All Forum Posts by: Henry T.

Quote from @Scott Trench:

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- You are the landlord and she is the tenant. 

- You are responsible for these items, and not those items (make a list of what is reasonable for the landlord to deal with like broken toilets, leaky sinks, power outlets not working, windows not opening, etc. and a list of what the landlord does not deal with like people making noises outside. Furthermore, it is none of her business whether you are home or not, and who is walking around your property. 

- Inform her that a call at 1:30 AM of any kind is almost never appropriate. If she is in physical danger, she should contact the police, not you. You will respond to emergency issues with the property within 24 hours and within a week for less urgent items.

- Get this all documented into an updated version of the lease if you can. If you can't do that, make your expectations clear anyways, but make sure that your rules do not conflict with your lease or local laws. 

Setting boundaries. Yes.

Your description: Pays on time, clean, interesting personality, maybe demanding.  My first thought is maybe this is someone on an autistic spectrum? Her mind is flying with all kinds of distractions simultaneously. Not her fault. I know I'm only guessing here. If this is the case, she needs understanding not harshness. I aslo see that your boundaries are not consistant. It's very kind of you to change a lite bulb for your tenant but it also shows that you're there for anything. I would suggest a kind, gentle talk, wth paper backup (for visiual learners sake) settinng boundaries. Something she can refer to before knee jerking, or becoming emotionnal or whatever. Pays on time, and clean goes a long way for me.  I could be totally off base here, but it was my first thought. Maybe it's something to consider?

Hmmm. Is it a month to month? Send a new lease that says the landlord no longer provides an oven applicance. Me personally, I would find
a way to fix it. If it's a goofy system, then remodel so that you may use a more standard fitting appliance. I also hate gas, for numerous reasons. Electric is plug n play, done. Does the law reuire you to provide an oven? I don't know, but I doubt it.  Easy is not always the best solution. Sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet and do what's right, or adjust your rent accordingly.

I'm curious. I've never heard of Rentomenter or Rentrange. Are they along the lines of what you would see in a Zillow Zestimate or different to  significant degree?

Sell. You don't want to be a landlord in WA state. If you don't have experience, you'd better have a reputable, experienced property manager that's up on the barrage of recent legislation.

Might be a good idea to do inspections more often.

Its not unusual for older kids to still be living with their parents, these days.

If they're not in college getting straight A's, there's no excuse.

My neighbor has a 30 year old, and a 40 year old still living with them. But, they contribute and pull their weight.

Leave your apt and get a studio for just you and your wife.

Stay and offer your landlord $200 or $300 more a month to let you stay. He's probably paying that for the extra water/sewer bill.

Have a sit down and tell the girls to get jobs tomorrow, contribute some $$, or its over.

I had a tenant with the same problem. She packed her bags, went to the other side of the country, and left everyone.

All very good points, except one thing, you cannot serve papers yourself, it must be done by anyone other than the plaintiff. Friend, process server, sheriff. If a friend, make sure the serve is done properly.....

Locating her? try sending a letter in her name to your rental address as a test. If it goes to your rental, then she didn't forward with USPS, too bad.  If it doesn't go to your rental (that's good). Fully charge a burner phone, (find my phone enabled) send it priority(fast),  and track where it goes. Drive the neighborhood and find her car, or whatever. Then have someone serve her there....I've never tried this but why wouldn't it work? Might be cheaper than a skiptracer. Have fun.

I think people like this need to be taught their lesson in court. By a judge. On the record. This weasel has to be stopped. Let a collection agency hound her forever.

Best thing I ever did was ditch the HeatPump for gas. Elec bill was killing me.  Having A/C for a couple days in the summer was ok, but the heating in winter sucked. Literally sucked money out of my wallet.

10 day comply or vacate to your tenant. Read your local laws. Seattle City Council says tenant can move in anyone they want to. But they still must  meet your criteria. I don't know if Seattle is same as SeaTac.