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Landlord Needs 3-Bedroom Unit to Keep Maintenance On-Site

By
Hank Rossi
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A landlord needs one of her currently occupied 3-bedroom apartments to keep maintenance on-site in her apartment complex.

A landlord needs one of her currently occupied 3-bedroom apartments to keep maintenance on-site in her apartment complex. That is the question this week for Ask Landlord Hank. Remember Hank is not an attorney and he is not offering legal advice. If you have a question for him please fill out the form below.

Dear Landlord Hank,

We have a property of 70 units. Out of those 70 units, only seven are 3-bedroom units.

I haven’t had a 3-bedroom available for the past seven years, and my maintenance supervisor is on the waiting list for one.

He has told me that he will move out because his family has grown. I am thinking about giving a 90-day notice to any of the tenants who are living in the 3-bedroom units. Can I legally ask them to move out in 90 days with no cause? Or is there another legal option for me? Because we need this maintenance person on-site.

– Maria

Dear Maria,

I understand the need to have maintenance nearby in a community your size.

You would need to look to your lease, under the RENEWAL clause, for the tenants that are occupying the 3-bedroom units – and then follow what the lease says.

If you don’t have current leases, you can give a 90-day notice of termination, but talk to the tenant and give them written notice. And tell them that you will give them a good recommendation, if they deserve that.

Sincerely,

Hank Rossi

A landlord needs one of her currently occupied 3-bedroom apartments to keep maintenance on-site in her apartment complex.
Landlord Hank says, “You would need to look to your lease, under the RENEWAL clause, for the tenants that are occupying the 3-bedroom units – and then follow what the lease says.”

Editor’s note. Please check to see if there are any of your local or state rules in your area regarding this issue.

Ask Landlord Hank Your Question

Ask veteran landlord and property manager Hank Rossi your questions from tenant screening to leases to pets and more! He provides answers each week to landlords.

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Ask Landlord Hank: What Should I Do If My Tenants Want A ‘Kiddie’ Pool

Do I Have to Paint and Replace Flooring for a Long-Term Tenant?

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Who’s Responsible For Smoke Detector Batteries In Rentals?

Can I Enter My Rental If Tenant Moves Out Early But Lease Is Still In Place?

Photo credit Nuttawan Jayawan via istockphoto.com

Short-Term Rental Operator Sentenced for Defrauding Landlords

By
John Triplett
-
A short-term rental operator - the “wolf of Airbnb” - was sentenced to 51 months for defrauding landlords of more than $1 million in rent

A short-term rental operator who called himself the “wolf of Airbnb” was sentenced to 51 months for defrauding landlords of more than $1 million in rent, according to a release.

Damian Williams, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Konrad Bicher, 32, of Hialeah, Fla., was sentenced for fraudulent operation of real estate businesses, including by entering into lease agreements for residential apartment units in Manhattan on false and fraudulent pretenses and by making false statements to obtain loans guaranteed by the U.S. government.

“For years, Bicher schemed to defraud New York City landlords and the U.S. government. Bicher enriched himself by abusing government programs and tenant protections intended to benefit people and businesses in need during one of the worst economic and public health crises in history.

“He bragged about his schemes to his friends and the media, proudly referring to himself as the ‘Wolf of Airbnb,’ but the sentence underscores, those who partake in such callous and fraudulent conduct will answer for their crimes, no matter their self-given title,” Williams said in the release.

From 2019 to 2022 Bicher and his associates rented apartments in Manhattan but failed to make more than $1,000,000 in rent payments to landlords pursuant to the lease agreements, based on the estimated fair market value for the rental units. Despite leases prohibiting the units being used for short-term lease, Bicher and his associates listed them for short-term rent on Airbnb and at least one other online marketplace for short-term rentals, resulting in at least $1,170,000 in rental income to Bicher and his associates, according to the release.

During the COVID-19 pandemic Bicher submitted at least four applications for PPP loans on behalf of at least three entities and obtained over $565,000 in loan proceeds.  These PPP applications contained fraudulent documents and false information.

