I am your Landlord, Not your babysitter, mother or local Rent-a-Center!

This isn’t really a rant, it’s just a little vent. Not enough vitriol for the Pit, really.
Here’s the story: several years ago, my hubby and I bought a couple of investment (rental) properties in WV. One is a 10-unit apartment house in a very small West Virginia town, the other is a 6-unit trailer park in an even smaller West Virginia town.

We’ve had a lot of trouble finding/keeping a good manager for the properties, so several months ago, we made the decision to move out here ourselves so I could manage the properties. We moved into the “Owner’s Apartment” in the apartment building (when it was converted from a motel to an apartment building some 25 years ago, Apt. 4 was developed as the “Owner’s Apartment”; it’s the nicest unit in the building: 3BR, 2 baths, central air, dishwasher, carpeting everywhere but the kitchen-and don’t get me started on how stupid it is to have carpeting in the bathrooms, but there ya go, etc; I have no complaints about the apartment itself. It needed some basic maintenance like carpet cleaning, but it’s nice).

My complaints are thus:
Tenants who think I’m their ‘mother’ or ‘scout master’ or something; they come to me to complain about trifling differences with other tenants expect me to get in the middle and moderate. I’m sorry, but you’re supposed to be adults. You know, handle these things on your own. If your kitchen leaks, if your toilet runs, if your door won’t lock properly, I want to know about it, so I can put it on the list for my handyman to take care of. If you come knock on my door because so-and-so was in your face about something, I don’t really want to hear it.

Tenants who think I’m the local Rent-a-Center. Two days ago, one of the tenants from apt. 9 came to me and asked if I had a vacuum cleaner they could borrow; they were shampooing the carpeting, he explained, and they needed a vacuum. I had my reservations, since I have a pretty pricey vacuum cleaner, but I loaned it to him, with an admonition that he’d better be careful with it. He promised he would. Several hours later, I went up to see when I’d be getting my vacuum back. My apartment is on the ground floor, his is on the third floor. When I went to check on my vacuum is when I found out that, a couple of days previous, he had busted the lock off his door (but he hastily promised he was going to replace it), and his door does not lock. He told me he had to wait “15 more minutes” for a particular section of the carpet to dry, vacuum it, then he’d bring my vacuum back to me. A couple of hours later, I was getting ready for bed, and realized he still hadn’t brought my vacuum back, so I went up again, ready to sound ‘stern’ (so much for not being their ‘mother’, huh?) about him not returning my vacuum! So I went up, only to find no one home, door wide open (duh, he busted the lock!) and my $400.00 vacuum cleaner sitting right there where anyone could have taken it! So I took it back, unhappy at having to lug it back down two flights of stairs when I’m sick anyway (unremitting kidney infection). I expected him to show up the next day, apologetic, or at lest curious as to whether I was the one who took the vacuum. Haven’t heard a peep out of him!
There have also been knocks on my door asking to borrow a screwdriver, a wrench, a light bulb, and two AA batteries.
I am not the Rent-a-Center, or the local convenience store, folks. Go get your own stuff!

Meantime, the woman in Apt 5, a single mother of three, does not watch her children. I cannot tell you how many times (and I’ve only lived here less than a month) I’ve seen her not-yet-three-year-old daughter out in front of the apartment building alone. This is not exactly a crime-infested area, nor is it a particularly busy street, even by West Union standards. But two is far too young to be out alone (and I’m not a ‘helicopter’ parent); more than once, her kids (the oldest is 5) have knocked on my door, wanting to know if they can come in (mother nowhere to be seen), wanting to know if I know where Mommy is, etc.
I truly feel badly for the kids. CPS is aware of the situation, and I’m this close to making them more aware. When I see the little one out and about by herself, I’ll escort her back up to her apartment. But I’m not a daycare provider. My husband works out of town, and it’s really all I can manage to care for myself (in my current state of health), the properties, and my 9YO daughter.

We have some good tenants, but sheesh. I’m going to have to draw a hard line with some of these folks! And right now, I don’t even have the energy to start on the drama at the trailer park! It’s a Jerry Springer show waiting to happen. :eek:

I’m not worried about any of them stumbling on this thread. We’re the only family in the building with internet.

How long of leases do these renters have?

The story about the little kids makes me sad. I hope it turns out OK for them.

It is sad about the kids. I hope it turns out OK, too. I suspect (but don’t know) that there are at least two fathers involved (well, ‘involved’ may be the wrong word, but I think you know what I mean.

