All Forum Posts by: Don Chen

I need guidance from landlord in the DFW area.  We have property that is tenant is schedule to move in this weekend.   We put in new floors and bring the water heater to code and fix all the immediate issue with the get the renter ready.  The city keep on failing  us for inspection and bring up new issues to address.  I have multiple properties in this city never had a issue with the inspection. Now the tenant cannot put the water in their name.   I want to go ahead and turned key over to new tenant and let them move in and keep the water in my name and tenant will pay me for the water.    Has any landlord had this issue in the past with the city?  

Any advice would be helpful.  

Dear bigger pocket landlords,  

I have a tenant been complaining about the front door swells when it rains and it's hard to open and close.  I have sent a trusted contractor to over to property multiple times and we made some minor fix on the door.   My contractor is telling me the door is functional and it does not need to be repaired at this time.   I have advised the tenant of my contractor assessment of the front door.  I have offered the tenant an alternative solution for splitting the cost of a new front door.   My tenant disagrees with contractor assessment and not willing to split the cost of a new door.   

I would like some advice from other landlords how some of you would handle this situation with the tenant. 

Thanks for your advice in advance, 

Don

I have long time tenant just moved out one of my rental house properties. I walk through one of the bedroom and smelled marijuana in this room. Since we don’t allow drugs on the property. Also it will cost more to get the smell out the bedroom. Can I withhold the security deposit from this tenant?

Not sure how would bigger pockets would address this situation.

Any advice would be helpful.

Don

Dear BP Landlords,

I have a tenant that presented me with an unusual request about the doing improvements on fence at a part of duplex that I rent out to him. The fence is ok shape currently.  The fence post are still sturdy.The fence pickets may need to be replace in the near future.  My tenant tells me he used to own a fence building company for 15 years.  He has some ideas on how he wants to do fence work.  He offer to do the labor and all I have to do pay for the materials.  He will provide me estimate of material cost before so I can give the final ok to proceed.   I am concern about the personal injury liability issue and express the concern to my tenant.He express to me he really want to do this job and he is willing to sign a personal waiver if I let him to do fence replacement.  I am not sure if I should let him to this fence work, given that I am ok with cost of material. Part of me want to let him do the fence work and if he is ok on replacing the fence picket on the other side of the duplex as well.  So I can improve property at not pay for the labor of work.  I inherited this tentant from the previous owner of this property.   So far this tentant have been paying rent on time.  

I would like to get some feedback from the landlords out there what is the best way to handle this special situation.

Thanks,

Don

Bigger Pockets members,

Thank you so much for all your insights and suggestions. Everyone has provided a lot good suggestions on how to handle this matter. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to provide possible solution to this dilemma.

Sincerely,

Don

I have difficult dilemma with one of my rental properties. The current lease expires on 7-31-16. This is a great time to get a new tenant. The current tenant does not want to renew for long-term lease. They want to do a month to month or 3 month short term lease. The reason is they are interested in buying a house on their own in the future. They have been great tenant always paid rent on time. I am not big fan of month to month or 3 month lease. Because if I do a month to month lease or 3 month lease it will be more difficult to find new tenants in November and December. The current property could be vacant all the way to March of next year. I am trying to figure out what is best way to handle this situation. I would appreciate if someone could offer some advice on what is the best way to handle this dilemma.