In addition to the prison term, Bicher was sentenced to three years of supervised release.  He was additionally ordered to forfeit $1,740,407.12 and pay restitution in the amount of $2,227,371.58.

See the full release here from the U.S. Attorney

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Broad Coalition of Housing Providers Oppose Rent Cap

By
John Triplett
-
A broad coalition of housing providers and lenders released a letter to President Biden to oppose cap proposals nationwide

A broad coalition of housing providers and lenders released a letter to President Biden opposing the recent proposal to cap rents nationwide, according to a release from the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC).

“We understand the appeal of what appears to be a quick fix to stabilize rents, but arbitrary federal rent caps are not the answer. Rent regulations jeopardize the financial solvency of rental communities, result in lower quality housing options for renters, and severely limit their housing choices,” the letter says.

Oppose Rent Cap

“Rent control policies have proven time and again to increase rents, reduce the capital needed to boost the supply of housing, and ultimately hurt renters today and in the future.

“Imposing federal rent caps on top of what is already an overly complicated set of regulations at the state and local levels will disincentivize housing investors, thereby further exacerbating the supply shortage, and reducing housing opportunities for our nation’s renters. We urge the White House to reject rent control and instead increase subsidies for those in need and work with housing providers on proven solutions – such as those outlined in the administration’s Housing Supply Action Plan – to expand the supply of needed affordable housing.

“Rent control does not build a single home, and it ignores the real reasons for increases in housing costs, including rapidly rising insurance costs, state and local taxes, and other economic factors. Further, it disincentivizes needed housing investments, particularly in communities that already have few affordable options.

“Instead of rent control, we urge the administration to focus on leveraging federal resources to expand supply and build the housing America needs,” the coalition says in the release.

The letter concludes, “As such, we respectfully encourage your administration to refrain from implementing policies like rent control and instead focus on leveraging federal resources to build the housing America needs.”

Read the full release here.

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Rent Cap Proposal For Landlords With 50+ Units

By
John Triplett
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A plan to cap rent increases to 5% annually for landlords with 50+ units or risk losing current valuable federal tax breaks is being proposed

A plan to cap rent increases to 5% annually for landlords with more than 50 units is being proposed by the Biden administration but will face stiff opposition in Congress.

The White House announced it is asking Congress to pass legislation giving corporate landlords a choice to either cap rent increases on existing units at 5% or risk losing current valuable federal tax breaks.

Broad Coalition of Housing Providers Oppose Rent Cap

In a release, the announcement said, “Some corporate landlords have taken advantage of the shortage of available units by raising rents by more than increases in their own costs—resulting in huge profits at a time when millions of Americans are struggling to cover rent each month.

“And recent analysis showed that the six largest publicly-traded apartment companies reported large profits earlier this year, and many of these same landlords are named in pending litigation for their alleged use of proprietary algorithms to raise rents on tenants,” according to the release.

Proposed changes in depreciation rules

According to the proposal large landlords, “beginning this year and for the next two years, would only be able to take advantage of faster depreciation write-offs available to owners of rental housing if they keep annual rent increases to no more than 5% each year. This would apply to landlords with over 50 units in their portfolio, covering more than 20 million units across the country. It would include an exception for new construction and substantial renovation or rehabilitation.”

Bloomberg reports the proposal faces steep odds in Congress, where legislation would have to pass the GOP-controlled House and win a supermajority of votes in a closely divided Senate — at a time when lawmakers are squarely focused on the November election.

FHFA Announces Multifamily Tenant Protections

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is announcing new actions to protect renters in multifamily properties financed by loans acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These protections apply to future loans acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which have financed an average of 1.2 million multifamily rental units over the past three years. The protections include:

  • Requiring 30-day notice before rent increases;
  • Requiring 30-day notice on lease expiration; and
  • Providing a 5-day grace period before imposing late fees on rental payments.

Read the full announcement and other details here.

