Landlord response time

Landlord response time

Lockport, NY · Member since 2015 · 41 posts · 8 votes

I live in NY and own a couple multifamily properties. I have a formal meeting with new tenants where I go over what I expect from them and what they can expect from me. One of the things I tell them is my business hours are M-F 9-5. They're free to call, text, or email whenever, but unless there's an emergency I won't get back to them until the next business day.

Recently a tenant's child spilled something in the bathroom and whatever it was leaked down into another unit with new tenants. I went over there after business hours because it sounded worse than it ended up being, but better safe than sorry. I brought my carpet shampooer because they said there was an odor.

This was a few days ago. I got a text from the tenant tonight around 8:30pm (it's Friday night) saying there's still an odor and that they scrubbed the carpet even after I shampooed it and they're asking if I can bring my carpet shampooer tomorrow.

What do I do? I specifically told them and all my tenants that unless it's an emergency, I won't get back to them until the next business day. They claim the odor to smell like urine and although it's unpleasant, it isn't an emergency to me so do I stand my ground and not get back to them until Monday? Or do I go against what I told them only 1 month ago and respond to them outside of my business hours for a non-emergency.

I can see why either option has pros and cons. So far I haven't responded.

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Rental Property Investor · Red Bank, NJ · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6y

Can you explain how a child from another unit spills something that goes through the floor- ceiling and down onto the carpet of the unit under? 

I think you have bigger problems then response time here.

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  • Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y

    Hi. I would get back to them tomorrow. There's nothing wrong with texting a tenant during the day on the weekends (many work 9-5 during the week) but I typically don't respond to texts after 6 PM unless it's an emergency, which is pretty much never.

  • Rental Property Investor · Red Bank, NJ · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    Can you explain how a child from another unit spills something that goes through the floor- ceiling and down onto the carpet of the unit under? 

    I think you have bigger problems then response time here.

  • Peter TverdovBusiness Member
    Developer · New Brunswick, NJ · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y

    My phone has been on silent for 6 years now because tenants DGAS and will call you at 11:30 at night for something trivial. I stop responding around 7pm, but I do text as early as 7am. If it's a true emergency, we have explained to people to shut the water off or call the fire department, electric company. 

  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    6y

    An emergency is something that could harm someone's health or cause damage to the property if not dealt with immediately. An odor is not going to harm people or your property and can wait until Monday.

    It almost sounds as if the water activated some pet odor that was trapped in the carpet. 

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  • Corby GoadeBusiness Member
    Investor · Boise, ID · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    I wouldn't sweat it one bit- that's no emergency. You were kind enough to give them excellent service after the first call, that doesn't mean you are their personal butler now, you are running a business. 

    It sounds like you might be an owner/manager? If so- without some additional structure in place, that can be a difficult position to be in. I'd build some formal structures into your processes to keep these sort of interactions at bay- happy to expand on that if you like. 

    Best of luck!

  • Lockport, NY · Member since 2015 · 41 posts · 8 votes
    6y

    Yes, I will wait to respond until Monday. This is why I tell all new tenants I won't respond outside of business hours unless an emergency. I feel like if I give in and respond to a non-emergency on a weekend, they'll expect replies during off hours. If I stay consistent and don't respond to this then they'll know what to expect in the future.

    I would say its the whole "give a mouse a cookie" thing. Them asking to use my personal carpet shampooer at 8:30pm on a Friday night just isn't going to happen. I'm not going to turn into their maid. 

    And yes, I am the owner/PM. Someday when the work load becomes too much I'll get a PM but for now I just try and be firm but fair with my tenants and don't let them walk all over me. I know people like to have a buffer between them and the tenants, and someday I will, but right now this saves money and gets me experience.

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