High Maintenance Tenant -- What to do

[Wesley Yu]

Hello everyone,

Recently rented out a San Jose SFH to a high maintenance tenant. Need some advice as to how to deal with this tenant, enforce fees for service requests, etc? Mind that this tenant has only moved in for 10 days and has sent us numerous emails, texts, about problems in the property.

0) Day 3: Unit was professionally cleaned by a cleaning crew 2 weeks prior to move in. Tenant complains about the "gross" cleaning supplies left behind by the cleaners (windex, a scrub) and that there is dust on the cleaning supplies. PM informs tenant that the cleaning supplies are left as a courtesy for the tenant to use in case he/she wants to clean the house.

1) Day 3: Tenant complains about minor outdoor dripping at the base of drip system unit. Worried she might be overcharged for water. PM informs tenant that we will keep an eye out. Anybody solutions to a slightly leaky, new drip system out there? 

2) Day 4: Half of the home's electric sockets don't work, likely because tenant tripped circuits. PM informed tenant that tenant might have tripped electric circuits. Gave instructions how to access and reset the electric box (just turn off and on the switches). Tenant said that instructions were confusing. Refuses to read instructions and take a photo of the box and cooperate. Tells us that the electric issue is the "least of her concerns" because she is now putting down her support dog. Next day she changes her mind and continues with this request. Requests electrician. PM told tenant that we will send someone there but might not be immediate as it's Christmas.

3) Day 5: Tenant informs owner that her support dog has passed away and would like to remove "necessary stuff" in her lease relating to her dog. We don't believe there is anything that needs to be done with her lease, so we reply "Noted, sorry about your loss"

4) Day 6: dishwasher leaks so much soap duds in the kitchen that it looks like it snowed there. PM asks tenant if he/she used the correct type of dishwashing detergent.

Anyway, we believe this pattern of constant / daily requests will continue. What would all you investors do in this situation? We used the standard BP 2021 California lease agreement. 

[Theresa Harris]

Time for the happy clause.  Explain to her that she is clearly not happy there and you will give her the one time option to vacant with no penalty.  Give her 72 hours to decide and then she needs to move by the middle of Jan (or 31st).  While there go over her responsibilities if she stays.

You have a property manager, they should be used to dealing with this.