Tenant asked to upgrade thermostat to smart one and more.

Tenant asked to upgrade thermostat to smart one and more.

Homeowner · Tampa, FL · Member since 2016 · 358 posts · 65 votes

One before retiring lady is one of our tenants. The house is a very cute brick house with all high quality staff. This property normally be rent out within few days by the first qualified candidate. She moved in with her young son. 

Good thing: she paid ahead and every 2 weeks she paid. Keep the cute house neat inside and out.

Annoy thing: since she moved in, she asked to replace dryer, then dish washer(said after washing will have water spot on dishes), then clogged under kitchen sink after Thanksgiving, add light... finally we had a quite holiday.   Few days ago she asked me to buy filter for refrigerator which be replaced just before she moved in. Among all tenants, she is the only one to ask me to buy this filter which I didn't have statement on lease. 

Next day she did this: send me the power company's rejection of discount for her electric bill when the house's thermostat is not smart one. She asked what do I think when she can get discount from her previous landlord. 

I read the message but didn't reply. She wanted to save money and asked me to spend it. I know she send that to me and wanted me to pay for it.

If she will not ask so much within few month, I will upgrade the thermostat. I felt she is training me to do all she wants and I dislike to have a high maintenance tenant. I will only repair necessary until the lease end and no renew.

Mistake we made: she complained her previous landlord and said no upgrade for her. This is a red flag. She wanted to upgrade everything since she moved in.

Please share your thought what will you do for this type of tenants. Thanks.

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John UnderwoodPro Member
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
2y
Quote from @Huiping S.:

One before retiring lady is one of our tenants. The house is a very cute brick house with all high quality staff. This property normally be rent out within few days by the first qualified candidate. She moved in with her young son. 

Good thing: she paid ahead and every 2 weeks she paid. Keep the cute house neat inside and out.

Annoy thing: since she moved in, she asked to replace dryer, then dish washer(said after washing will have water spot on dishes), then clogged under kitchen sink after Thanksgiving, add light... finally we had a quite holiday.   Few days ago she asked me to buy filter for refrigerator which be replaced just before she moved in. Among all tenants, she is the only one to ask me to buy this filter which I didn't have statement on lease. 

Next day she did this: send me the power company's rejection of discount for her electric bill when the house's thermostat is not smart one. She asked what do I think when she can get discount from her previous landlord. 

I read the message but didn't reply. She wanted to save money and asked me to spend it. I know she send that to me and wanted me to pay for it.

If she will not ask so much within few month, I will upgrade the thermostat. I felt she is training me to do all she wants and I dislike to have a high maintenance tenant. I will only repair necessary until the lease end and no renew.

Mistake we made: she complained her previous landlord and said no upgrade for her. This is a red flag. She wanted to upgrade everything since she moved in.

Please share your thought what will you do for this type of tenants. Thanks.


 Let her spend the money to replace a working thermostat so that she can save money. I bet the utility company offers these at a discount. 

Do you provide the AC filters? If not why would you supply the water filter?

She should have been using rinse aid for the dishwasher to prevent Water spots or a better brand dish washer detergent.

You need to nip all this in the bud.

When my tenants ask for an upgrade I ask how much extra rent is this worth to you? Conversation over

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  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    2y
    Quote from @Huiping S.:

    One before retiring lady is one of our tenants. The house is a very cute brick house with all high quality staff. This property normally be rent out within few days by the first qualified candidate. She moved in with her young son. 

    Good thing: she paid ahead and every 2 weeks she paid. Keep the cute house neat inside and out.

    Annoy thing: since she moved in, she asked to replace dryer, then dish washer(said after washing will have water spot on dishes), then clogged under kitchen sink after Thanksgiving, add light... finally we had a quite holiday.   Few days ago she asked me to buy filter for refrigerator which be replaced just before she moved in. Among all tenants, she is the only one to ask me to buy this filter which I didn't have statement on lease. 

    Next day she did this: send me the power company's rejection of discount for her electric bill when the house's thermostat is not smart one. She asked what do I think when she can get discount from her previous landlord. 

    I read the message but didn't reply. She wanted to save money and asked me to spend it. I know she send that to me and wanted me to pay for it.

    If she will not ask so much within few month, I will upgrade the thermostat. I felt she is training me to do all she wants and I dislike to have a high maintenance tenant. I will only repair necessary until the lease end and no renew.

    Mistake we made: she complained her previous landlord and said no upgrade for her. This is a red flag. She wanted to upgrade everything since she moved in.

    Please share your thought what will you do for this type of tenants. Thanks.


     Let her spend the money to replace a working thermostat so that she can save money. I bet the utility company offers these at a discount. 

    Do you provide the AC filters? If not why would you supply the water filter?

    She should have been using rinse aid for the dishwasher to prevent Water spots or a better brand dish washer detergent.

    You need to nip all this in the bud.

    When my tenants ask for an upgrade I ask how much extra rent is this worth to you? Conversation over

  • Russell BrazilBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
    2y

    Learn to say no.

  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    2y

    You have a serial complainer/asker. Do you know why? Because people keep giving in to her requests. If she asks again, tell her you will only allow it if she pays for it, she has it professionally installed and shows you the invoice, and if it stays with the house when she leaves.

    Get it in writing.

    The DIY Landlord Book4.7247 Reviews
  • Real Estate Agent · Salt Lake City, UT · Member since 2020 · 490 posts · 205 votes
    2y

    yeah the more you give in, especially to silly demands, the more they will keep asking.

  • Property Manager · San Diego, CA · Member since 2024 · 65 posts · 42 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Russell Brazil:

    Learn to say no.


     Came here to say this.  :-)

  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    2y

    Start telling her no.  She knew what the thermostat was like when she moved in and it works.  If stuff isn't broken, don't fix it.  I like John's approach-ask how much the upgrade is worth in extra rent.

  • Melanie P.Pro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2023 · 1k+ posts · 922 votes
    2y

    You missed a great and simple opportunity with the water filter, keep an eye out for it to present again, because it will. I would have ordered a new filter off Amazon, sent someone by to put it in and sent her an invoice for the cost of the filter plus a $95 installation fee.

    When she asks for other upgrades advise her: You accepted the premises in their present condition when you signed your lease and moved in. I would be happy to have my vendor provide a quote for installation of a smart thermostat. You would need to pay the cost prior to installation and this is a leasehold improvement which you must leave affixed to the property when your tenancy ends.

    Act like you're being helpful but help always costs her money. She's cheap and will catch on fast.

  • Investor · Richmond, VA · Member since 2023 · 459 posts · 474 votes
    2y

    It sounds like you have set a pattern of simply doing what she wants. I recommend that you think through how you approach the rental and set financial targets and boundaries then be prepared to stick to them.

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