Tenants Annoyed by Access
Ok, our tenants are annoyed by the need for us to access the yard through their apartment. I understand that it’s inconvenient, but I have given a heads up and I have cleaned the apartment after each delivery of pebbles, cement, etc. it’s been two non consecutive days of about 3 hours each and now…
Ok, our tenants are annoyed by the need for us to access the yard through their apartment. I understand that it’s inconvenient, but I have given a heads up and I have cleaned the apartment after each delivery of pebbles, cement, etc. it’s been two non consecutive days of about 3 hours each and now today we need about 3 hours (probably the last) I have tried to be understanding and helpful, allowed them to hang out in our place, watched their kid during the time and bought them dinner. Now, today she doesn’t want to allow access and finally agreed to one hour. What is reasonable here? have I not been nice enough?
By the way, when we rented them the apartment they were not home during the day,and they have access to the garden so they will reap the benefits of the work being done.
Thanks for any advice or recommendations!
i remember this story – the baby “got sick” because they opened the window to vent the kitchen, and there was a draft.
These people sound like headaches. Maybe it would be helpful if you can ask your contractor to look down the road and determine exactly how many times he needs access and for how long, and try to group things into 1-2 trips through. If it seems like a never-ending slow drip to them then it’s probably more annoying than knowing exactly when it will be done and over.
anabanana –
You need to post floorplans of your home so we can review the configuration. Also, a scratch-n-sniff post so we can know what the indian cooking smell is like.
Your post & followup is confusing, but sounds like you’ve got shared garden access and tenants can access thru their garden apartment and you can access by going to a parlor floor deck and down the stairs. If it’s really common garden level hallway hall that goes to the garden without entering the tenants apartment, then Like DIBS said forget their complaints. If you have to cut through their apartment from the hallway and it’s a big deal to them, then have the contractors roll out paper to cover your floors and let them go through your space. They’re strong guys – they can handle a couple of trips up & down stairs with materials. Then when the lease end is near, tell them you won’t be renewing if you want to get more agreeable tenants.
I agree that unless it is stuff that is so heavy that you can’t possibly make it up the parlor steps you should try to have everything you need for the garden go through the parlor floor. I share my garden with my tenants and that is the way I handle it. If I can avoid going through their place I do so and if it is something like stone or whatever I let them know in advance.
This sounds like our set-up – common hallway on the ground floor, leading to tenant’s door and basement, but to get through to the backyard from the ground floor you have to pass through the rental unit. It seems like your tenants may not have realized that renting a floor in an owner-occupied brownstone isn’t quite the same as renting in a more conventional apt. building. It just isn’t as private, and both sides need to be aware of that going in, and a little more considerate of each other than in the typical LL/tenant setup.
That said, if there’s anything in the lease about requiring access to the rental unit for repairs/upkeep, I’d (nicely) remind her of that – heavy stuff like cement definitely applies. Have the contractor tell you realistically how much more access/time they need, then let the tenant know you need her to provide access, as stated in the lease. Then just make sure to keep doing what you’re doing – cleaning up afterwards, being considerate and non-confrontational.
We’ve been able to do a lot of backyard work without needing access through the rental unit, but sometimes it’s necessary, and our tenant has always been fine with that, given proper notice. (his upside is that we’re always quick to make repairs, since we’re in the same building.)
When their lease is up, you may want to consider not renewing – when they’re living in a third or quarter of your house, it’s more important to get a tenant you can get along with than it is to get top dollar (not that I’m assuming you’re getting top dollar).
I don’t think you are being unreasonable
I had to do the same thing on occasion for my backyard and I offered to knock $100 off the next month’s rent
you could do the same. my tenants appreciated the gesture
anabanana…FORGET IT. The common hallway is common are and not their apartment. Yes, like me, you probably allow the, to hang stuff there, etc but it IS NOT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THEIR APARTMENT.
Additioanlly, if it were me ( I hate cooking smells of any sort except those from my own kitchen) I would make sure they keep the doors CLOSED AT ALL TIME. It’s your house, lay down some rules.
Why is their baby going to get sick and their computer equip going to get ruined if they keep their apt door closed?? They sound like nutjobs.
Tell them to close the doors to the hallway. Bring whatever you want through that hallway. it’s not part of the aprtment. i assume the lights in the hallway are on a separate meter, the common areas which include the basement and the heat. You pay a higher charge for that as well.
So they’re saying the smell of their own food would get their baby sick or ruin their computer equipment? Or is it something else? And why can’t they just open a window instead?
Dave – it’s a common hallway, and in order for them not to “get the baby sick” or “ruin their computer equipment” they have been opening the hallway door and you know how smells tend to rise. Don’t get me wrong, I love Indian food, but I don’t want my bedrooms to reek of it. I very politely asked them to close the hallway door and I got a long letter from her explaining all the reasons why etc…
WAIT, you said something about opening their door to the hallway when they cook.
If this is set up like my garden apt, the apt is inside with doors to a common hallway (which is also the access to the basement)
If that’s the case, the hallway is technically a common area and NOT part of their apartment.
Please clarify. Are these guys using the common hallway or the interior of the apartment?