As for how long the lease is, it’s a one-year lease. However, there are enough addendums in it to make it reasonably easy to evict. If the rent is not paid in full every month and on time, I could, conceivably, evict in less than a month. However, if it’s a good tenant, and they seem to be trying, I’m not quick to evict (although my eventual goal is to take the whole building section-8, HUD compliant). But there’s enough in there that, if I really want a tenant out, I can do it. It may take a couple of months if they pay their rent on time and in full because I have to: send a Notice to Vacate letter, by registered mail; give them 30 days to vacate voluntarily; start eviction proceedings (usually takes 2-3 weeks in this part of the world). OTOH, if someone is behind on their rent (as is the single Mother of Three, though she’s only behind to the tune of $80.00), I can get them out in 3 weeks or fewer.

I have a feeling that now that I’m here to keep things in line (example: Apt 6 used to regularly get drunk and obnoxious/loud/confrontational; I suspect he still gets drunk on a regular basis, but with me on the property, he has more sense than to get obnoxious/loud/confrontational; I have an amusing anecdote about him if you want to hear it. . .)anyway, with me right here, I have a feeling this will become a more desirable place to live. As soon as the apartments are in demand, you can bet I’ll be sending out Notice to Evict letters to everyone who is non-cooperative. I don’t really care if I like someone. I don’t need to be their friend. But if they’re causing tension and drama in the building, they can get the hell out.

Having been through West Virginia, I say you are getting off lucky. That whole state is a hellhole. Why don’t you try investing in property somewhere that isn’t populated by a bunch of Cletus clones?

Well, I’m going to disagree that the whole state is a hellhole. It’s geographically beautiful, and we really do want to settle here (though not in an apartment! We want a largish piece of land, and if we can get free natural gas-not out of the question here-it’s a bonus; around here, we can afford a nice house on 40-50acres for a $3500.00/mo mortgage.

The reason I bring up the cost of the monthly mortgage on the type of property we want is to explain why we bought investment properties here in WV: properly managed, because we got such a great deal on the properties, they should bring in enough profit to pay the mortgage on such a property.

If anyone reading that thinks that it means my OP was “just whining”, well, you’re probably right. I wrote the OP last night, the tenants had been getting on my nerve all evening, I’m scheduled for major surgery tomorrow, and I was feeling stressed. So yes, I was whining. I admit it.

It’s in MPSIMS–people who don’t like reading whining can opt out.

It’s interesting hearing what other people do to try to change their lives.

Can I borrow your vacuum? I promise I’ll give it back, and I have a working lock on my door! :slight_smile:

West Virginia is really pretty, even if a number of the people are not. Mountains, even little itty bitty ones (what can I say, I live in the northern Rockies) are great all around.

sending good surgery vibes

I don’t post often, but I can’t pass this up. West Virginia is no more a hellhole than the freak show that California has become.

Norinew, welcome to West Virginia. I’ve lived here all my life, and will be here forever. Good on you for wanting to be a responsible landlord! West Union is right in the middle of nowhere, :smiley: and just as beautiful as the rest of the state. A great place to live and raise children.

If I were in your shoes I’d discontinue answering my door/phone. Have some way for tenants to report problems; maybe a notepad/pen at your door and instructions to slide the note under your door. I’d also send out a memo explaining your policies.

I’d also do my damnedest to ignore the neglected child.

Sure you can borrow it! It’ll be a good three weeks before I’m allowed to do housework again! (and then, even after I’m allowed, there’s no telling how long it’ll take before I actually do it). Thanks for the good vibes.

So you’re familiar with my funny little town, huh? (It always reminds me of one of those semi-spooky towns from a sci-fi story. . .). But I think you’re right. It’s really not a bad place to live. The only big downside is there’s no real work here, which is why my hubby works out of town. But we’re hoping to turn these couple of little investments into more and more investments until we have enough for him to take early retirement on.

Well, I’ve posted notices on the main door of the apartment building about certain policies, and that seems to have helped a good bit, with certain issues. I’m thinking about doing one posting, listing all the policies.

I’ve thought about putting the pad of paper and pen on my door. I may end up doing that.

Not sure what you mean about doing my “damnedest to ignore the neglected child”.
I don’t want to ignore her, I’d like to help her (and her sister and brother). But CPS is aware of the situation, I don’t really know what else I can do.

