Thread: Our tenant reduced rent w/ receipts for laundry

We have a tenant in a 1 BR condominium in White Plains, NY. Last year the washing machine needed repair at one point. We fixed it within one week. During that week the tenant took his clothing and had it cleaned at an expensive cleaner and then proceeded to put the receipts in his monthly rent check envelope. He deducted the cost of the cleaning from his monthly payment. Is that legal?

We are considering signing again with this person because all else considered, he is a good tenant. It is a one bedroom condominium and he agreed to an increase from $1675 to $1775. There are other 1 BR's renting for $1850 to $2000 in the building, however we are not sure it's worth it to take the chance in finding someone for the summer and we'd have to re-paint etc. etc.

Thanks for the advice.

Brian

Don

I agree... Don't get wrapped up in the small stuff. I think you have more at risk than you have at loss provided they have been a good renter for you.

I would rather look at it this way... Assuming they leave, you will loose possibly 30 days in rent before someone is back in again. Then it will take 6 months at the higher rate to get back in line. In the end, if things go really well, it will take 7 months just to break even with what you have in place.

My opinion here...

I personally have kept my tenents at a lower rate cause I want them to stay as long as possible. Plus one of my tenents cooks with curry so the place smells horrible and I would have to replace all the carpets and defintly paint the walls twice.

I always keep the good tenants as long as possible even if they are under market rent. I rent all of my units out at slightly below market rents in order to select top quality tenants who will pay their rent on time and respect the property. I've had tenants cost me upto $10,000 by the time you figure in any unpaid rent, legal fees, and worst of all damage to the property. The headache of painting for a new tenant, advertising costs etc. are not worth it in my opinion.


The good tenants are worth their weight in gold. I do everything I can to keep the good ones as long as possible. Whats a few hundred bucks a month less in rent?