Real Estate Agent · Atlanta · Member since 2018 · 137 posts · 69 votes
I'm a new landlord and not quite sure what to do in this situation, so any advice is greatly appreciated. My tenant asked me today if I would replace the oven (gas stovetop) because it has a lot of tiny grease stains all over. It's overall a little worn out and has stains here and there but it's still perfectly functional. Aside from being nitpicky with this type of thing, she's a very solid, clean tenant. What would you all do here? I'd hate to replace an appliance that works just fine but I'm not sure if it'll be possible to get all the grease stains off. The oven is 9-10 years old by the way.
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
8y
I would consider getting a nicer clean used stove to appease a clean freak. A tenant that is a clean freak is a rare animal. You can always use this stove in another rental or sell it.
Developer · . · Member since 2014 · 520 posts · 162 votes
8y
Everyone appreciates a clean tenant but what you don't want is a tenant who comes to you every week with an issue. That tenant will drain any profit you attempt to make. The stove should have been clean when she moved in. I would offer that.
Rental Property Investor · Edison, NJ · Member since 2016 · 753 posts · 565 votes
8y
@Sam T. I would buy some heavy duty cleaners and go over there and clean it as best as you can. If she still complains let her know that you are sorry that she is dissatisfied but that you will not be replacing it.
She rented the property as is and should not be dictating changes to it unless something breaks. If you give in and buy a new stove because she asked for it, she will start asking for other changes due to her preferences. She may ask for a room to be painted in her favorite color, a nicer dishwasher, etc... It is important to learn to say no or the requests will keep coming.
Since she rented from you with the stove in the same condition, you are not obligated to get a new stove because of the way it looks, as long as it is in good working condition. I would tell her I would hire a professional cleaning company to try and remedy the situation. Make sure you are there to inspect the stove. If she still wants a new stove (and you are sure she IS a neat freak), offer to split the cost with her and charge it off on the monthly rent. Just be careful... she could be a constant complainer considering she hasn't been there very long.
Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
8y
@David Moore when landlords choose to rent their properties in dirty condition with deteriorating and broken appliances, that is ultimately heading down the slumlord path. I am not judging, just calling a spade a spade.
How do you think tenants rate landlords? Let's compare. One landlord rents their property dirty and refuses to clean or upgrade deteriorating appliances. The next landlord rents the property spotlessly clean and upgrades items as they wear out. What effect do you think these two management styles have on attracting and maintaining good tenants (customers).
I fall in the second group and as a result, my tenants say to their friends, "my landlord is great" and they refer people to me. I have people waiting to get into my houses.
It is a choice of you want to run your business. Every market has a need for lower quality goods and services at a lower price. My point is the quality of your property is what determines the quality of tenant.
Investor · Manteca, CA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
8y
@Joe Splitrock....there is a big difference between "I didn't clean it as well as I should have and I'm going to take care of that" vs being labeled a slumlord because you don't immediately replace a perfectly good appliance as soon as the tenant asks you to. The item isn't worn out..... its just wasn't cleaned as well as it probably should have been....that's an easy and cheap fix....clean it
Should have cleaned it better....based on a tenants opinion of what is reasonably clean....ok, take the benefit of the doubt and side with the tenant on that...rookie mistake....should have cleaned it better..... but to jump to YOU ARE A SLUMLORD IF YOU DONT REPLACE IT is a HUGE jump. The rest of the place may be a palace, and you want to label them a slumlord if the stove didn't get cleaned as well as the tenant wants? Oh please.....
Go clean the stove...... replacing it unless there are other issues or concerns with it is ridiculous. Replace it and just wait for the next request based solely on a cosmetic issue....have fun with that.
@Joe Splitrock....there is a big difference between "I didn't clean it as well as I should have and I'm going to take care of that" vs being labeled a slumlord because you don't immediately replace a perfectly good appliance as soon as the tenant asks you to. The item isn't worn out..... its just wasn't cleaned as well as it probably should have been....that's an easy and cheap fix....clean it
Should have cleaned it better....based on a tenants opinion of what is reasonably clean....ok, take the benefit of the doubt and side with the tenant on that...rookie mistake....should have cleaned it better..... but to jump to YOU ARE A SLUMLORD IF YOU DONT REPLACE IT is a HUGE jump. The rest of the place may be a palace, and you want to label them a slumlord if the stove didn't get cleaned as well as the tenant wants? Oh please.....
Go clean the stove...... replacing it unless there are other issues or concerns with it is ridiculous. Replace it and just wait for the next request based solely on a cosmetic issue....have fun with that.
First of all, I didn't mean to offend you. Secondly, I never said someone is a slumlord for not replacing it. My original post talks mostly about cleaning it properly. Replacement should only be done if it cannot be cleaned or has reached end of life. Landlords who prioritize profits over basic cleaning and maintenance, are by definition a slumlord:
"A slumlord is a derogatory term for a landlord, generally an absentee landlord with more than one property, who attempts to maximize profit by minimizing spending on property maintenance, often in deteriorating neighborhoods, and to tenants that they can intimidate."
I am referring to those landlords on this forum who continually blame tenants for everything, advise other landlords to not repair, replace or clean. It is the mentality of "they rented it that way so tough luck".
The slumlords know who they are. Their properties look like crap, are dirty, have many broken things that are not being fixed and every tenant has a 400 credit score. Drugs, cockroaches, letters from the city... They know who they are.
Montgomery Village, MD · Member since 2017 · 37 posts · 6 votes
7y
That stuff is easy to clean, requires extra elbow grease. First run it through a regular self cleaning process and clean it out as soon as it stops (don't wait or the stuff will harden up again). Another thing that works great is warm water with baking soda, i don't put it in spray bottle cause it will plug it up. Just sprinkle the soda everywhere and then spray hot water on top of it, let it sit about 10 minutes or so and then start wiping. Repeat if necessary.