All Forum Posts by: Pete Moss

@joegore Just out of curiosity what happened to make you so sensitive about code enforcement? 

Please enlighten me as to how he could sue me for calling code enforcement regarding valid violation issues. I would suspect there is laws against retaliation for that sort of issue.

The process is there to keep things safe & up to code & that is the owners responsibility without being policed. If he showed the initiative to keep up the place we would even contribute to the effort, as we have in the past. I have had several of his move outs leave all their furniture on my property, which prompts code enforcement to site me. We get along with code enforcement because we are pro-active.

If I were in his position (and not going to reinvest) and someone offered me 10 or 20K & payments, I would be all over that. The main trick is trying to come up with a FMV. His building needs a roof, air conditioners & interior renovation.

His unit is full now, but i would rather have a vacancy than a tenant that keeps things stirred up with the other 3 tenants around him  & which may ultimately result in more than one vacancy if something is not done.

Just to paint a picture when the owner rents a unit, he tells the tenant if anything breaks, its on them.

The code violations include 45 tree with the top 15ft dead, sofa on driveway for 2 weeks plus, foliage overgrown at back of property.

 I have offered to buy in the past & he says he does not want to sell. I thought the owner might be interested in a buyout with some cash up front & monthly cash flow with no tenants, toilets & code enforcement.

I also considered offering the offending tenant a cash incentive to move, which in the long run would be cheaper than a $800 vacancy in one or both of our units.

Thanks for the comments.

We have owned this duplex for 30 years have been lucky to have good tenants that pay on time & keep the place up. We get high market rent because the interiors are very nice & we have a reputation for caring. Our problem is the owner of the facing duplex is a slumlord & all he can see is the cash. He does not screen tenants & gets the low hanging fruit. Purple bedsheets for curtains, clothes scattered about the yard, endless visitors on bikes or cars that stay less than 5 minutes or several that just hangout. Needless to say this makes a more civilized tenant uncomfortable & not wanting to continue our relationship. I have offered to buy out the owner, but I am sure the place is paid for & he has no incentive to sell. For him any cash is found money. I also considered a fence down the middle between the buildings, but I do not think that is the cure. Our latest tactic was to call code enforcement for the numerous code violations, but that is temporary not a permanent fix either. Any suggestions? Thanks!