Rent Control Contributes To Affordable Housing Shortage

Report Cites Profits of Big Landlords Using RealPage

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Problem: Upstairs Tenants Doing Drugs

By
Hank Rossi
-
A landlord is asking what is her responsibility for upstairs tenants doing drugs and disturbing the downstairs tenant

A landlord is asking what is her responsibility for upstairs tenants doing drugs and disturbing the downstairs tenant. That is the question this week for Ask Landlord Hank. Remember Hank is not an attorney and he is not offering legal advice. If you have a question for him please fill out the form below.

Dear Landlord Hank,

First, thanks for being here for all of us!

I have an upstairs tenant who we know is doing crack, meth, and so on. The downstairs tenant is an elderly woman and still very sharp, still a stock trader, etc. and she cannot get a break. They are up and running around all the time, day and night, high as a kite. They have attached a garden hose to their bathtub to fill a container that they use as a community bong; they have out-of-state “visitors” coming in carrying in backpacks full of what we believe is cocaine.

The downstairs tenant is sharp, she has pictures to prove her case. The upstairs tenant has flooded her apartment because the hose got disconnected and they were passed out from drugs and no one could wake them up.

What is my responsibility here? The downstairs tenant has threatened a lawsuit to restore her right “to the quiet enjoyment of her property” (her rented apartment)? Am I responsible because she is getting sick all the time from the meth and crack smoke and smell in her apartment? Thank you.

-Margaret

Dear Landlady Margaret,

If you think your upstairs tenants are breaking the law, check the evidence the other tenant has provided, and if you really think these tenants are druggies and criminals then do an inspection of this unit with law enforcement in attendance.

If they really are criminals and druggies, EVICT right away.  You should not put up with bad tenants, especially criminals, for one minute more than you have to.

Sincerely,

Hank Rossi

A landlord is asking what is her responsibility for upstairs tenants doing drugs and disturbing the downstairs tenant.
Landlord Hank says, “Do an inspection of this unit with law enforcement in attendance.”

Ask Landlord Hank Your Question

Ask veteran landlord and property manager Hank Rossi your questions from tenant screening to leases to pets and more! He provides answers each week to landlords.

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Ask Landlord Hank: What Should I Do If My Tenants Want A ‘Kiddie’ Pool

Do I Have to Paint and Replace Flooring for a Long-Term Tenant?

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Who’s Responsible For Smoke Detector Batteries In Rentals?

Can I Enter My Rental If Tenant Moves Out Early But Lease Is Still In Place?

 

Navigating Online Insurtechs: Innovations, Risks, and Pitfalls

By
By The Editors
-
An online insurtech isn't what you would consider a traditional insurance company and and there are good and bad things to consider.

By Lance Anderson

An online insurtech isn’t what you would consider a traditional insurance company. Many new online insurtechs have entered the insurance industry, and there are good and bad things to consider.

THE GOOD:

  • Insuretechs have fast and consumer friendly websites created to provide quick quotes and easy to purchase policies. This is where the good ends.

THE BAD:

  • They are not backed by traditional insurance companies with years of experience & knowledge. They are normally backed by several layers of investment companies whose number one goal is a return on their investment. You never really know who is going to pay your claim.
  • Unfortunately, these new insurtech companies have joined the industry in the most challenging insurance climate in a generation. During the years 2022 – 2024, many insurance companies failed and have withdrawn from markets, so you can only imagine how the insurtechs are struggling.

THE UGLY:

While these online insurtech websites are very easy to use, they are programmed to offer lower prices by underinsuring the structure and leaving out or limiting very important coverages.

  • Lower Dwelling Coverage: In my recent quoting experiences, I entered all of the information on one of my own rental properties. The website quoted $201,000 to rebuild a 1900-square-foot rental property, about half of the actual cost to rebuild. The disadvantage is that in the event of a claim, whether it be a total loss or even a partial loss, the policy contains language that will further penalize me for underinsuring the structure. Insurance Requirements for a Utah Commercial Lease Agreement | Anderson Insurance Group
  • No Extended Dwelling Replacement option is available. Extended Dwelling Replacement will add an additional 25% of dwelling coverage in the event of a total loss. For example, $400,000 in dwelling coverage X 125% = $500,000 max dwelling coverage. The absence of this option is a glaring weakness in Insurtech coverage.
  • Fair Rental Value/Loss of Rental Income: The “recommended” Plus coverage from this company only included $20,100, not nearly enough to cover twelve months of lost rents, the minimum amount of time it would take to rebuild this property.
  • Water Damage Sub-limit Limitation: This is perhaps the most glaring deficit in their coverage. Many insurtechs will include a sub-limit for damage from water, the most common claim received by insurance companies. Sub-limits are a new strategy to limit an insurance company’s exposure to a specific loss. Every year, we have several water losses that exceed $100,000, and these new insurtechs can have water damage sub-limits of $30,000 or less.

