All Forum Posts by: Wesley W.

 Yes.

Another strategy is you could inform him to contact the super for any issues and ignore further communication from him directly. That way you are training him to go through the proper channels. After all, no one really knows if the water came from your unit and/or whether or not it is your responsibility. This is the super's job - that's what you are paying the HOA fees for.

I have a similar policy to @Nathan Gesner.  Here's my lease provision:

14. PEST CONTROL: Your Rental Unit has been inspected and deemed to be pest-free. If you have a specific problem with pests, notify us. You are asked to assist our pest control by maintaining a high standard of good housekeeping. If, after the first ten (10) days after you take possession of the Rental Unit, it becomes necessary for us to undergo including, without limitation, prevention and remediation in your Rental Unit and/or on the Premises, you will be held financially responsible for reasonable costs thereof, paid as Additional Rent.

Quote from @Alecia Loveless:

In my instance there ended up being other disqualifying issues so I just said no.

This.

There is often a correlation between these ESA scammers and other things untoward with their situation.

EDIT: Not sure why the quote is not showing on my posts.

 If the landlord was aware of his past, yet rented to him anyway - any lawyer worth their salt would make a nexus between those two pieces of information and create a liability claim.

In addition to the extreme negative press you would get, it also takes time, money and energy to defend a lawsuit you will eventually win.

Market is oversaturated currently, many landlords are not making any money.  TV developers continue to build new construction, and many folks bought in the market to rent out before retiring in the last 18 months.  I had 5 months vacant in 2024.

I offer them with an additional fee and lease addendum.  I buy them used and they offer a very good return with the income stream.  It takes less than a year to break even on the cost.  I have been using some sets for 10 years.  Some units I aquire when I buy a building.  Sometimes I buy a set from a tenant whom is moving out and does not want the hassle of moving the set they purchased.  As others has shared, I am able to hook them up properly to avoid any issues with tenant installation.

If a unit dies, and I do not want to replace it, I just terminate the addendum and remove them.  This avoids putting me in the situation where I have to provide those amenities if they were included with the rental unit.  My biggest pain point is rounding up help to move them in and out, as I'm a solo self manager.

What Drew said.

Plus, insist on signed estoppel agreements before closing!

This will save you tons of "nightmares" as well.

I use tenantbackgroundsearch.com, although many of the vendors provide automated reports that are nearly identical.  I take the report with a grain of salt.  Most of my screening comes from gumshoing social media, web court searches and following up on references.