Bethlehem, PA · Member since 2017 · 19 posts · 2 votes
Hello all,
Looking for some advise here.
New tenant has been in the SFR for a month and just started complaining about a smoke smell that wont go away. She says she has asthma now. She has been complaining for a few minor things already and I've been more than accommodating.
The detached SFR used to have a tenant that smoked more than a year an a half ago, since then I've had another tenant live in the unit with no complaints (we made sure after the smoker moved out to clean and paint the entire house to cover the smell).
Should I let this new tenant go under a 'Happy clause'?
Should I pay for a commercial ozone odor eliminator out of pocket?
Anything else?
She complained to me she heard voices in the house and was wondering if someone died...so I wouldn't be surprised if she wants to move out due to being afraid the house is possessed.....Saying this because I wouldnt have an issue paying for the ozone rental but dont want to do it if she will end up moving out anyways...
Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 512 posts · 301 votes
6y
@Luis R. Did she walk through the property before she took it? Did she say anything then? Also when did she start complaining? Immediately after move in or the same time she heard ghost? Just curious about your tenants mindset a little more. Sounds like she just decided she doesn’t like it and it making **** up
Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2019 · 512 posts · 301 votes
6y
@Luis R. Normally the house should be deemed smoke and pest free to some level in the lease or paperwork in signing. Call pest control. Ghost or furry little chewers inside the attic?! Who knows.
Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
6y
Look at buying an air purifier. My dad owns trucking and warehousing which includes truck rental and a repair shop.
Since he's older we bought him an air purifier for his office to keep any bad smells/truck fumes out of his office and it worked well. Which reminds me - it's time to replace the filters!
@Luis R. Did she walk through the property before she took it? Did she say anything then? Also when did she start complaining? Immediately after move in or the same time she heard ghost? Just curious about your tenants mindset a little more. Sounds like she just decided she doesn’t like it and it making **** up
Yes, she walked the property and yes it was after and around the same time. That was my worries.
Im going the route of getting the Ozoner in Amazon...it would be a nice thing to have anyways. Will keep you posted.
Be careful to only use the ozone machine when nobody is in the property and open up all the windows to let it air out for a few hours before re-entering. Ozone will damage your lungs and is even more dangerous if your tenant has asthma.
My guess is the reason she didn't report the smell the smoke sooner is that fresh paint will cover up smoke odor for a period of time. Same is true of carpet cleaning. When you first clean carpets, all you smell is the fresh carpet cleaner, but after that smell subsides, you can smell odors that were trapped down in the carpet. As strange as it sounds, cleaning carpets can bring out even bring out odors that you couldn't smell before.
The ozone machine should help take care of this, just use it properly.
Im going the route of getting the Ozoner in Amazon...it would be a nice thing to have anyways. Will keep you posted.
Be careful to only use the ozone machine when nobody is in the property and open up all the windows to let it air out for a few hours before re-entering. Ozone will damage your lungs and is even more dangerous if your tenant has asthma.
My guess is the reason she didn't report the smell the smoke sooner is that fresh paint will cover up smoke odor for a period of time. Same is true of carpet cleaning. When you first clean carpets, all you smell is the fresh carpet cleaner, but after that smell subsides, you can smell odors that were trapped down in the carpet. As strange as it sounds, cleaning carpets can bring out even bring out odors that you couldn't smell before.
The ozone machine should help take care of this, just use it properly.
Yes, I already asked the tenant that we will need to vacate the house for 2 days to give it a full treatment. We painted the house a year+ ago, so it might've been she didnt think it was going to be a issue when she first saw it im guessing. Either way, if after the treatment she is still complaining I will give her a way out of the lease if thats what she prefers...