How do you Handle Repair Requests?

Question

Hey All! I have 7 rental properties, all section 8. Overall my tenants are really great, but sometimes they tend to ask me to do things that I find a little unreasonable. Id there is a legitimate problem (such as the AC or hot water heater not working) I send a contractor immediately, but how do you handle when tenants ask you for things that are not really necessary?

For example, I have a tenant who wants me to build her fence higher because she is afraid of neighborhood kids jumping her fence and taking her stuff. There is nothing wrong with her current fence, it is a 6 foot privacy fence, she just wants a taller fence. How would yall handle this request?

Thanks!!

Jonathan R McLaughlin · Answer

Ms. Tenant,

No, we will not be changing the height of the fence.

Sincerely,

Chris

Bill B. · Answer

First I’d check with the city/county whoever tells you how high your fence can be, and make sure it’s legal. I guarantee the government will tell you how high your fence can be.

If it’s legal. Then I’d get a quote. I’d like to see an extension quote, but it will probably have to be a replacement fence. Then I’d tell then tenant the cost and ask if they’d like to proceed. Get payment in full from the tenant before starting.

You may have an easy out here as I’m betting the maximum legal height is probably 6 feet if that’s the current height.

Also check wi HOA if you are in one. (Again, probably not allowed to change it if you see.)

PS. The tenant could also invest in a security camera or two, that would probably be cheaper. good luck.

James Hamling · Answer

@Chris Bergeron I have a different take on this.

My knee-jerk reaction is like others "nope", but then take a minute and think on it, because it's realized this is the tenant sharing a problem at the property, and ask what results that could make. 6' fence is fairly tall as is, so issue isn't height, it's that it's so easily scalable. A easily scaled fence means easy for break-in's, that's a potential issue.

If myself, if the fence is a standard shadow-box configuration, hence easy to scale, I'd invest the few hundred to get more slats to add to make a solid 6's flat face fence. Easy as adding slats.

Gotta remember sec8's are in areas that it's best to keep potential problems away. Nothing done to fence, next thing tenant needs a 100lb pitbull. next thing pitbull get's all anxious and starts chewing on doors. Now you got doors all messed up, maintenance guy goes out, pitbull chews on him, so he clubs it with a pipewrench. now tenant is in tears saying poor fluffy is dead, calls Jessie Jackson, now you got people picketing your property calling you a evil fluffy killing landlord.......

Lol. Ok, maybe a little extreme but you get my point. Sometimes the annoying requests have some value basis in avoiding other potential issues.

Bill B. · Answer

Yeah, no is the answer. If it isn’t worth it to them to pay for the higher fence it definitely isn’t worth it to you.

I’d still check with city/count/Hoa to make sure you don’t have an easy out of “they” won’t let me.

If “they” will let you. You say no, I don’t want the property to look like a prison. And raise the rent at the next possible opportunity.

Jacob Zinda · Answer

Unfortunately, you will have the be the "mean" landlord for a request like this. The fence is perfectly functional there is not reason to pay for a new one. Section 8 can be tough to cashflow without serious rehabs such as this. I recommend simply declining the request and suggest to lock her back door if she is that concerned.

Andy Webb · Answer

Our lease states that the property is "as-is", so with respect to that type of request, I would decline.

Marcus Auerbach · Answer

We accommodate as much as we can, but within reason, in this case I would maybe think about a motion light (buy one that is metal, spend $20 extra it will live 5x longer) that will do much more for safety than a higher fence.We have a tenant who wants us to move the mailbox, the house is on a corner lot and its on the wrong side (not the side with the driveway) - but the USPS makes it really difficult to change the location. So the answer is sorry, no. Now he says the neighbors are stealing his mail. Still no, please call the police.A good way of dealing with requests is sometimes to tie them to a condition. We had a tenant who wanted central AC, we installed one in exchange for a rent increase to pay for it. Another one wanted new carpet after 5+ years, we sent them to our store to pick one of the 3 approved products. They never went..

Curtis Mears · Answer

@Chris Bergeron

I would tell her the lease states that she rented the property as is. I would also evaluate if she has a valid point. Are kids jumping the fence? If there is an issue, then I would address it. If it is a made up issue, the n I would tell her no (or she can pay to have it done).

Nathan Gesner · Answer

You need to develop a short, professional response to ridiculous requests.

"You current fence is fully functional. We will not be changing it during your tenancy."

Practice it over and over until it rolls off your tongue without thinking.

How do you Handle Repair Requests?

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