When a tenant asks for unnecessary repairs

Question

I posted about this same tenant before.  She is a bit demanding but I took advice and have been trying to be extra kind and helpful.  She is also my neighbor so I have been bringing her organic produce from my vegetable garden (she loves that) and even helped dog sit her dogs for free.

She is still being nitpicky about things and I am hoping for advice on how I can tell her no about unnecessary repairs.  The latest example is she wanted me to go over to kill a bug.  Not an infestation, just a stray bug that wandered in.  I did.  She wanted the shower head descaled.  I soaked it in vinegar for awhile.  This morning she said the kitchen faucet is leaking at the base.  I went over to check it and there is just a tiny bit of moisture at the base. It's not spraying or broken.

How do I decline replacing it and keep a good relationship?  If it breaks I certainly will, but it's still working just fine and I would rather put off what will be a couple hundred dollars repair until it's really necessary.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

You are enabling her. You need to stop or it will just get worse and then you will be back here with serious problems.

You need to politely, yet firmly, tell her that she has gotten too demanding and that from now on she needs to handle everything herself...except major problems like non-working appliances. Drop a strong hint that if she continues to be a PITA, she will be moved on.....

Theresa Harris · Answer

Tell her no-plain and simple. Then talk to her about what expectations are for a tenant and a landlord.  If she asks you to come over and kill a bug, tell her to do it herself.  you need to set boundaries.