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October 2, 2009
Bad Smell from Tenant
I’m getting complaints from other tenants in the building that a really bad smell is coming from a particular apartment… How do I tell that tenant (in a nice way) that they need to do something about it? I really don’t care what they do in their apartment but when it affects the other tenants then it’s another story.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Comments
Just curious--what kind of smell? Just bad greasy cooking or a dead animal? Does the smell possibly represent a health hazard?
Posted by: tinarina at October 2, 2009 1:15 PM
What kind of smell? Garbage? Pets? Something more sinister? It is a tough situation...I think probably honesty and being straightforward is probably best. Maybe you can come up with a way to enter the apartment and see for yourself what is going on ... and come up with an approach based on your observations.
Posted by: henrycurtis at October 2, 2009 1:15 PM
There's one apartment per floor and the floor smells like gargage and dirty clothes
Posted by: nako at October 2, 2009 1:38 PM
It's your building, let yourself in and find out.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 2, 2009 1:41 PM
Wish it was that easy..I just can't go into a tenants apartment without their consent.
Posted by: nako at October 2, 2009 1:53 PM
Have you seen the tenant in a while?
Posted by: Brokedeveloper at October 2, 2009 2:04 PM
Maybe knock on tenant's door &, if he answers, tell him you are concerned that the bad smell meant he might have died & been rotting in there. Once you have his attention, tell him to clean the place.
Posted by: Arkady at October 2, 2009 2:10 PM
Tell the tenant that there is a leak in the apartmant below and you need access to turn off the water for a little while....
Or that you need to check the wiring in one of the outlets...
etc etc.
You can go in for those type of things. It is your house, afterall.
Posted by: henrycurtis at October 2, 2009 2:13 PM
I'd call the tenant and inform him that other tenants were complaining about the smell. What else can you do?
Recently, one of my tenants complained about a neighbor having "loud sex." I haven't spoken to the affending tenant and don't plan to.
Posted by: IronBalls at October 2, 2009 2:16 PM
I would at least knock on the door and request access. If the odor smells obnoxious to you, and they refuse entry (or aren't there), and also refuse to set up a future date for you to inspect the apartment, I believe you could call in a complaint to 911. There was an article recently in the Daily News about a hoarder with floor to ceiling trash and police and/or firefighers are allowed to gain access to an apartment if they have reason to believe there is imminent danger or hazardous conditions. As a landlord, you are typically allowed access your units to inspect for repairs, so if you don't want to involved police, etc., and the tenants refuse access I would send them a certfied letter notifying them you plan to inspect the apartment for repairs on Oct. XX, 2009 at X:YZ time and follow through on that date.
Posted by: setancre at October 2, 2009 2:22 PM
Oh god. I had a Dumbo studio in the 80s with a trust fund baby downstairs neighbor who did gay phone sex for pin money (he wasn't gay but unfortunately he WAS disinherited). He was LOUD the only solution was to scream at him to shut the **** up.
Then I had tenants later who never put the garbage out ever, for over a year. After they left (well, I threw them out) I had to throw out the fridge just from roach infestation. It was revolting.
I feel everyone's pain. Only solution? Time heals most wounds. If you think the tenant is smelling because he's dead, call the cops.
Posted by: Stonergut at October 2, 2009 2:24 PM
Basil Fawlty showed great ingenuity in coming up with excuses to check residents' rooms in "Fawlty Towers." One of my favorites: When caught snooping, he began tapping the nearest surface with a look of deep concentration, and explained to the outraged guest that he was "checking the walls."
A tenant whose smells betoken foul hygiene is a high risk for roach infestation, and that affects everyone. I'd be pretty aggressive and candid in this situation, even if it initially involves "checking the walls."
Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at October 2, 2009 2:29 PM
"Wish it was that easy..I just can't go into a tenants apartment without their consent."
I don't get it...isn't this in your lease? Not a lawyer, but doesn't every landlord have a right to go in with appropriate notice? You've had complaints, and you have the right to see if this is creating a vermin situation or other habitability hazard.
Posted by: bkrules at October 2, 2009 2:32 PM
Bad pot?
Posted by: HoneysuckleWeeks at October 2, 2009 2:39 PM
Nope not bad pot that tenant moved out... (another story for another time)
LOL...They are still alive because I sent them a notice about something else and they responded. Thanks for your help!!
I'll send them another notice or will knock on their door as suggested.
Thanks once again!!
Posted by: nako at October 2, 2009 3:00 PM
You could leave a note on the wall in the hall, stating that there have been complaints about the foul odor on the floor and if it hasn't improved in a week, you'll have no choice but to go door to door to find the person who is interfering with the other tenants' right to enjoy their living spaces. This would give the offending tenant a chance to save face.
Posted by: janeinteriorsnyc at October 2, 2009 3:12 PM
Dead bodies smell EXACTLY like garbage, not to alarm you or anything.
Posted by: infinitejester at October 2, 2009 3:12 PM
My guess is a dead rodent in the wall. It can be pretty nasty for a while...
Posted by: henrycurtis at October 2, 2009 3:23 PM
EW you might have a hoarder on your hands. it's actually illegal to hoarde once it hits certain levels. have you ever seen the show Hoarders on AE? scary stuff
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at October 2, 2009 4:02 PM
Could be a rodent, could be garbage. You really should just let them know that the smell isn't sanitary and is there anything you can do to help them eradicate it.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at October 2, 2009 4:16 PM
You do have a right to access the apartment but I believe the law is you have to give them a day or two notice. I's send them a letter telling them about the problem and giving them a time frame to fix it. If they don't, give them notice you will need to get into the apartment as whatever is causing the odor is affecting the other tenants and is a possible source of infestation.
My sister lives in a co-op where one tenant had to go into the hospital for 6 months. his daughter turned off all the electricity without cleaning out the refrigerator. The smell was unbelievable and security would not open up the apartment to clean it out. They had to live with it for 4 months. I visited her at one point and going into the hallway made your eyes water and you retch. Horrible. Horrible.
Posted by: bxgrl at October 2, 2009 6:13 PM
You have to go in there. Tell them anything. You are checking something, anything. Find out what it is. Then have a conversation about it. You owe it to yourself, your other tenants and maybe something bad is happening with the tenant, i.e. they are sick, in trouble, the apartment is unhealthy, etc. It's not that hard; just go in there and have a talk after you find out what is happening.
Posted by: donatella at October 4, 2009 7:49 PM
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