Tenant Erected Structure

[ottawarentals]

Hi all, new to the forums and fairly new to real estate.

One of my buildings has a small back yard and yesterday when I arrived to inspect a bee-hive nest growing I noticed that one of the tenants in the building has built a storage unit. This was erected with no approval on my part. It looks like something I would build (i.e., i am not a handy man at all). Its fairly large, with a sloped roof and not the most pleasing to the eye.

Anyone deal with this before and can provide some guidance on how to best approach this tenant. Should I just let him leave it up with the condition that he must remove it when he terminates his lease?

Thanks,
Stephen

 

[invst4profit]

No. Your immediate response should be to tell him to stop and have him remove the structure at once.There are many reasons for this approach. If something is going to be built it must be approved by the municipality first, It should be of high quality construction so as to compliment your property, no agreement you make with your tenant will ever see the building removed and most importantly of all your tenant needs to be strongly educated on the fact that they do nothing to your property without prior approval from you.
If you allow this shed to remain by the time your tenant moves out you will not be able to recognise the inside of your property due to all the cheap makeshift renovations they have performed. It will cost you a fortune to return the property to rentable condition.

Tell your tenant in no uncertain terms, verbally and in writing, that the shed is to be removed and that in the future he is not to change anything on the property without your written approval.

You have what I consider a bad tenant. It is not his property and he clearly has no respect for you as a LL. I suggest you do a complete inspection of the property to find out what else he has done without permission.
Nip this situation in the bud quickly.

 

[Savard]

I agree. Have it removed right away. What happens if your tenant stops paying rent? Than you will have to foot the cost of removal.

 

[BrianPersaud]

QUOTE (ottawarentals @ Sep 2 2009, 10:03 AM) Hi all, new to the forums and fairly new to real estate.

One of my buildings has a small back yard and yesterday when I arrived to inspect a bee-hive nest growing I noticed that one of the tenants in the building has built a storage unit. This was erected with no approval on my part. It looks like something I would build (i.e., i am not a handy man at all). Its fairly large, with a sloped roof and not the most pleasing to the eye.

Anyone deal with this before and can provide some guidance on how to best approach this tenant. Should I just let him leave it up with the condition that he must remove it when he terminates his lease?

Thanks,
Stephen


This is an opportunity. Explain what you expect. Say your partners and the city will not allow for this and it must be removed. I really appreciate that you are taking care of the place as if it was your own..however you are bound by the rules of the lease. Offer solutions and re-explain your expectations

 

[tonypeters]

Did you provide your Tenant with a copy of your "Rules and Regulations" (handout) when you entered into the Lease contract with your Tenant? If so, your handout should include a policy that specifically covers this issue. If you do not have a policy established, you need to make sure that you include one. I always, always have my Tenant sign the back of my Rules and Regulations handout acknowleging that they have received a copy. That way there are no disputes down the road. Hope this helps?

QUOTE (ottawarentals @ Sep 2 2009, 08:03 AM) Hi all, new to the forums and fairly new to real estate.

One of my buildings has a small back yard and yesterday when I arrived to inspect a bee-hive nest growing I noticed that one of the tenants in the building has built a storage unit. This was erected with no approval on my part. It looks like something I would build (i.e., i am not a handy man at all). Its fairly large, with a sloped roof and not the most pleasing to the eye.

Anyone deal with this before and can provide some guidance on how to best approach this tenant. Should I just let him leave it up with the condition that he must remove it when he terminates his lease?

Thanks,
Stephen

 

[ottawarentals]

QUOTE (tonypeters @ Sep 2 2009, 11:01 AM) Did you provide your Tenant with a copy of your "Rules and Regulations" (handout) when you entered into the Lease contract with your Tenant? If so, your handout should include a policy that specifically covers this issue. If you do not have a policy established, you need to make sure that you include one. I always, always have my Tenant sign the back of my Rules and Regulations handout acknowleging that they have received a copy. That way there are no disputes down the road. Hope this helps?

I am one month into owning this building and assumed the existing leases. I will be putting something to the effect that I do not allow structures to be built inside or outside into all my future leases.

Now, I am trying to determine who the culprit is so I can talk to them about this issue. Hopefully I will find out which tenant is to blame and nip this in the bud.

Thanks for everyones help.