These are just a few of the deficiencies of the coverage offered by insurtechs. Only a seasoned and experienced insurance agent is going to recognize the coverage that the insurtech company has omitted.

Another great danger of insuring with insurtechs is that you represent yourself. You are the one who made the declaration on the application and if the coverage you need to rebuild or repair your home is not there, you are out of luck, you have been duped. When you insure with a local and knowledgeable insurance agency and an important coverage has been left off, you can pursue a claim against that agent’s errors and omissions coverage for not including that coverage.

In biblical times, they would call today’s insurtechs wolves in sheep’s clothing. These slick and impressive online proposals are programmed to omit important coverage and lead you to select inferior coverage.

Don’t get confused and duped in the insurance cyber world! For the best protection of your home or rental property, reach out to a knowledgeable and experience agent at Anderson Insurance Group today.

Anderson Insurance Group – Salt Lake City – Utah

Lance Anderson

Anderson Insurance Group

www.anderson.insure 

Call: 801-262-1551 Text: 801-758-9046
Call us for more information on renters insurance and any questions you have about land lording, we love helping our customers be successful Utah landlords. Call our office at 801-262-1551 or Click Here for a for a consultation with our experienced team. Find out more about renter’s insurance.

Avoid Costly Coinsurance Penalties with Proper Insurance Coverage for Your Investment Properties

For a full review of your apartment or rental property insurance, contact a knowledgeable Anderson Insurance Group agent today.

Secure Your Monthly Cash Flow With One Easy-to-Miss Coverage: Business Income Insurance for Utah Landlords

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Your Rental Criteria and The Power of Three

By
By The Editors
-
Think of your rental criteria as frequently asked questions for those applying to rent your property and are they written down?

Think of your rental criteria as frequently asked questions for those applying to rent your property and are they written down?

By David Pickron

Early on in my investing career I flew by the seat of my pants.  I had no real policies or guidelines; I relied on gut reactions to situations as they surfaced.  As I travel and meet with different real estate groups across the country, I always ask this critically important question;  who here uses a detailed criteria?  Rarely do I get many hands raised.

In fact you may be asking right now, what is criteria and more importantly, how do I make one?

Like any business, your rental criteria can function as your rental policy, lining out your rules and regulations.  It covers questions like:

  • Can I smoke on the property?
  • Do you rent to people with criminal history?  If yes, what kind of history would disqualify me?
  • How high does my credit need to be in order to qualify?

Think of your criteria as an FAQ for those applying for your property.  I love the fact that I have all my requirements written down for the world to see.  No surprises!  And best of all this helps me treat everyone the same and avoid even a hint of a fair housing violation.

One other important note is I always have a unique criteria for each property in my portfolio.  Factors like location, square footage, and age or condition of the home all go into the creation of the criteria.  I may require a lower credit score, less down payment, the inclusion of pets, or other things that are unique to that property.  With that being said, I give every person that views that property the same criteria for that unique property.

While having your criteria is crucial, sharing it is even more important.  I like to share with my potential tenants throughout our interactions in the following three ways.

