All Forum Posts by: Han T.

Just chirping in: if tenant wants u to be liable with no proof/evidence, and as a result, doesn't pay rent, you have the right to serve them a notice and evict them, if that's what you want to do (not asking ya to evict, but if they consistently are unreasonable, maybe you might want to consider). 

Good luck Susan.

 Oic, ok thanks! :)

Hey Chris, thanks for chipping in. Firstly, I'm a fan of your podcast, love how it is evolving. Love how candid, no nonsense, on point you are. 

We started with using Property Managers. But just like how you & Jamie had issues with servicing companies, that compelled you to start BIFI, we had soooooo much issues with Property Managers, we havent been lucky to to find a decent one prior to this. We had property managers that didnt know the progress of the rehab which they were managing 1 month after the deadline, simple tenant billing agreement (for the transfer of payment of water) could drag for half a year such that the water bills end up as a special assessment on the property tax, and then they turn around and say they are not responsible for the special assessment payment and will not get it from the tenant/or credit the payment back to me (water bills don't come to me, it goes to tenant and PM). Property Managers that didnt know rent wasn't paid late for a month despite us reminding them (i really don't understand why). All these were experience we had with different PMs. We have sacked and hired a few. No offence to PMs, its a very difficult job, managing landlords and tenants and I respect them alot. I think we are reasonable people and are not demanding alot, but its just our luck we havent found any that we are aligned with, hence we ended up not having a PM for this, and we hope to find a good one soon to handle this.

Now, for the request. Agreed that it is our fault that we missed some quite a few things. Shame on us. But we also did tend to many of the tenants maintenance request. I think we will end up paying more fixing all the issues, and the news ones, and die by a thousand cuts, because there will be more new things to be fixed. Oh well, then again, you are right. I'll take your advice. We will fix all for this round. But let's see how it goes next.

Thanks for your advice and keep doing what you are doing on the podcast! :) Cheers Sir.

Hey @J Clayton Durham. You are right. Some of the issues are legitimate (~70%) and we acknowledge it. It was our fault that we missed it. So shame on us. We plan to fix them ASAP. :)

Having said that, what I am asking for help was those petty and unreasonable demands (~30%), like the paint peel, hole in the vanity sink, uneven steps between the utility room into the basement - it was uneven because there were tiles in the basement and it was just cement flooring in the utility room. A transition strip could have solved it but they are making a fuse to say it is a trip hazard, when the stairs, many of the stairs in the house, is higher it. 

The issue is, we have already gave in to MANY repairs before this, aesthetic and small, and the more we do, the more they demand. That is why we decided to defer those that we believe can be deferred.

Thanks for the well wishes. Will update if I come out alive! ;)  

Hey Bill! Thanks for the reply! Its neither a bad city or a bad state for landlords. The OH laws are generally very friendly to landlords. But I think tenants seems to be taking advantage of the situation. I believe there is a way to get out of this situation in a fair manner, i.e, I fix the items that ought to be fixed, but am allowed to defer certain maintenance that I have the prerogative to decide, I think it is just my lack of knowledge on how to deal with the situation, hence I am reaching out for help on how to get a fair judgement.

[Advice needed]

Tenant has made multiple trivial maintenance requests and are forcing the maintenance request to be done via rent escrow in the court, we have fixed some, and some of the others, we are in the midst of fixing.

However we did not agree with all the issues they have raised. For example, they are making repair request for paint peel (see picture below), and a hole in the vanity board (see pic below). These does not affect the quality of life (safety, hygiene, security) and are mainly aesthetics. We have explained to them previously that these are not urgent issues, and its the landlord's prerogative to decide to fix now or later.

I plan to appeal but as an out-of-state investor, it is very challenging. Are there any advice for out-of-state investor? My last resort would be to engage a Property Manager to handle this, but even so, I'm not sure how can the Property Manager help. Tips from experienced landlords or Property Managers?

Furthermore, tenant has made multiple requests to purchase the home. When rejected, they then start to make multiple trivial maintenance request, its like death by a thousand cuts. In 2 months, I have already spent more than $5K on trivial repairs and breakdown, even on new equipment, i.e. AC broke down, despite being 2 years, Hot water heater was reported not working, after 3 bouts of plumbers going out assuring them that the hot water heater was working, it mysteriously started leaking and need to replace the pressure release valve (Point 1). Tenants lease ends Next May. I have reached out to them for the happy clause but they refused. Is there a way to sort of get them out of the lease?

