All Forum Posts by: Remmy Vernon

@Jake Thomas - we actually did replace the plumbing under the kitchen sink. ( forgot about that ) no disposal. The best way I can describe it is rotting food/garbage or even smelly feet? You can't really smell it once you've been inside for  few minutes. You have to go out then come back in.

@Glenn Banks - Never thought about that...mice coming in and leaving behind surprises. Guess we'll find out for sure when I replace the stove this week. But the smell is there even with a cold stove/oven. Now I am wondering about the exhaust above the stove though. and The floor is concrete. 

This is a small one bedroom unit, ground floor, no unit above it. (approx. 600 sq. ft.)

When tenants moved out there was a bad smell. I could not out my finger on it. It is not in the bedroom or bath, but in the kitchen area, which is open to the living area.

What I tried:

New paint everywhere

New carpet

New fridge

Scrubbed grout in kitchen till it looked new

Painted the inside of the cabinets

Ran ozone generator two times back to back

After all that, smell appeared to be gone. Rented it out. Went back yesterday because of an issue with the stove, and the smell was back. WTH. Tenant has not complained though, but it really bugs me.

I simply can not pin point the smell to anything. It almost seems like it is 'in the air' in the kitchen.

It can't be something dead, that smell would go away eventually. It doesn't smell anything like mold and I checked everywhere for leaks prior to renting it out. No signs of leaks or water damage anywhere.

Adjacent units have no smell. Common area hallway no smell.  

I am stumped.

Now, I am going to replace the stove because of the issue with an element not working. I know I can fix it, but I am hoping that maybe there is some old nasty food or grease stuck in the stove that is making the smell. 

Any other ideas??

oh, and I would love to get my residents to use online pay but most are older and just don't get it. :-)

I use drop boxes in all 4 of my buildings - granted these are in very small towns with hardly any crime. I tell my residents that if their check is not in the drop box on the 1st - don't bother using it because I will only check them once. ( on the 2nd ) I explain to them this is a convenience for them. So far it has worked out well. 

you know, I am all for giving someone a chance. i've rented to people with no rental history, or who had foreclosures, bad credit, etc. but criminal is different. now, if i had a single-family rental or mobile home and i had an applicant come to me with non-violent criminal background who has not had any troubles for years, i would likely give them a shot.

But my mind changes when it involves a multi-family property. i would be considering the comfort and peace of mind of my current tenants. to think that this could potentially land me in a discrimination lawsuit bugs me. 

I use a PO box as well.