guesting's Profile
- cmp
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Author's Posts
November 2, 2009
Tenant Compensation?
I am a landlord who recently got a new tenant. When showing him the apartment initially, he asked if we would install a new rainshower shower head in the bathroom, and I agreed to do it, as I like to improve my properties. I informed him of how the renovation would proceed, and he assured me that it was no problem, he could shower at his cousins or the gym and kept assuring me throughout the job that it was no problem. The plumber that I hired took longer than he first said he would (so what else is new??), so the tenant was without water for 1 day, and without a shower for 2 weeks. The cost of the job was essentially 2 1/2 months worth of rent, as I installed a very good waterworks system and it looks fantastic. Now that the job is over, he wants rent reductions for the days without use (even when the water was off, there was a toilet he had access to in the building), and basically, he could use everything except the shower. The job did not have to be done, and this feels so ungrateful to me after doing a major (unnecessary improvement). I have not made a cent off of this tenant since he moved in in July; it has all gone in to the shower renovation. What percentage should he be compensated, if at all, for something that didn’t even need to be done, and is basically an upgrade for him to enjoy?
Author's Comments
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
NO.
Or yes and increase the rent.
Posted by: crimsonson at November 2, 2009 12:55 PM in response to Tenant Compensation?
bxgrl,
My points were that:
1) it was a major inconvenience
2) we are only hearing one side of the story ("he assured me it was no problem" is soft information. these things are often not the understanding of both parties)
3) the LL would have little recourse "worth your time". I doubt the housing court would be worth his/her time over $500. Maybe I'm wrong here. I admit I know little of housing court.
I don't think you can make the insinuation that the renter is greedy or inconsiderate based on a kind of fishy story told by one side. It sounds like things got out of hand for the LL and he/she made some bad decisions with good intentions.
Posted by: Brokedeveloper at November 2, 2009 1:21 PM in response to Tenant Compensation?
brokedeveloper you cant just withhold rent without going through the steps stated in lease.
Op the tenant is ungrateful and smells your "newbieness" I would say no to reduction and I would make an appointment to swap the fancy water works head with a cheaper shower head from Target.
Posted by: jack slade at November 2, 2009 1:42 PM in response to Tenant Compensation?
wow, jack. See- we can agree on something :-)
Posted by: bxgrl at November 2, 2009 1:56 PM in response to Tenant Compensation?
broke- true, it's only one side of the story but the main point is the tenant asked for the upgrade. He was inconvenienced for 2 weeks by having to shower somewhere else- we're not talking the loss of a leg or having to sleep in his car. For him to ask the landlord to do something that wasn't really necessary and then expect to be compensated when the landlord did it, is really a stretch. He now has the use of a rainhead- which cmu points out uses more water.
Posted by: bxgrl at November 2, 2009 2:04 PM in response to Tenant Compensation?
virtual fist bump Bx;) We actually do agree on a lot of things.
Posted by: jack slade at November 2, 2009 2:17 PM in response to Tenant Compensation?
come back to the OT, jack!
Posted by: bxgrl at November 2, 2009 2:25 PM in response to Tenant Compensation?
I have two bathrooms and when I moved into my apartment one of my showers wasnt working...my rent was deducted for the 15 days my ONE shower was not operating. Why? Because I was renting an apartment with TWO showers, not one. That's why you give the tenant a contract that you ask them to sign. You ask them to abide by it and you are to do the same. It's business, not personal...when money is involved.
And let's be honest...you like the upgrades. Your story sounds romanticized and you sound proud of the work that was done. If you were without a shower, would you have asked for your rent to be deducted? Times are hard, money is tight. If it's not on paper it doesn't exist.
My question is...WHAT'S THE REAL STORY with the shower? What made you replace it? I just believe you replaced it out of the GOODNESS OF YOUR HEART...sounds FISHY.
Posted by: cillmylandlord_again at November 2, 2009 2:47 PM in response to Tenant Compensation?
rob, a true rain shower head system (not just a shower head) is an unconscionable waste of water as it delivers much more than the statutory 2.5gals/min of a loflow head. It is probably illegal; faucets for example are limited to 2-2.5gpm. And it needs larger valves and plumbing, hence OP's tale of woe. I think he should give 2 weeks rent to tenant for inhabitability.
bxgrl, so tenant is responsible? how? he just asked. LL did not have to do it.
Posted by: cmu at November 2, 2009 2:50 PM in response to Tenant Compensation?
I'd like to know if he's go another apartment available and if he'd upgrade the appliance to an Aga Range and Traulsen fridge and freezer.
Posted by: TownhouseLady at November 2, 2009 3:03 PM in response to Tenant Compensation?
Just an update on what I posted: I had a whole thermostatic system installed, not just a showerhead, as long as I updated the shower. The tenant knew that the job would take 2 weeks, but never realized that it would affect him as much as it did, especially since he told me that it was okay to shower at his cousins or at friends, and kept insisting he could easily stay at friends as well. He is in his 20s and I am his 2nd landlord, so he has no experience that would lead him to believe that I did something unusually nice for him. He just seems to be trying to get more, more, more out of the deal. Also, maybe I installed a very good system, but I always consider what will help resale value; as long as I am doing a job on an apartment, I try to upgrade it as well.
Posted by: guesting at November 1, 2009 10:20 PM in response to Tenant Compensation?