Adding coin-op machines to buildings. Tenants are complaining.

[Mike Adams]

We started to add coin-ops conversion kits for the laundry machines in our buildings to help cover the costs of operating each machine and now tenants are complaining.  Initially, the machines where there, but it was on the tenant's line. They never took the machines when they left and new tenants wanted to use them. We said okay, but they didn't want to cover the utility cost for the machines.  We had to run a new gas and electric line from the house to the laundry room so we can provide said service.  The service to install the new lines was $1200.00.  To operate the machines, electric and gas, costs another $45.00 a month.  We priced the machines at $2.00 per hour per unit, which is plenty of time. 

Normally, we do this once we take over a building, but this one we didn't since one of the initial tenants didn't mind it on their utility bill; the new tenant did. What would be the polite way to inform the complaining tenants of this change?  We did inform some of the tenants of the switch, they didn't seem to mind. However, there other two seem to mind.  This is the first building with a laundry room.  All of our other units have washer and dryers in their units.

[Bob Okenwa]

@Mike Adams

It's a business. Inform the tenant they are free to make their own choice in this matter. They are free to do laundry elsewhere if they so choose and pay for it there, they can choose to pay for it at your facility, or they can choose to move somewhere else when their lease is up.