So far, I have listened to nearly 100 hours of BP podcasts but this is my first post!
I’d appreciate all thoughts and ideas on a difficult situation with one of my rental properties. Originally this condo was purchased by my husband and I as a getaway spot. When we purchased a larger unit in another building, we converted this one to a rental. I have a young tenant with whom I had a difficult relationship initially – I think this may be the first time he’s lived on his own and he is a bit high maintenance but things have settled down. He renewed his lease at a nice increase and took an option to renew for a third year. Now that we understand each other better and, in an effort to avoid an interruption in rent and the cost of painting, I would like to keep him.
However, a touchy issue arose this week: Apparently the couple below him has been engaging in some very loud and difficult arguments including what sounds to him like glass breaking against walls. Some of the language he has quoted back to me is disturbing but also clearly not conducive to any quality of life for him. He indicates this happens about once or twice a week, usually on the weekends, and sometimes for thirty minutes at a time. My tenant and the man below him have had words in the past. Given that my husband and I used the condo sporadically, this man was not used to having anyone above him and he has objected to what sounds like normal noise in a residential building. This man’s schedule starts very early in the morning and ends early in the evening while my tenant goes to work a bit later and stays out later.
Unfortunately, this couple owns their unit – so it is not a renter I can report to another owner – AND he manages this small building of 12 units. My tenant asked for my advice – first calling to understand any historical issues. As I indicated to him, we did not live there and did not experience this behavior. I asked if he felt the wife was in any danger and he was unsure but he did think the behavior disturbing. I suggested he report anything that he found disturbing to the police and his reaction was that he didn’t want the man below to know that he had filed the report. I offered to speak with the couple (who we know fairly well) but he said that would give him away for sure.
I suggested he at least make an informational call to the police as they have dealt with many situations like this to get their guidance. As an extreme action, I told him I would let him out of his lease if he felt this was unlivable for him. He loves the condo – and takes good care of it – and doesn’t want to leave. That said, were he to leave, this situation below would not change and would make this a difficult environment for whoever my tenant is. (I should also note, we had a buyer under contract that was scared off by this man who yelled at them one evening when they came by. The buyers had a one-hour long inspection for a 650 sf unit just to find anything they could use to get out of the deal. There really was nothing but it was not worth the fight and, in the end, their realtor told my realtor it was the prospect of living above this man that scared them off.)
All thoughts appreciated!
