All Forum Posts by: Scott Lyons

Thanks everyone, great advice, will definitely be leveraging some of it!

Hi folks, question on how others handle these types of situations: we've had a longer term tenant (~3 years) who have been great, never complain, etc, until recently when a new tenant moved above them. Since then they have complained to us that the upstairs tenant is very loud at late hours, kids dribbling basketballs at 3am, etc. We've reached out to the upstairs tenant and asked that they please try to be respectful to their neighbors, especially during late hours but it hasn't solved the problem as it still seems to be happening. We do have noise clauses, especially at late hours, in the contract but is this something you generally let the tenants handle themselves? Don't want to lose the good tenant but I'm not sure it's something as a landlord I really want to get in the middle of and there really isn't much I think I can do except evoke the contract and evict, which I don't want to do. Any thoughts on good ways to handle this?

Anyone have any recommendation for cleaning companies/people in the area willing to do a pretty deep clean on a 2br unit? Also, anyone familiar with how much one typically charges for this? Thanks.

I wish it was as simple as calling a handful of plumbers and getting it fixed. We've had multiple plumbers out and they all tell us different things. The last one on Saturday fixed part of the issue then left us with a drain that had holes due to corrosion and said he couldn't fix it. Referred us to a cast iron specialist who we can't get a hold of. Hoping to just have it reglazed but even then they can't get out until Thursday.

I'm 99% sure they aren't renewing the lease (one of them may be moving out of state). Was hoping to get it to that point then fix once and for all when it's empty but that is too far away. I think a credit may be the way to go.

Thanks for the great feedback. Tenants definitely care and have been complaining about it, even though we are doing everything we can to fix it. The are likely moving out in a few months anyway, so would love a temporary fix that lasts until then which we can then replace. But if we can get a permanent fix in that costs more we'll do that it just takes more time.

It's only a 3 unit and really only one unit (two tenants) are affected and can't use the shower.

Curious to what other landlords do in this situation as I'm still a newbie and haven't come across it, until now. Had a pipe underneath a tub crack and the tub itself has rusted through so it leaks down below to the lower unit. Trying to get plumbers to fix it asap or replace the tub but it's challenging especially on weekends. As is the tenants can't really shower because then it would leak onto the tenants below (goes right to the shower/tub area in lower unit which currently has no ceiling because the plumber cut it out to replace the pipe). It may be days until we can get it resolved. Do you credit them rent, put them up somewhere so they can shower? I feel like I can't really tell them not to shower for a few days.

Anyone have any plumber recommendations? We've tried a couple but none that worked very well. If you know that they work with any home warranty companies even better. Having some issues with water heater and fluctuating water temperatures.

Thanks everyone for the great feedback. @Debbie C., we did not require renters insurance but will going forward. 

@Account Closed - renters haven't really said much other than being very apologetic. Unfortunately when this happened we rushed to fix the issue so more damage didn't occur and we immediately called a company to come fix it while working with our insurance rather than asking the tenants if they have insurance and having it go thru theirs.

@Anthony Wick -  not sure how much it will cost as we are still fixing. Just happened over the weekend. But a good amount of damage to drywall that will likely have to be replaced.

Lessons learned all around.

So we had a tenant who accidentally (no idea how this actually happens) left their bathroom sink, which had a little blockage, running over night and caused flooding onto their floor and into the unit below. We immediately called a water mitigation co. who came out do dry things out but some damage was already caused in the form of ruined paint and drywall. We are still assessing the damage but our insurance deductible is $1k. Curious how others would handle this situation?

Do you make the renters pay for it since it was complete negligence? Put them on a payment plan to cover it? Eat the cost, file insurance claim and warn them that if something like that happens again they are out of there? The tenants have only been there a couple months, though up to this point seemed to be great tenants. The lease doesn't specifically call out this act but does has some clauses regarding damages caused by gross negligence.