Up until now I've had happy tenants and done my best to keep it that way.
POSITIVES:
- Left a Welcome present/card and Xmas gift.
- Reimbursed cost of initial phone connection (no obligation to).
- Allowed and provided picture hooks for walls.
- Installed security screen on front door at tenant’s request.
- Installed lockable latches on other sliding screen doors at tenant’s request.
- Approved installation of pay TV and extension of phone-line (tenant offered to pay for this).
- Sprayed for spiders and ants at tenants request (no obligation to).
- Tenant requested air con and enquired about the increased rent for this. Quotes proved fairly expensive to install so said I could do it for $15 p/w HOWEVER to compensate offered long term lease (which they wanted) and no further rental increases for 2 years. Alternatively, I offered to install good quality remote control ceiling fans in every room at no extra cost to the tenant. (Air con difficult to fund at the moment with poor cash flow and wife no longer working with baby).
NEGATIVES:
- House needed some minor non-urgent repairs after defect period which have been gradually completed over 5 months. Slow progress due to availability of builder and suppliers/trades and problems accessing the premises. Mostly out of my control.
Here are some extracts from a letter I received this week from the tenants:
“The lack of motivation from the builder with repairs is a little disappointing to be honest.
In all honesty, paying what we pay without Air-conditioning (no offence intended, but the deal would have robbed the tenancy blind) - WITH a dark coloured roof (there is no way we CAN survive another summer in that house) and repairs almost taking the entire period of the lease to even have a motivated look by the builder…it's just drama that we don't need to be honest. All of which contributes towards our decision whether to stay on or not when the lease is up. Like I said, it’s no offence to you, you have generally been pretty good. But as tenants, you are still a "Paying customer" and need to get your money's worth. If you aren't getting satisfaction somewhere, you find somewhere that gives it. ESPECIALLY when it comes to where you live.”
I found it hard to not take offensive at this because I honestly believe I have been very reasonable throughout the tenancy and gone out of my way to accommodate requests and keep the tenant happy. The comment about getting your money’s worth, well they are paying fair market rent which was confirmed with two separate rental appraisals. The house has loads of extras the only thing absent is air-con but it was never an inclusion. Surprisingly there was absolutely no response to my offer for ceiling fans. As for the roof well it’s always been that colour!
My reply to them was fairly pleasant and I plan to go ahead with the installation of ceiling fans anyway. I’d appreciate some thoughts on what other forumites would do in my situation to smooth things over. The tenants have been good with rent paid on time and the house well looked after.
POSITIVES:
- Left a Welcome present/card and Xmas gift.
- Reimbursed cost of initial phone connection (no obligation to).
- Allowed and provided picture hooks for walls.
- Installed security screen on front door at tenant’s request.
- Installed lockable latches on other sliding screen doors at tenant’s request.
- Approved installation of pay TV and extension of phone-line (tenant offered to pay for this).
- Sprayed for spiders and ants at tenants request (no obligation to).
- Tenant requested air con and enquired about the increased rent for this. Quotes proved fairly expensive to install so said I could do it for $15 p/w HOWEVER to compensate offered long term lease (which they wanted) and no further rental increases for 2 years. Alternatively, I offered to install good quality remote control ceiling fans in every room at no extra cost to the tenant. (Air con difficult to fund at the moment with poor cash flow and wife no longer working with baby).
NEGATIVES:
- House needed some minor non-urgent repairs after defect period which have been gradually completed over 5 months. Slow progress due to availability of builder and suppliers/trades and problems accessing the premises. Mostly out of my control.
Here are some extracts from a letter I received this week from the tenants:
“The lack of motivation from the builder with repairs is a little disappointing to be honest.
In all honesty, paying what we pay without Air-conditioning (no offence intended, but the deal would have robbed the tenancy blind) - WITH a dark coloured roof (there is no way we CAN survive another summer in that house) and repairs almost taking the entire period of the lease to even have a motivated look by the builder…it's just drama that we don't need to be honest. All of which contributes towards our decision whether to stay on or not when the lease is up. Like I said, it’s no offence to you, you have generally been pretty good. But as tenants, you are still a "Paying customer" and need to get your money's worth. If you aren't getting satisfaction somewhere, you find somewhere that gives it. ESPECIALLY when it comes to where you live.”
I found it hard to not take offensive at this because I honestly believe I have been very reasonable throughout the tenancy and gone out of my way to accommodate requests and keep the tenant happy. The comment about getting your money’s worth, well they are paying fair market rent which was confirmed with two separate rental appraisals. The house has loads of extras the only thing absent is air-con but it was never an inclusion. Surprisingly there was absolutely no response to my offer for ceiling fans. As for the roof well it’s always been that colour!
My reply to them was fairly pleasant and I plan to go ahead with the installation of ceiling fans anyway. I’d appreciate some thoughts on what other forumites would do in my situation to smooth things over. The tenants have been good with rent paid on time and the house well looked after.