  1. Share your criteria on your listing. Isn’t it a waste of everyone’s time to look at the listing, consider, schedule, and show a property when the applicant doesn’t even meet the criteria?  Though I would encourage you to let everyone apply, giving them your criteria in advance allows them to read it before they reach out or see the property.  If an individual reviewing your listing has three dogs and is able to  see that this property doesn’t accept pets, chances are they will move on to the next listing.  This saves you time from responding to someone who will never qualify under that properties criteria.
  2. Provide and review a copy of the criteria at the time of showing the property. Once again, if you do not allow smoking on that property, your applicant will have heard and acknowledged that, so even if you forget to mention that in the walk through, you’re still covered.  A detailed criteria lets them know you are a professional and those trying to get away with something will move on.  On the other hand, if they still apply and you have to deny them for something on the criteria, you know they took the chance, hoping you would not find out or they flat out lied to you.  Either way, this is not an individual you want to enter into business with anyway.
  3. Before you invite them to apply, the Rent Perfect system I use will attach the specific criteria for that property to the link I send them. It’s just one more chance for them to see the rules of that specific property in advance.  Simply put, if they  cannot pass my rules, they will be declined and I’ll move to the next applicant.

As a landlord, I give them three separate times to acknowledge and understand my rules before they pay the application fee.

I would rather have the tough conversations before they apply and become my tenant.

Catching a renter smoking after the fact while they are living on the property is a much more difficult (and far more expensive) situation.  By being open and sharing your criteria, you can treat everyone the same with a well-documented process if there is ever a fair housing complaint against you.  Remember, you are hoping to make this individual your business partner for the next few years.  Taking this small but critical step is just one way to help you get the right tenant the first time.

About the author:

David Pickron is President of Rent Perfect, a private investigator, and fellow landlord who manages several short- and long-term rentals.  Subscribe to his weekly Rent Perfect Podcast (available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts) to stay up to date on the latest industry news and for expert tips on how to manage your properties.

Think of your rental criteria as frequently asked questions for those applying to rent your property and are they written down?
David Pickron, Rent Perfect

Multifamily Growth ‘Encouraging’ in First 6 Months of 2024

By
John Triplett
-
Multifamily growth met expectations in the first half of the year as multifamily performance remained healthy in June.

Multifamily growth met expectations in the first half of the year, Yardi Matrix says in the June report.

While rents continued to rise in June, increases were modest compared to the post-pandemic boom.

“The first half of 2024 is in the books, and multifamily performance was encouraging,” the report says. “Given the market environment, a moderately positive result is a win.”

Highlights of the report

  • Multifamily growth and performance remained healthy in June, as strong demand is largely keeping up with rapid supply growth. The average U.S.-advertised rent increased by $4 to $1,739, while year-over-year growth fell by 20 basis points to 0.6%.
  • Although the market has headwinds such as above-trend expense growth and a large number of deliveries in some metros, absorption is steady due to strong employment gains, the low unemployment rate, foreign immigration and weak home sales.
  • The single-family rental market experienced its first hiccup of 2024, with the average advertised rent declining by $3 in June to $2,166, while the year-over-year growth rate fell 30 basis points to 1.1%. Occupancy rates remained high at 95.4% in May.

The job market continues to be strong and the housing shortage is still with us along with high interest rates, all of which means there are renters continuing to rent because they cannot afford to buy or find a house to buy.

Some cities saw modest rent gains in June

Monthly rent gains in June were led by New York (1.1%), and Chicago, Kansas City and Portland (all 0.9%).

Eight of the top 30 metros posted modest declines, with the largest drop recorded in Austin (down 0.8%).

The expense-growth challenge

The 8.1% average increase in total expenses over the last two years was more than double the 3.4% average growth rate of the previous four years.

“The upshot is that if expense growth does not moderate, consequences will include rising mortgage defaults and a curtailment of needed new development. For owners, improving operating efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing new technologies is essential,” the report says.

Read the full Yardi Matrix report here.

About Yardi Matrix

Yardi Matrix researches and reports on multifamily, office and self-storage properties across the United States, serving the needs of a variety of industry professionals. Yardi Matrix Multifamily provides accurate data on 18+ million units, covering more than 90 percent of the U.S. population. Contact the company at (480) 663-1149.

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New Apartment Refrigerant Requirements Coming

By
By The Editors
-
There are new apartment refrigerant requirements coming for communities in the HVAC field for 2024 and beyond to replace R-22 and R-410a.

