Is it possible that a stranger walking by put something in that resulted in the ticket? I would personally let them know about the ticket and that should be enough to make sure everyone is extra-vigilant, if they are as good of tenants as you say!

Posted by: anon2007 at August 13, 2007 12:30 PM in response to How to be fair to good tenants

Hi,

Yes, sorry. I meant the real estate market. It seems like there are very few listings up and I wondered if in general things cool down in August and start up again right after Labor Day weekend.

Posted by: anon2007 at August 13, 2007 8:35 PM in response to Is the market basically dead until after Labor Day?

it is a $25 ticket (at least it should be). sadly this is just one of the costs of homeownership these days. i wouldn't chance ruining a good tenant relationship over such a small fee. just mention to them that you got a ticket and ask that they be super diligent about separating out recyclables.

Posted by: benno at August 13, 2007 1:10 PM in response to How to be fair to good tenants

You really can't "spread the fee" -- you just pay the fine yourself. I agree with 1:10 pm about notifying them, however.

Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 2:45 PM in response to How to be fair to good tenants

Be comforted, a little, in that it is tax-deductible as an operating cost of the building.

Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 3:58 PM in response to How to be fair to good tenants

Agree with all posters. Just stress to your tenants vigilance with the recycling. It may not have been them, you may get a ticket if someone comes by and rips open the recycling bags for bottles or your garbage and leaves stuff all over - it stinks (pun intended). I have two rental apartments and got hit with a ticket for mixed garbage last year, I understand the first time it's $25, the next time $50 and so on. I was P.O.'d so understand your initial reaction.

Tickets are BS. All the santitation inspectors do is poke a stick down into the bags and if they hit what they believe to be metal or glass, they give a ticket. You can make yourself crazy and take a day off of work to fight the tickets or you can do the same stick thing and inspect bags before they go to the curb. Or just say it's life in the big city.

Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 5:42 PM in response to How to be fair to good tenants

TICKETS ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTABLE!!!! 3:58 poster is so wrong it's literally criminal!!! You cannot deduct a ticket, for your house, your car, whatever because it's a result of illegal behavior (intentional or not). I agree with other posters, I have, in the past, notified my tenant that it happened and asked they be careful. In my case, I was pretty sure it was someone walking down the street, or a street "guy" going through my trash looking for treasure who just dumped things back in the wrong bin.

Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 6:56 PM in response to How to be fair to good tenants

Aaah, if you're so anal about what's deductible, kudos to you. For anyone else, it is, indeed, a cost of doing business...nothing to do with "legality" or "criminality." Tensnts screwed up (presumably.) You paid. It's a business expense.

Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 8:42 PM in response to How to be fair to good tenants

You pay it but post a note saying that you did and ask for their help. There are a thousand ways to get a sanitation ticket and the best you can do is to ask the tenants to do their best. What do you do when every tenant buys an appliance and you have 20 boxes. Even if they break them down, somebody needs to string that stuff up and it isn't going to be tenants. Unfortunately, it is owners job and we can only ask for people to know the rules and do their best.

Posted by: donatella at August 13, 2007 10:11 PM in response to How to be fair to good tenants

You need to hire someone to take care of your garbage. It's cheaper than getting tickets.

Posted by: guest at August 14, 2007 6:55 AM in response to How to be fair to good tenants

I'm pretty sure most all home owners on average get a couple tickets per year. This is just the way life is in the city. Be firm with your tenants about the trash and hope for the best.

Posted by: Rick at August 14, 2007 7:24 AM in response to How to be fair to good tenants

As an accountant, I have to post that deducting the cost of tickets issued to your property is illegal. The 6:56 poster is correct - and is being honest and legit, not anal. If any of you have an accountant telling you that fees for tickets and fines are deductable: pray you never get audited and get a new accountant. As the property owner, if a ticket or fine is levied against you, it's your personal expense and your responsibility to rectify. It is not, in fact, a business expense to cover fees for fines incurred because someone did something wrong.

Posted by: guest at August 14, 2007 7:53 AM in response to How to be fair to good tenants