Re: neglected child -

Continue to keep an eye on her - if she’s fed and gets bathed occasionally that’s good (kids do get dirty) but if you see a suddenly greater lack of attention to her physical needs let CPS know.

If she’s left unattended in front of the building try to make sure there are no toddler hazards there, like half-full discarded bottles of mysterious fluids and such.* I don’t know how practical it would be, but if you have a tenant in need of a few spare pennies you might enlist said person to keep the trash picked up for a modest amount of money. (I have once or twice made similar arrangements with landlords to do small chores like that around a building. In fact, at present I mow the lawns/pick up trash at three of my landlord’s buildings for a modest sum because I need money right now and he needs lawns mowed.) Obviously, you want a certain level of responsible in such a tenant, but it’s a pretty low bar, you probably have someone who could do this for you. It would also help you considerably if you’re having health problems. You mentioned having a handy man, but I don’t know if he/she has time to do that sort of thing or not.

Is there a sidewalk out front? If so, get some cheap sidewalk chalk. If the kids are alone and the weather allows give them the chalk and tell the to draw pictures on the walk. The stuff washes off, and it gives the kids something to do that’s harmless and keeps them out of trouble. If they decide to draw on walls it still washes off easily (not that you want to encourage that, of course, but they’re kids.) However, you wouldn’t want them marking up a parking lot that is at all busy. Use your judgment on that one. This may not work, I just remember that drawing chalk pictures on the sidewalk could safely occupy me for hours at that age.

You say she’s a single mother of 3 under 6 - is she really that neglectful, or is she overwhelmed? Presumably, she has no help with them at home. I know it’s distressing to see a situation like that, but there’s a limit to what you can do.

  • I don’t know what the trash in your area is like. In MY area it, regrettably, sometimes includes such items as used diapers, alcohol beverage bottles still containing an inch or two of fluids, used machines fluids, smashed lightbulbs, and used condoms. Nothing you’d want a toddler - or anyone else - getting into.

Also Re: Neglected Child

If she’s suddenly MUCH cleaner/better fed (as if the mother was suddenly far more wealthy, but with no real evidence of such wealth), or wearing fancy-ish dresses instead of comfy kid clothes, and seems more scared, also note that. Any sudden difference in the way a child is treated can be a bad thing. It’s not necessarily bad, so I wouldn’t do anything like call the cops without other information, but it’s something to note. It could indicate that the mother, because of the CPS becoming involved, is delving into alternate income practices (drugs, prostitution, etc.) to feed/clothe/care for the kid(s). While it’s commendable that the mother would try anything to take care of the kids, it’s not exactly a safe environment.

If you have carpeting in your apartments and have some desire to have it taken care of, you might want to invest in a used vacuum cleaner for your tenants to borrow. I lived in an apartment (when I had limited income) and it was nice to be able to clean up when I couldn’t afford a vacuum for myself, and the resident manager had a vacuum to borrow.

pudytat72, that’s a great idea. Same thing would work with hand tools, and maybe even cleaning supplies, if a landlord was feeling magnanimous. Seems like it could be win-win, the tenants helping take care of the property and the landlord not having to hire out for the work.

I’m reading Middlemarch and a landowner is being criticized (by fellow landowners) for not taking better care of his tenants and the property they rented from him. “All he cares about is the rents!” I’m surprised at this, if Eliot is accurate about this sentiment, that there was a time when landlords felt an obligation to their lessees. Every landlord I’ve ever had has cared only about the rent.

That said, I’m glad not to be a landlord. :slight_smile:

I’ve had a couple landlords who did care about more than just rent, but it was contingent on the tenants not behaving as destructive savages. I’m the sort of tenant inclined to fix minor problems on my own, be reasonable about things, and otherwise treat the property with respect. Surprise! In return landlords have, about half time, also been revealed to be human and inclined to be more than just money-extraction monsters.

I can’t even imagine asking my landlord for cleaning supplies. :dubious: I didn’t even do that to the RA when I lived in a dorm.

My reasoning:

A child needs a parent. If you are going to adopt the kid, that is one thing. But to intermittently act as a foster parent only allows the "real"parent(s) to blow off their responsibility.

Also, I assume you are not going to be able/willing to watch over the child 24/7. A child this age needs something approaching 24/7 care.

If CPS is aware of the situation, maybe a crisis is needed to allow them to step in.

Just my 2c.