There are new refrigerant requirements coming for apartment communities in the HVAC field for 2024 and beyond to replace R-22 and R-410a.

By Richard Berger

For apartment communities, there is massive change ahead regarding refrigerants.

While the changes are not at the technician level yet – and won’t be until later this year regarding behavior and supplies – the financial impact is expected to be huge beginning in 2025, according to Paul Rhodes, founder, Directional Maintenance Services.

In response to regulatory changes, the refrigerant industry has been doing its best to create a refrigerant that will most adequately replace R-22 and R-410a. There are several alternatives, and each presents its challenges for apartment maintenance technicians, owners, and customers.

Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted a final rule accepting several refrigerant alternatives for use in new residential and light commercial air conditioners and heat pumps.

So, which one should you use? Well, that depends. The two main reasons refrigerants are being replaced are due to how much they deplete the ozone – measured as ozone depletion potential (ODP) – and much heat they trap in the atmosphere, measured as global warming potential (GWP).

The new refrigerants must have a low enough GWP to meet AIM Act standards.

The Most Common Apartment Refrigerant Replacement Contenders

Currently, the most common replacements to be used in systems designed for R-22 are R438A, which is also known as MO99, R422D, and R421A. These replacement refrigerants are often referred to as being  “drop ins.”

“When that term is being used it often means you must change the oil, clean the line set, change the line drier, and then make sure compatible oil is being used,” says Mark Cukro, president of Plus One, Inc.  “Think of it this way: An automobile owner could use several types of oil in a vehicle, but it is harmful to mix them or have multiple types in a system at the same time,” he says.

For systems designed to use R-410A, there is no replacement. Instead, the entire system will require replacement to be compatible with R-454B and R-32. These system changes are due to the new refrigerants being slightly flammable and require certain safety measures.

One big change is that both are listed as A2L by ASHRAE instead of the rating that R410A has (A1). The rating change means that due to increased flammability concerns, the new system is not allowed to be mixed with portions of the old system.

What’s Required by 2025

R410A is the apartment refrigerant being used in systems currently being produced. While it has no ozone layer effect, it does have a significant negative rating in terms of climate change, meaning a high GWP. There is no “drop in,” so the price of it will rise, by design, to encourage the change to the newer systems/refrigerant.

These are the systems that the AIM act requires to be no longer used after 2024 to force adoption of the new refrigerants. Parts for systems containing all refrigerant types will continue to be available if repaired, and may remain in service.

The new refrigerants found in residential systems required to be produced in Jan 2025 are either R32 or R454B. These are the A2L-listed refrigerants referenced above. They have no effect on the ozone layer and minimal impact on climate change.

Due to this distinction, there is no compatibility with R410A, which leads to the large cost that properties will need to absorb.

Example: If a straight cool/split system condensing unit is to be replaced to an A2L refrigerant system, the property is required to replace the evaporator/air handler as well. In the change from the R22 to R410A systems, if performed correctly, the property would only be required to replace the outside unit.

More refrigerant options are on the way, Cukro says. However, the industry overall has not yet really settled on one refrigerant as “the one” to be the industry-wide replacement, he says.

“Select one replacement refrigerant that suits you best and stay with that,” Cukro recommends, “so you don’t wind up with an unknown number of alternatives in the field that can’t be easily identified.

“While it may be tempting to purchase the least expensive refrigerant each time, if that leads to having six different refrigerants on the same property it may be counterproductive, very costly, and difficult to keep good records,” he said.

“R410a is still the choice refrigerant being used by contractors for new installations. So, keep everything simple to track, easy to work on and purchase, and make sure you have the correct equipment as the safety requirements are updated and change.”

On a positive note, the new refrigerants work quite well, are safer for the ozone layer and have a lower warming potential than the refrigerants being phased out.

Managing HVAC System’s Service History

The apartment industry will need to adjust and adapt as the new apartment refrigerant replacements emerge, Cukro says.

Rhodes, host of The Maintenance Mindset Podcast, says that in the short term, if maintenance teams know how to properly work with current refrigerants, the impact will be minimal procedurally because the same safe-use rules apply. The cost of materials (refrigerant and systems) will accelerate depending on the supply/demand economics.

