My tenant says that I'm "unrealistic".

[NYlakesider]

Bookmarked for the next time somebody asks me "Why don't you get into real estate and rent out a house".

Now retired, but a couple times I was asked to be in a partnership and buy rental property. It went from a one house to a small apartment building (8). No way .My time (to me) is valuable and I just did not want to be bothered with midnight calls and rush fixes.

My father owned a double flat rental house and I started doing maintenance and improvement when I was about 13-14. We lived next door to the rental so it was easy to keep track of what was going on and go there when a emergency hit!


So I never did the rental owner thing myself, found out my overtime and playing with stocks was easier and better.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I think that any conditions pertaining to a rental or lease should have been specified beforehand.

Without a lease or rental agreement in writing there is little the property owner can do.

Personally, my response at the next renewal would be something like "I will continue to be unreasonable while you get used to being homeless", or perhaps a 100% increase in rent with a stiff damage deposit.

Anyone planning to become a landlord of a rental property should first consult an attorney versed in contract law. They can help you draw up a lease/rental agreement that is fair, but supports the landlord 100%.You can put almost anything you want as a condition of rental, and more importantly, conditions for immediate eviction.

A pet policy is one of the most important, related to pets/no pets/how many pets/what type of pets (birds dogs, cats, etc.) and specific breeds allowed or disallowed; then you can set a pet fee, either a one-time, or a recurring one, which can be tied into the security and damage deposit.

Not doing this makes it very difficult for a landlord to get rid of a nuisance animal, or to say "you can't have a pet" after the fact.

I have a rental house, which is next door to me so I get to keep close tabs on what goes on. In the 15 years I've rented it, three of the tenants wanted a dog, and wanted me to waive the fee clause in the lease agreement, which I refused to do. It's a $250 initial fee, and $75/year; this is a separate fee from the damage deposit, so I can make distinctions when the tenants move, or I have to make repairs, that the damage was pet-related. This fee is collected with the rent, but the receipt separates the dollar amounts for records purposes. Pet fees are non-refundable, where the security deposit can be fully or partly refunded. These conditions and stipulations have helped me keep the property in relatively good condition, and I have legal basis for any action I may need to take.

My attorney, when she helped us draw up the agreement, told me it was good enough that if I had to evict the tenants, it would make them responsible for any court costs related to the eviction.

 

[misswired]

It's a difficult situation. Her older sister lives in the other apartment. It's a duplex.

Well relax then! If the pit should get out of line with the older sister's pets, children or guests.....It's all on little sissy!! right??

 

[CH4]

Unrealistic? Your tenant was being kind.
Yep, if your lease agreement doesn't expressly contemplate this situation, you're out of luck. Genie is out of the bottle. A lack of diligence on your part doesn't constitute a crisis for your tenant.

 

[Beemerguy53]

As a lifelong dog owner/lover and former AKC breeder of Boxers, I can't stand a pitbull. Never had a pit show any aggressive behavior but, I don't like what I see looking them eye to eye.

There, somebody had to say it

On the Saturday of Labor Day weekend in 1997, I was attacked and bitten by a pit-bull mix while I was at work. We were doing smoke detector inspections in a poor neighborhood, and I was standing in front of a house, when one of my men called out "LOOK OUT!"

The dog approached from my left, stopped about six feet in front of me, bared his teeth and growled. I backed away slowly...and he ran around to my right and bit me hard on the side of my right thigh, midway between my knee and my butt. The bite tore my uniform trousers and punctured my skin.

Amazingly, a teenage girl came out of the house next door, grabbed the dog by the collar, and put him in the fenced back yard of the house I'd been standing in front of. Turns out that was his home, and his owner was in the habit of letting the dog roam the neighborhood while he was at work.

I was taken to the hospital, where they cleaned the wound, injected it with antibiotics, and gave me two shots of gamma globulin in my butt. The next day, the police called me with the cheery news that the dog had never been vaccinated...which meant I had to get rabies shots.

I love dogs...but I can't stand pit bulls. And I have no tolerance for that nonsensical "blame the deed, not the breed" argument. Just as sheepdogs are bred to be herders, and greyhounds are bred to run, pit bulls are bred to be aggressive. Frankly, I cannot understand why anyone would want one as a household pet.

Okay, fire away...

America's Most Dangerous Dog Breeds [Infographic]

 

[sureshotbob]

I have a 3 family and most insurance company's will not cover a house with pit bull's . I know the breed can get a bum rap as my son has 2 and they are the sweetest dog's around but can look intimidating.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Anyone planning to become a landlord of a rental property should first consult an attorney versed in contract law. They can help you draw up a lease/rental agreement that is fair, but supports the landlord 100%.You can put almost anything you want as a condition of rental, and more importantly, conditions for immediate eviction.

A pet policy is one of the most important, related to pets/no pets/how many pets/what type of pets (birds dogs, cats, etc.) and specific breeds allowed or disallowed; then you can set a pet fee, either a one-time, or a recurring one, which can be tied into the security and damage deposit.

Not doing this makes it very difficult for a landlord to get rid of a nuisance animal, or to say "you can't have a pet" after the fact.

