Illegal Washer Dryer
My rent controlled tenant has installed a washer dryer. This is causing sinks to back up, creates noise to the tenants below her, and could cause a massive flood if it overlowed. Anyone have any tips on how I can get her to remove it. I’ve already given her a letter explaining why I want…
My rent controlled tenant has installed a washer dryer. This is causing sinks to back up, creates noise to the tenants below her, and could cause a massive flood if it overlowed. Anyone have any tips on how I can get her to remove it. I’ve already given her a letter explaining why I want it removed but she simply refuses. I’d prefer not to just consult a lawyer. thx.
2:48 – I have paid ’em, but as an attorney, I know attoreys’ fees are worse.
Also, given the human nature of dealing with angry people, as evidenced in OP’s last comment, sometimes things are all around calmer if you compromise.
You are cutting off your nose to spite your face . . .or however that saying goes.
She is violating the terms of her lease and if you think you can get another tenant or decontrol the unit you should begin an eviction proceeding against her. Why are you adverse to hiring a lawyer? You can spend the money over the next year or two in increased water/sewer charges (and maybe witheld rent from a lower floor tenant when the unit overflows) or you can pay a lawyer and get this obviously recaltricant crabhole out now. Why would you wait?
2:23 – I don’t like the idea of having a plumber take it out for a few reasons. One is, I don’t think she’d allow the plumber into her apartment and I actually think it could lead to a physical altercation. She is a very emotional person. Two, even if I got it out this way, I’m sure she’ll call the city and claim I’ve damaged the plumbing or something. Therefore I’d really prefer that she take it out. (I didn’t actually mean to say she installed a washer/dryer, as far as I know she’s only installed a washer.)
Suck it up and call a lawyer. Did you actually buy a building with rent controlled tenants? Ouch.
2:43 PM, you clearly do not pay water and sewage bills, do you?
Again, I stand by my recommendation that making the washer work in the apartment – with adequate plumbing, a leak pan, and some quieting insulation below it – could be a cheaper option than wasting money on lawyers and court fees, or hauling it out, etc. Just because it offends you to do it doesn’t mean it isn’t the cheapest and less onerous option. There are many times in life when negotiation so everybody gets what they want is the best outcome for both sides, even if you don’t like being put in the position of having to do so.
What can I do?
NOT. . . What do you “think” I can do!
Any lawyers out there? A legal course of action? What rights do single owner landlords have against this kind of attitude from RC tenants?
As seems clear, your looking at this from a least cost/least effort POV.. hence you dont want a lawyer.
Court in general will take up a lot more of your time and effort even without a lawyer.. and hiring a plumber/electrician will also cost some money (less than lawyer, and less time spent).
There is ZERO/NO way you can get that thing removed without her complaining, as you’ve stated she does. Thats un-avoidable.
So… if you want to have the thing gone with the minimal effect on your time/money, give her 3+ notices of intent to remove for non-compliance & nuisance/hazard (to the other neighbors), preferably through service, and then as a poster has stated, remove the thing to storage, while also sealing (concrete?, hacksaw? solder & cap?) the water line she was using for the appliance.
You cant destroy/dispose her property without risking suit, but you can certainly put it into the basement, the drier being illegal is an almost certain fire hazard, and the washer has its own issues.
While RC tenants are very very hard to get out, if they pose serious hazards to other tenants, they CAN be removed.. she’d need to have done this more than once though for that, and youd need to go through a lot of court, evidence, procedures and money to do so.