Thinking longer-term, at the end of this summer, R410A equipment will begin to sell out as suppliers will not want overstock to carry into 2025. At the same time, manufacturing companies will transition their manufacturing lines to new refrigerants so that they have stock before January 2025. Prices will continue to increase.

Maintenance mobile work order apps such as AppWork help maintenance teams to track HVAC work-order data such as the number of callbacks, completion times, and service ratings. It automatically identifies HVAC work orders from the work-order description and uses that to categorize, prioritize, and even assign the work order, accordingly.

Technicians can include the Freon used during work orders and the Freon levels so the next time a technician works on the AC they can check the unit’s service history to see what they or another technician did the last time the unit was serviced.

About the author:

Richard Berger is a freelance journalist who has 20+ years of experience covering commercial real estate for various media sites and CRE-related associations. He lives in Northern Virginia.

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4 Kinds Of Front Doors For Your Rental And Pros And Cons Of Each

A Tenant Poured Grease Down Drain Who Is Responsible?

Who’s Responsible For Smoke Detector Batteries In Rentals?

Photo credit Nitaya Tongyoy via istockphoto.com

Running Children Upstairs Disturbing Downstairs Tenant What Do We Do?

By
Hank Rossi
-
Dear Landlord Hank: Running Children Upstairs Disturbing Downstairs Tenant What Do We Do?

The problem is back, again, with tenant complaints about noisy, running children. In this week’s Ask Landlord Hank question he deals with children upstairs distributing downstairs tenant and offers some advice. Remember Hank is not an attorney and cannot offer legal advice. If you have a question for him please fill out the form below.

Dear Landlord Hank:

Our upstairs tenant has a young kid, around two-years-old, who runs around on the wood floor at random hours of the evening and into the night. The older downstairs tenant says this wakes her up. She has asked the upstairs tenant a couple of times about this issue, but the problem persists, and now she is calling us. We realize little kids run and play and understand it is loud on wood floors. Any suggestions on solving children upstairs disturbing downstairs tenant problem?
-Landlady Eileen

HI Landlady Eileen,

This is a touchy subject as babies run and fall down and make noise.

If the flooring is all solid surface, you could talk to your upstairs tenants and ask them to consider using some area rugs to dampen the noise of the little one running.

Make sure they know that the baby running can be heard by the downstairs neighbor and maybe they could control that behavior late evening.

If this doesn’t work, you could check into acoustic panels that attach to the ceiling in the unit below and will reduce the level of sound from above.

Thin walls in multifamily housing can be trying for the tenants. Good luck.

Sincerely
Hank Rossi

Ask Landlord Hank

Ask Landlord Hank Your Question

Ask veteran landlord and property manager Hank Rossi your questions from tenant screening to leases to pets and more! He provides answers each week to landlords.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Visit the Ask Landlord Hank page here for more questions and answers

Do You Know The 5 Questions Landlord Hank Asks Tenants When They Call?

Dear Landlord Hank: My Tenant Wants To Repaint His Unit – What Should I Do?

About the author Landlord Hank:

“I started in real estate as a child watching my father take care of our family rentals- maintenance, tenant relations, etc , in small town Ohio. As I grew, I was occasionally Dad’s assistant. In the mid-90s I decided to get into the rental business on my own, as a sideline. In 2001, I retired from my profession and only managed my own investments, for the next 10 years. Six years ago, my sister, working as a rental agent/property manager in Sarasota, Florida convinced me to try the Florida lifestyle. I gave it a try and never looked back. A few years ago we started our own real estate brokerage. We focus on property management and leasing. I continue to manage my real estate portfolio here in Florida and Atlanta. “ Visit Hank’s website here.

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Ask Landlord Hank: What Should I Do If My Tenants Want A ‘Kiddie’ Pool

Do I Have to Paint and Replace Flooring for a Long-Term Tenant?

Can I Enter My Rental If Tenant Moves Out Early But Lease Is Still In Place?

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