Needy Tenant - first time landlord

[Justin Dziedzic]

Ok, first rental and first tenant. This forum has been a godsend in terms of helping me and my first-time landlord anxieties. 

So, I have my first tenant, everything checked out, she was qualified, etc. She has been in the home for approximately six weeks now and there hasn't been a week that has gone by in which she is pointing out something that needs repair. Some of which are legitimate (tile lifting in kitchen, and a door panel coming off), but some others are starting to seem very nitpicky. She is stating there are holes in the cabinet base that she is afraid her cats will get into, an oven knob that she "took off" but can't get back on properly, she opened the wooden yard fence and a "piece of wood came off". 

Part of this is me not really knowing what I am required and am NOT required to fix, and to what extent. I don't want to set the tone that I will come running for every little issue within 24 hours, but also want to just get these fixes over and done with. If they are not urgent fixes that reduce the standard of living, how do you all handle this? 

[Richard F.]

Aloha,

Sounds to me like you failed to properly prepare the unit for rental. Lifting tiles, door delaminating, fence falling apart...even the "holes" in the cabinet base (must be large if cat can fit). These are all issues that should have been addressed when vacant. It is much less costly to prevent these from becoming a service call in the first place. Now you have to deal with the complaints, and the handyman will probably hear it too, and take longer to make repairs...and go out for a different repair next week, costing you even more. What else is not functioning as designed? Not secure? 

You are "required" to provide a functional and habitable (per local law) unit to Renters. I would add, clean and safe as well. As a LL, you have a big target on your back. Why provide free ammunition?

This is also another reason I always do a move in inspection WITH the Tenant before handing over keys; and, why I take the time, during the signing of documents, to explain the repair request process and specific preventative steps they can take for items such as disposal blockages and other minor, routine, issues.