In case you are wondering why is there such a long list. I would like to clarify that tenants are really very picky. They are picking at every small issue. We have spent quite a fair bit of money to make it rent ready, of course we did missed out some (our own fault), hence we heard tenant and did up quite a fair bit after they came in, but yet they are still asking for more maintenance request.

My gut sense is, after we fix this round, they will come up with another list of items to be fixed.

So in summary, my question is:

1. Any tips from experienced landlords or property managers how to handle such non-urgent, trivial maintenance requests with the court?

2. Is there a way to get them out of the lease?

-------------------------

This post is expanded/continued from the previous post.

https://www.biggerpockets.com/...

Point 22: Minor Paint peeling, there were water damages in the past but the leak has been fixed. No evidence of active leak, this is an aesthetics repair.

Point 23: Hole under the vanity - behind the hole, is the toilet wall. Why should I be rent escrowed to fix this up?

In case you are wondering why is there such a long list. I would like to clarify that tenants are really very picky. They are picking at every small issue. We have spent quite a fair bit of money to make it rent ready, of course we did missed out some (our own fault), hence we heard tenant and did up quite a fair bit after they came in, but yet they are still asking for more maintenance request.

[Advice needed]

Tenant has made multiple trivial maintenance requests, we have fixed some, and some of the others, we are in the midst of fixing. 

However we did not agree with all the issues they have raised. For example, they are making repair request for paint peel (see picture below), and a hole in the vanity board (see pic below). These does not affect the quality of life (safety, hygiene, security) and are mainly aesthetics. We have explained to them previously that these are not urgent issues, and its the landlord's prerogative to decide to fix now or later.

I plan to appeal but as an out-of-state investor, it is very challenging. Are there any advice for out-of-state investor? My last resort would be to engage a Property Manager to handle this, but even so, I'm not sure how can the Property Manager help. Tips from experienced landlords or Property Managers?

Furthermore, tenant has made multiple requests to purchase the home. When rejected, they then start to make multiple trivial maintenance request, its like death by a thousand cuts. In 2 months, I have already spent more than $5K on trivial repairs and breakdown, even on new equipment, i.e. AC broke down, despite being 2 years, Hot water heater was reported not working, after 3 bouts of plumbers going out assuring them that the hot water heater was working, it mysteriously started leaking and need to replace the pressure release valve (Point 1). Tenants lease ends Next May. I have reached out to them for the happy clause but they refused. Is there a way to sort of get them out of the lease? 

My gut sense is, after we fix this round, they will come up with another list of items to be fixed. 

So in summary, my question is:

1. Any tips from experienced landlords or property managers how to handle such non-urgent, trivial maintenance requests with the court?

2. Is there a way to get them out of the lease?

-------------------------
This post is expanded/continued from the previous post.

https://www.biggerpockets.com/...

Point 22: Minor Paint peeling, there were water damages in the past but the leak has been fixed. No evidence of active leak, this is an aesthetics repair.

Point 23: Hole under the vanity - behind the hole, is the toilet wall. Why should I be rent escrowed to fix this up?

How did these tenants find free lawyer? Is there a way landlords can have access to these resources?

I started off investing in UT, ETFs and equities too, as they are more liquid and can start with much lower qunatum....and have moved some of my assets from there to REI.

If i were to start from scratch, I'll start with long term remote buy and hold with property management help, as I scale I will try to upgrade to duplexes - quadplex (hard to find quadplex though). I would also explore seller's financing (especially in today's interest rates) and rent-to-own and slowly build up a cash-flowing portfolio.

I would avoid Short tern rentals and flips. They are good models and can be very lucrative, in fact, I would say they might be more lucrative then long term rentals...but as they are taxed a little differently, I would minimize such activities and keep more of the profits....AND, you need much more time, knowledge and experience for such models. They are much active in essence. 

You can PM me to discuss further if you like. Happy to chat. All the best. Cheers mate.