Tenant short paid rent invoice

[Dan Leeder]

Hello fellow BP'ers out there,

Would like your advice on the following please..

I have a tenant who moved in at the end of March who pays her rent every month but she complains about everything under the sun. I've replaced carpet because she was was complaining of pet smells, installed a garage door opener since the previous garage didn't have one and have also had a mold inspector out after she purchased a mold test which came back positive. The mold inspector found some household mold in areas which are conducive to grow mold, I.e in the toilet bowl, and a some in the basement. Within 1 week after the inspector left we had remediated the minor mold problems, got a dehumidifier setup in the basement, etc. Now along with her rent check this month it has been shorted $80 with a note saying "hope you don't mind if I shorted the rent check for the cost of the mold tests". I have spent close to 2k since she moved in, remediating items that I may not have remediated for 95% of other tenants.

What do others think I should do about the shortage? should i pay for the cost of the tests? I'm not so concerned about the $80, but am concerned about the precedent I may have set or am setting, let me know your thoughts, thanks!

[Kyle J.]

I would definitely get that $80 from her. If nothing else, if you don't it sends the wrong message that she can order tests that may or may not be needed and spend your money to do it. What if next month she wants to have the air quality tested or the tap water tested? What's to discourage her if she knows she can just deduct the costs of the test from her rent?

I would strongly encourage you to make her pay the remaining $80 and make it clear to her that ANY costs that she expects you to pay for or reimburse her for must be okayed by you first (in writing if you want to avoid any confusion).