All Forum Posts by: Tonna Lee

Good morning everyone.  I own a duplex.  I live in the duplex. I own no other investment properties.  I do not have a business license.  I usually expense most everything on my taxes.  This last year I had a sole proprietership contractor paint the house.  The cost was over $600.  Do I need to send them the new 1099 NEC or should I expense as usual.  I did ask for a W9 at the time.  I usually do my own taxes with turbo tax. Now I'm unsure whether I need to do it or not.  Thank you

Thank you to everyone for your very helpful replies.  Update:  I gave them notice to move.  I gave them 90 days.  I gave them an EPA Mold pamplet and let them know they were responsible for the mold.  Once I was able to get into the home and actually look at it, it was a nightmare.  I'd been in it before but didn't notice many things.  That was my fault.  Mostly it was a humidity problem with non cleaning of windowsills causing a majority of the mold.  Once I removed all the carpet, I found the sheet rock had been cut and screwed back into the frame work.  I took several pieces out and there was no mold behind the sheet rock in either bedroom.  At that point I felt I was cable of cleaning this up and that it was simple neglect.  Took pictures of everything and documented everything.  After I found a six pack of olives from 2010 that exploded in the cabinet and destroyed the lazy susan that was never cleaned up, I felt I was correct in asking them to leave.  I haven't heard from them since.  

Thank you all for your wonderful comments and advice.  Unfortunately, the mold report came back today.  One bedroom has cladosporium on a 2" by 2' section of molding.  The second bedroom and bathroom has penicillium and aspergillis.  There is condensation in the window of the bedroom and the stick that keeps the window from opening has mold growing on it.  Also the bathroom seems to have a problem. Although I realize tenants are almost always responsible for condensation (according to the NW Clean Air Agency) I'm not sure blaming them would get me to the place I need to be.  The recommendation is for remediation of all three rooms.  My tenants have pre-exisiting health issues so I think it would be in my best interest to tell them ASAP and let them know I'm releasing them from their lease and that they will need to be out by the end of the month.  I'm sure I'm going to here the word lawsuit from at least one of them.  If anyone has some uplifting advice I could use some right now.  

Good evening.  After a tenant complaint (not written), myself and someone with some experience went and inspected the problem.  Tenant was hostile that I was doing the inspection.  Kept saying, "you're not a professional" and threatening to move.  Am I required to hire a professional to inspect anything/everything.  Just wondering, I'm typically a DIYer.  I did go ahead and hire a professional and will receive a report this week.  Am I required to give them this report or can I write an accurate letter letting them know the results?  I feel the report is a business document and they are not entitled to a copy (they didn't pay for the inspection).  I usually look the other way if not to important and not had to be a hard-a** up to now but I'm feeling the need to put my foot down.  Thank you for your inspiration.  

I investigated, tested humidity and moisture and found no problem. Nothing wet, no stains any where.  I realize I might not be seeing it.  Had friend who was a retired plumber of 25 years and mold experience with me.  Other tenant is retired from 30-years at Housing Authority and said prior to my testing that there is no mold.   Wrote findings and recommendations and gave to tenant.

Am I required to hire a professional?  Should I go ahead and hire a professional?  Should I charge tenant for cost of professional?  I live in the other half of the duplex.  Thank you

I was in the same situation.  I made it part of the sale agreement that current owners needed to evict tenant and tenant had to be gone prior to final inspection and closing.