair at any time of the month and see if it is still coincidental or not.