Topic: NO MAINTENANCE!

My owner/client,is not making repairs. I am in a contractor situation where they are my client and I am their agent.It's a small property and their only property in my state.

I've got about 4 floors sinking, dishwashers not working, oven not working and a lot of miscellaneous annoying stuff. I have 2 tenants already given notice due to lack of maintenance. Some of my work orders are 6 months old.

I've been with this owner for 2 years and on the property 6.5 years. I hate to leave, but it is affecting my professional reputation. I've sent written requests asking that these repairs be made without results.

Our county permits tenants to make repairs and deduct from rent and I need to call the Magistrate to get more details.

Can anyone who has been through this give me some advice? I'm stuck!!

Thanks!

Sandy,

I was in a very similar situation with my last employer.... residents went all summer without working air conditioning, furnaces catching fire over the winter, broken sewer lines, flooding, code violations, you name it.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself and your residents is to walk away. Be sure to put your reasons for leaving, clearly and concisely, in writing to the property owner. What you decide to communicate to your residents is a much harder decision. Whether you decide to communicate anything to local code enforcement types is even harder.

Where I am, tenants cannot deduct repairs from rent, but they were able to find out that they could pay their rent into escrow with the court and leave (getting their money back from the court) if repairs were not made within 30 days.

I'm happy to share the choices I made with you, but am hesitant to do so in an open forum. I'll send you a private message, and you can reach back out if you'd like to discuss.

You should be advising the owner of the residents' intention to deduct from rent and ask how they want you to proceed. Unless legally required to provide a form, directions or whatever, by all means do not instruct tenants as how to do this as this would be giving them legal advice which could backfire on the owner. Sometimes you just have to stand back and let it happen so they can learn from it. And sometimes yes you do you have to walk away. Does this owner have the same reputation in other states? If yes, well, there's your sign... also, dont worry so much about it affecting your reputation, its not the tenants who do the hiring and properties are aware of habits of other ownerz, ie they bought building and place went downhill, you xan easily explain that to potential clients or employers.