I have several rental properties. One of them is a story and a half built in the early 1900s so 2 small upstairs bedroom and a staircase with multiple turns.
The current tenants have lived there about 7 years and are moving out. When we showed the house we explained that only a twin mattress/box springs or a full mattress (bendable) will fit up the stairs. They discovered if you remove the window sashes and trim in the upstairs window you could fit a full bed box spring through the window. No problem except in the meantime we upgraded the windows, partially at their request and we agreed as they were old replacement windows from the 80s and needed to be updated. Had a window company replace the window, along with a few others (all have since been replaced) and all was fine until now.
The window company used inserts to fit the existing frame and now the window opening is too small to fit the bed box spring back through.
The tenants now want us to pay for a new box spring as they cannot take their old one.
So is it our responsibility for us to buy a new box spring?
I wouldn’t think so. They could pay someone to remove the entire window, they get the box spring out, and then have the window reinstalled if they really want to keep it, I suppose.
I’d think that buying a new box spring was not only easier, and certainly cheaper than the above, but also not a bad idea because new bed parts are never a bad idea.
No, you made it clear that only twin beds or full mattress could be taken up there. It was their decision to ignore your direction. You should charge them for having the box springs removed by taking it out of their deposit. A 7 year old box spring has little to no value, do not waste your time with them on this.
I had the Tenant from Hell and some seven people she brought in, but I digress.
The last and current tenants are great.
I would have made some agreement with them about the box springs before I changed the window, but again, I digress.
I would feel obligated to offer them a depreciated price for the box springs. I presume we are talking about a lot of money. Which would cost less, removing and replacing the window, or buying them box springs?
Another option I would consider is splitting the cost of window removal/replacement with the tenant.
I think it comes down to whether or not you agreed with them taking out the window to get the boxsprings in. If you said yes or the told you ahead of time and you didn’t say no, pay them the FMV of the boxsprings, which is what? $20? If they didn’t tell you or you knew and said no, then the principled thing to do would be to take the boxspring removal out of their deposit.
So in other words, it’s in everyone’s best interest to call it even then you take a sawzall to it to get it down.
I’m not a landlord (for what it’s worth IMO you are not responsible) but I’m a long time mattress retailer. If it’s possible to get a flexible queen size mattress up the stairs (I’m thinking foam or Beautyrest) then know that most of the major mattress manufacturers offer split-queen box springs ( A pair, each 30" X 80") that will definitely get up the stairs.
I’m not a landlord either but I have lived in apartments most of my life which included many with walk-ups and narrow stairs and tight turns.
A split box-spring was the solution to all the problems. I have a queen size bed and in every case the split box spring was sufficient to get in to any place. The mattress could be squished so it got around bends too.
Just my experience…it may be that this will not work some places.
As to the OP, I cannot imagine how you would have to pay for that but best to ask your attorney.
The box spring was moved in though the window without our knowledge. They were good long term renters so I really don’t want to be an ass so I thought about offering them $50.00 depreciated value (new box springs are around $200.00) and call it good. If they argue and want more money I will agree, but the cost of me removing the box spring and disposing of it (landfill fee, trailer rental, etc…) will be close to, if not more than what they wanted me to pay.
The replacement window company was a joke. If I knew they were going to do inserts I would have never hired them. Not bait and switch, but close.
I’m not a landlord myself but my family has been landlords for a few generations now. The tenant’s obligation is to remove their property and leave the apartment in the condition they found it. The hardass position is to tell them to remove the box spring or you will charge them out of their security deposit for the cost of doing so. If you don’t want to be a hardass (and it seems you don’t), offering a few bucks to get them to quit bitching seems reasonable but I’m afraid if you offer to pay them, they will feel you are not compensating them enough, and they still won’t feel happy. Worse yet, they will feel like they are entitled to the full value of the box spring that they have in their head. You run the risk of making the situation worse rather than better.
I would calmly tell them that they are responsible for removing the box spring but because the windows have made that more difficult, you will agree to remove it your expense without charging their security deposit if they otherwise leave the apartment in good condition. If they leave the apartment in good condition, you can add the $50 to the refunded security deposit as a token of goodwill once they are out. They will be pleased to have gotten more than they bargained for rather than less than what they thought they deserved.
This is probably the path of least resistance. Fifty bucks seems more than reasonable for a 7 year old box spring. Finding out they removed the window to get it in would have pissed me off in the first place.
What are inserts in this case? Was it because of the age of the house windows don’t come in that size anymore, so they used smaller windows and just filled the extra space with trim?
Reached an agreement after I pointed out a 7 year old or older box spring isn’t worth that much and how they got it into the room in the first place. Also according to the move out agreement the house needs to be broom clean and free of garbage and other personal items or they will be charged for clean up. I will dispose of it for them if they don’t expect any payment for the mattress. One of my friends owns a business with a small dumpster out back and I can put a few pieces in each week.
As far as the window insert, most windows are made to fit the rough opening, Basically from wall stud to wall stud and window sill to window header of the house framing. My understanding with inserts is they pull the window sashes and guides out of the old window and insert a new window and frame inside the old window frame. Quick and easy for the window company as they don’t need to mess with the trim around the window.
Now might be a good time, while the unit is empty, to replace that window with a bigger one – something like a nearly full-height french door*. That investment will make it much easier for future tenants to move in, with less chance of damaging anything. You could also install a very solid eye-bolt above that, to have something safe to attach a pulley & rope to.
Be sure to install the door latch higher than a toddler can reach, or better yet, install a deadbolt very high up on the inside of the door.
??? I just replaced the window a few years ago, why would I want to replace it again?
Install an eye bolt and ruin the siding just so some tenant can rig a pulley to lift something up? And the liability if the tenant falls hooking the pulley up or it fails while lifting something?
It is a 1 1/2 story 2 bedroom house that is over 100 years and was never designed to have large beds upstairs. Easier to tell future tenants (like we already do) that nothing bigger than a full sized mattress can fit upstairs.