Exactly. Any rental or lease agreement should have a pet policy clearly spelled out, for the protection of both parties.

Here's another thought as well: Before you bring a dog into your home, or permit a dog on your rental property, you should contact your insurance carrier to make sure your homeowners policy will cover that dog. My insurance company specifically prohibits me from owning certain breeds, such as pitbulls.

The Prohibited Lists: Home Insurance Dog Breed Restrictions

 

[Beemerguy53]

The only dog that makes me think "this could go either way" when I look in its face is the Doberman.

Back in the '70s, when Dobermans were the fashionable dog for inner-city tough guys to own, we would encounter them fairly often when we went into homes on calls.

Oftentimes, the Doberman would be barking and growling, and the owner, holding the dog back, would say "Don't worry, he won't bite."...to which I would reply: "He won't bite YOU...you feed him! He doesn't know me!"

 

[Muss Muggins]

I think you're being unrealistic. . .

 

[LCC]

Have had several rentals, couple long term. Was down to one, a semi-custom home in an HOA that was our former home, got calls from the neighbors about barking dogs at my rental. Had assigned the rental to a property management group with a no dog clause. Drove the 60 miles from the coast where we were now living to check it out, knocked on the door, and immediately triggered the hounds from hell who started throwing themselves against the door and windows, each dog easily over a 100#.
Immediately drove to the PM office, demanded to see the VP, showed him the cell phone pics I had taken of the hounds snarling against the front room glass, demanded he pull my agreement with the company and look at the no dogs clause agreement.
Took two months for the PM group to evict the tenants, required sheriff's to do so, over 20K in damage had been done to the house by the tenants and dogs.
Told the PM company they had a choice, repair everything to my satisfaction and pay me for the lost months from beginning of eviction to my sign off on all repairs, or go to court where I would sue the business for breach of contract in addition to rents and damages..
They chose option A, and as soon as the house repairs were completed and I was paid all rents, promtly sold the house and vowed to never own a rental again.
Regarding being a landlord if self-managing.
Always run a tenant check that includes credit, civil, and law enforcement. If managing the property yourself, consider a month to month with a firm 30 day notice clause, so if a bad tenant snuck through, you can boot them without fighting a lease.
Require proof of renters insurance including liability prior to occupancy.
Require landlord option to inspect premises on a quarterly basis with 24 hour notification.
If willing to rentto dogs, put in a specific clause such as weight, breed, clause to include landlords personal approval of animal prior to allowance.
Tenants have rights. So do landlord owners who worked their tail off to have that property to rent.

 

[hoosierone]

One thing you can do is not renew the lease when it comes up. I'd almost bet money your insurance company would cancel you if they knew about the dog.

My investments are all managed from this desk.

 

[G-Mac]

One thing you can do is not renew the lease when it comes up. I'd almost bet money your insurance company would cancel you if they knew about the dog.

My investments are all managed from this desk.

She doesn't have a lease. I never renewed it after the first year. It's month to month.

 

[glenwolde]

Any large dog can be dangerous.

As a child I was attacked by a Weimaraner. I might have been seriously injured if it weren't for the timely intervention of a determined adult. As it was, I was chewed up pretty good and needed lots of stitches. I'm still scared of that breed, and they seem to know it. I think they are watching me.

 

[75Vette]

As a lifelong dog owner/lover and former AKC breeder of Boxers, I can't stand a pitbull. Never had a pit show any aggressive behavior but, I don't like what I see looking them eye to eye.

There, somebody had to say it

Aren't you the same guy that drop kicked your dog because you thought you stepped in his piss...only to realize it was spilled water?? Wonder what he sees in your eyes?? I owned pit bulls for over 30 years and all I saw was love staring back at me. It's most certainly how you raise and socialize the dogs that make the difference.

 

[delcrossv]

Exactly. Any rental or lease agreement should have a pet policy clearly spelled out, for the protection of both parties.

Here's another thought as well: Before you bring a dog into your home, or permit a dog on your rental property, you should contact your insurance carrier to make sure your homeowners policy will cover that dog. My insurance company specifically prohibits me from owning certain breeds, such as pitbulls.

The Prohibited Lists: Home Insurance Dog Breed Restrictions

Mastiffs?!?

 

[Babysitr]

Made good money, counted my blessings then sold out...did not look back! good luck!

 

[tops]

Me too! I feel the same way about German Shepherds, Dobermans and Rottweilers. I don't go to places that have them. I assume that they are true too their breeding. Larry

 

[Ruger 13]

Good for her...........I'm glad she stood her ground.

 

[Rpg]

Depending on the jurisdiction, evicting someone may not be possible during the coronavirus upswing. Aside from the possibility of a freeze on evictions, the courts are quite slow: some won't even set small cases (this is a small case) for trial.

If I represented your Tenant, I'd ask for a jury trial. I suspect that I could keep the tenant in your property for months, if not indefinitely. I'd need just one member of the jury to like the puppy and not be frightened of the breed to scotch your eviction efforts.

 

[G-Mac]

I bought this house in 1989. It's paid for. Been renting it out for 30+ years. I think I'm going to cash in my chips.