All Forum Posts by: Albert Johnson

Has anyone added a tenant to an existing lease? If so did you raise the rent? By how much? Or kept rent the same? Added new terms and conditions?

my tenant wants to add the significant other to the lease. I think they are doing this so they are not in lease violation by having another adult staying there.

Quote from @Marci Stein:

So my tenants  told me they have been emptying the washing machine into the sump pump past 6 months (As opposed to in the shower. )
several circuit breakers stopped working and the electrician just told me 

It’s because  because the sump pump circuit breaker shorted. 

i’m sure it’s due to the soap they have been pumping down there but can’t prove it. 
who pays the $400 Electrician bill?

Thanks very much!

 It seems like they told you they were doing it from their statement 

We have tenant that is stating they will start looking for another place to live. They say they feel unsafe because they think someone else is living there and the other tenant leaves late night about 3am climbs over the fence and gets into a car and comes back before sun cimes up. Also note this tenant has cameras outside their unit.

They keep stating this person has someone else living there because the kids are not with them when they leave.

They had disagreements in the past and think they don't like each other.

How do you go about this? Should we address the situation with the tenant possibly having other people living there?

Aso address the tenants concerns and have them confirm they are planning to leave and ask for notice according to lease?

Also the tenant wanting to move always pays their rent on time and the other tenant is always late

Quote from @Steve Shafer:

@Albert Johnson As much as possible, I try to vet tenants thoroughly to weed out people who may behave disruptively in my properties. Sometimes, these folks still slip through the cracks. When that happens, very clear and direct communication is required. Bring the accusations to the tenants on behalf of the other tenants, not with your own judgment, "Hey ____, I'm hearing that there are some issues at the property—speeding down the road, potentially folks living here who are not on the lease..." and just let them respond. Hopefully you have a lease that you can point to that spells out things like "quiet enjoyment" and no unauthorized persons living at the property for more than 2 weeks, for example. Frame it as, "This Lease exists so we all know what is expected of us, and what we can expect of each other. We all want the same thing—to enjoy our living situation and live in peace with our neighbors." Make it a collaborative problem to solve. You don't know at this point exactly what's going on, whether you just have an irritable tenant, or if the Lease is being violated. Clear, constructive communication should bring more facts to the surface that you can then work with. Tough situation, but these are the moments that make us better landlords and people in general! Good luck.

 Thanks that sounds 👍 good

I have two tenants that live in units next to each other. One tenant is complaining that another tenant is having other people over that are not on the lease and stays there. They told me everytime we come they leave before we get there. They rant about how they have to do a background check but other tenant has other occupying people there.

we also have a a small road that leads up to the properties. Its owned by us. The same tenant complains the other tenant is driving too fast.

These 2 don't like each other. There has been other minor incidents as well.

How do you handle accusations of others supposedly staying there, speeding, and disagreements?

Quote from @John Underwood:

Offer to let them out of their lease or don't renew lease if not much time left.

 We did. We told them they can leave aa long as they give us proper notice according to lease.

.but they are continuing their nonsense. 

10 months left on lease 

Quote from @Theresa Harris:

If they want to go, tell them to leave.

 I forgot to mention the same day the plumber fixed everything. We had a previous plumber that morning. Tenant got in their face screaming and carrying on.  The plumber packed his tools and left. We explained that they couldn't do that to people that are making repairs 

Well tenant complain of a smell in their room. We had plumber there 3 days ago and completed repairs.We was there 2 days ago. Tenant said plumber did excellent job. We did a walk through and did not smell anything 2 days ago. 

so afterthe complaint we said we could go there and inspect.

tenant started getting really angry and complaining about other things and how much rent they pay and we are greedy. Tenant threaten leave, and sue etc...

tenant also tried to refuse us entry for repairs.  We noted in the lease we have the right to entry for repairs.

at this point I stop answering. I remain professional throughout all conversations 

tenant later said that the room and closet is flooding. We think the tenant might have purposely caused damage to the unit. We are headed there to see what's going on. How do you handle these situations?

Quote from @Theresa Harris:

Quote from @Albert Johnson:

Quote from @Theresa Harris:

If I read your post correctly, there is a main meter that is read and a submeter that measures what goes to the second unit. If that is the case, then it should be a simple matter of taking the total, subtracting the amount from the submeter and then dividing the bill appropriately with them splitting and fees unrelated to the usage 50:50.

 Yes. I simplified this to them. They are complaining to see the actual submeter and where it's located

 They should be able to get a copy of the other bill or the readings-there is no need for them to have to see the meter themselves (ie enter the other tenants space-even though the meter is outside).

I told the tenant to be open and honest with the bill and show it to them. The tenant wanted me involve instead. I explained to them if they wanted me to be involved they need to show me their complete bill also, showing me the rate and plan. They refuse.

Quote from @Theresa Harris:

If I read your post correctly, there is a main meter that is read and a submeter that measures what goes to the second unit. If that is the case, then it should be a simple matter of taking the total, subtracting the amount from the submeter and then dividing the bill appropriately with them splitting and fees unrelated to the usage 50:50.

 Yes. I simplified this to them. They are complaining to see the actual submeter and where it's located