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Hi I am the landlord of a beautifull 1914 4 bedroom duplex. The current tenants are incredibly messy..all clothes on floor, food caked on oven top, stuff everywhere..stored three rows deep from walls...the floors haven't been swept..its a pit..The problem is that they refuse to clean. I have asked nicely, asked forcefully and demanded via letter. I have even offered to send in cleaners at my expense. I think they enjoy my dilema.They are out of their lease in about 2 weeks, so they do not care. No time to do anything leagally because of the slow housing courts. (I do not even know if I can) The big problem is that all the prospective tenants are horrified and can not imagine living there. I have taken 6 different groups of people through and they are disgusted. Normally the place rent to the first and never more than second group. Given the blatant and mean spirited nature of ther action and the acknowledgement by them that they are attempting to harm my busines, do I have recourse to sue for loss of income? Any other advice..I have never encoutered such mean spirited young women in my 25 years of full tine landlording..
Just be glad the lease is about up and get them out...I just paid $100.00 to have a house cleaned and I feel that was a good price to get rid of a tenant that was behind on the rent...
I'd suggest - in two weeks after they leave, have it cleaned and then have a little "open house" and invite those six people back and anyone else who contacts you between now and then.
Sorry you have such a crappy renter. Sounds like she won't be getting her security deposit back.
I never show a unit until it's vacant and cleaned, painted, etc. If a prospective tenant sees a filthy place, no matter how clean you will make it to be rentable, they will always have the visual of the place prior to it being clean.
look at it this way, the more crap on the floors and counters the less likely to damage whats underneath!!! I have tenants who have clothes all over the floor, I think to myself well they can wreck their clothes and this stuff all over is protecting my walls, counters and floors from being damaged. Your almost rid of them!!
Could you ask a tidy tenant to show his or her apartment instead? Maybe offer that tenant a discount in rent or some other thank-you? You could tell the prospective tenant, "I have to show you 1B because the people in 1A are in the process of moving out, and then I want to have some minor repairs done so it's perfect for you. 1B is the same apartment, just the mirror image, and our tenant there has been so kind as to show her apartment to people. I just have to set it up with her beforehand."
It's just an idea. You're probably hesitating to do something that's going to cost you money (lowering the other tenant's rent, paying him or her, whatever), but not renting the messy place out is costing you too.
people are always in such a hurry to sue for damage. DUDE, they are messy, renting...what are you going to get? It's called cost of doing business. I never show a place until it is empty, clean and painted when needed. A prospect can look at an occupied apartment or house and see a mess even when it's clean. A prospect likes to see walls and windows and where is "my" furniture going to fit. If a person can look and see where thier stuff fits, they are more likely to appreciate the unit.
Just plan on waiting until it's empty and ready. So you lose a month's rent. that's the cost of doing business.
Also, if there si so much stuff on the floors and counters, there is less dirt left behind. it'll be a snap to clean, they will take the dirt with them.
Great advice you might of just scared away the best tenant you might of ever had in 25 years.
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