All Forum Posts by: Elle Bee

I have a prima donna renter. Only drinks Evian, only drives new cars. Only….you get the idea. 
HVAC system tests out fine. Nothing wrong with IT, but she told the technician she needs to be “freezing inside during the summer so she can wear sweats and wrap up with blankets.”   

I’ve sent two different companies out to assess our unit. Tune ups, coils are cleaned, refrigerant fine, even replaced capacitors, topped off the attic insulation (just in case) AND had the duct work sealed. 
Nothing wrong. I made sure she was present at both appointments, and she told the owner of the company that he can say it’s fine if he wants to but she’s “not going to be happy until she gets a new system.”

Extremely cool summer so far and she’s already started with text messages, which I respond to by email. 

At the same time, she has failed to send pictures of the hvac filters getting changed out every month as the lease requires. And her rent never arrives on the day it’s due. 
She’s exhausting. 

Her lease is flexible from 1-2 years. 

Since the lease is a 1 year with a possible extension to 2 years, (they did not know when they moved in how long they’d need the unit so the first year is solid, the second year is an option.) 

Do I have to give a reason for ending the lease at the 1 year mark?  

My hvac technician suggested he install a landlord thermostat to keep her from running our current unit into the ground. 
does anyone else use these? The limits on AC is 72  and the furnace is 76. 

We charge 600.00 - 1000.00 per pet, depending on size and a monthly pet fee; 

Obviously we don’t want pets in the home and use these fees to discourage renters with pets but usually it ensures we get people who can not only afford their pets but who are great pet owners. The logic of renters often escapes me.  If you want to own huge dogs, buy a home. 

I had an applicant last year who tried to get into our property with FIVE emotional support dogs. One for each member of the family. They were traumatized by driving past a car wreck. Didn’t get help. No doctors, no therapy - they just decided they needed support pets. 

I found her in an online forum where she uses these 5 dogs (1 male stud) to produce 8 litters per year, and she charges 3k per puppy. Thats 120k in sales on average~ and she wanted to use my home basically as a kennel. 

I did not have to end up dealing with this situation; 
Our city has limits on dogs per household (2)  and since she was not disclosing herself as a breeder to me, she didn’t qualify for the breeder waiver. 

If her lease is up, I would not renew it. 
it also sounds as if you aren’t charging enough for rent. 

Give her notice Her tenancy is ending; and part ways. She’s abusive and you’re too nice. 

I would not worry about being able to find new renter. 

Trailers of any kind, parked on the street,  in any neighborhood, ruin curb appeal.

Where d you pull rental comp reports from? 

They are either selling or not. Retract your offer for failure to complete sale and move on. 

Require as part of lease pictures of new dated filters going in, old filters coming out due on the first with the rent. 

Bob, I’d never buy a new refrigerator in the 2k rental range. If it were new? It would be very basic. Unwatched Toddlers, kids or very tall dogs with  French door water /ice maker on the outside (or sloppy adults period) are the only reason you need to never  go with that style. 

 I would consider buying nicer used appliances from friends who upgrade their appliances. There are companies who specialize in rental appliances like Metro Appliance in hub areas across the US who do offer appliances that hold up better in rental situations than the home lines.

I slowly pulled out the washer, dryer and fridge as renters abuse washers, dryers, and never clean the fridge; nor do they understand the cost to deep clean a filthy fridge is and extra 150.00 on top of the cleaning company fees. 

The last washer and dryer were my previous ones I put in the unit and told T’s ‘when they stopped working I would not replace so treat them like you don’t want to spend 1200.00.’
Guess what never died?!!

What convinced me to no longer supply a fridge was tenants bringing their own and putting ours in the garage as a beer fridge, claiming it wasn’t used and not understanding it had to be cleaned inside, underneath and behind it~ 

Then there was the time the T’s forgot ‘packed our fridge by mistake, and offered us 200.00 on an 2500.00 appliance since it was ‘used.’

Fun times!