I rent a room in my office out to a guy for his own business. He’s going on a vacation to Atlantic City for a week this month. He says he’s low on money and since he’s not going to be in the office that week, I should only charge him 3 weeks rent. What do the teeming millions think I should do?
I think you should give up being a slum lord and seek other ways to make ends meet.
If you want to be a nice guy, let him off the hook. But if his stuff is in the office and it will thus be unavailable for your own use should you wish, you have the right to charge him the rent. It’s a point of law ™.
Huh? WTF? That makes no sense at all. If he is renting the room, it doesn’t matter whether he is in the room 24/7 or if he is in Bora Bora. I think he is trying to manipulate you or make you feel guilty or something.
Of course you should charge him for the whole month.
(And if he doesn’t have enough money to pay his rent, what is he doing going to Atlantic City for a week?)
He’s broke but he’s going to Atlantic City for an entire week and you’re supposed to let him off the rent - uh-huh.
Tell him to bet the week’s rent - if he wins, he pays you double the rent back. If he loses, he moves out and you find a better tenant.
I went on vacation last month. I should go ask my Landlady for a weeks refund since I wasn’t home.
Don’t let him get away with it. Whether he is there or not, he’s still utilizing your space.
This sounds very much like a situation involving an acquaintance who hires out professional public address and amplification equipment for bands. He’s recently been burnt by a loser who refused to pay for a night’s hire of an amplifier and speakers, on the basis that they were not used on the night. Guess what customer will never get his business again?
What is wrong with the world? How can these losers believe that they are exempt from paying rent, despite the fact that the owner has provided the services in good faith? It beggars belief that people think they can get something for nothing. You always pay somewhere along the way, even when you ask for favours.
Tell your renter that since he won’t be paying rent for the week he’s gone, said renter needs to move everything out for the week he’s gone, so you can rent the office out to someone else in his absence.
If he does not move everything out, you either get to KEEP anything he leaves behind, or you charge him for rent for the space his stuff is taking up.
That’s as bad as when I was babysitting as a teen, and the mom told me “Well, the kids went to bed at 9, so here’s your money for working 4 to 9.”
My reply: “Well, then. If I’m not getting paid for it, then next time I leave at 9, wheather you’re home or not.” and then I didn’t sit for her anymore.
Just because someone won’t be there doesn’t mean that the space isn’t being used. Of course he should pay rent on that week, he just wants more money to blow on vacation.
K.
As George Carlin has pointed out, you don’t
have a house for yourself, but because you
need a place to put your stuff. His stuff
is going to be there.
Maybe you can suggest he sub-let the place
for a week.
Major Feelgud
I just noticed you live in California. I’d like to rent a room from you. I’ll be sure to pay you whenever I use it, OK? Just be sure to keep it available for me.
You are a gem! Thanks so much.
I knew a guy [about 20] who did that once. We laughed at him so hard, it was so funny. He got two jobs see, so he said since he wasn’t there very often he should have to pay less.
You should get a contract from one of the books fro Nolo Press.
handy’s post made me think.
I just realized I work eight hours a day with a half hour commute each way. That’s nine hours per day that I’m not using my apartment at all; 45 hours per week. That works out to 97.5 days per year!
I have to talk to my landlord about this. I’m getting ripped off!