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Tenant issue

A

amynguyen

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Mar 11, 2009
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Hello Everyone,

I am the new member and I have some issues with my tenant who lived down stair of my resident. I need some suggestions please.
My tenant was complaning it was too cold down stairs when I gave him the rent increase notice back in October 2008. So I changed to the breand new furnace right away and set the temperature as 23 up stairs. I check with him regularly if the heat is warm enough. I did not change any of the temperature setting since the Fall and I notice he keeps on leaving the front door open during the day time. Today I came home after work and found out he left the door open without anyone home and I also found out he uses the oven as the heater. I live in BC and I would like to know is it ok to give he the warning letter regarding the leaving front door open issue and use the oven as the heater ? or any other suggestons ?
Thanks alot

Amy
 
Absolutely. Not only it is wrong, but it is also a fire hazard. Tlk to him and buy him a space heater if it is still cold. He should not be leaving the door open. Keep track of warnings and document everything.
 
This individual could be trouble so make sure you know the landlord/tenant regulations before you do anything.
I would tell him if he continued to leave the door or windows open and use the oven for heating he would be charged additional money or evicted.
Do not send him a letter unless the B.C. regulations allow eviction for his behaviour. Do it in person.
Keep in mind tenants that do this type of thing have very little regard for landlords (or they would not do it) or they have some type of cranial problem.
Always be prepared for the worst when dealing with problems like this, the situation has a potential to escalate.
 
Oh my god, he said "it`s cold" and you purchased a new $5000 furnace? hope I am not reading this right. buy him a $50 Honeywell electric heater, it works well.
his behavior is a result of you being too nice and his negative character. it`s a fire hazard as mentioned. ASAP inform him of the issue etc. as mentioned in the great advice you got above. Good luck.
 
In regards to space heaters and fire hazards, if you are going to purchase one, ensure that it has a shut-off function in the event of tip over and/or overheating.
 
My thoughts:
A) as others mention document and inform
B) Is there or has there been an actual heating issue in the lower unit ? Often there can be big variances in duct based heating system by floor - if there`s any likelihood that your not providing adequate heat in that unit due to venting, and can`t easily modify the ducts, spend a few hundred dollars and get an electrician in to put in permanent ebb`s as needed.
 
One other thing to do is to buy those cheap home depot duct cover. They`re not perfect, but if you block off a couple of your vents upstairs it will get more heat into the basement. Many places have 10 ducts upstairs and 3 in the basement. It a cheap solution.

If you do go the space heater way, make sure he understands how much money they cost. I assume he splits utilities, so they should make him realize its costing him too.
 
Most are missing the point. This is not a heating problem it is a Tenant problem.
Who turns up the heat and then leaves a door open.

Deal with the tenant first, heat second..
 
Hello Everyone,



Thank you very much for all the valuable information and suggestion.

Just like Greg`s reply, this tenant of mine is a trouble maker. I went to BC residential tenancy office and I found out there are few ways to deal with this trouble tenant.

The officer suggested gathering all the evidences of abusing the rental unit and documenting all the late payment and events happen in the rental unit. Then use the one month notice form (rtb-33) to end tenancy.


FYI: Since my tenant is a trouble maker, I really don`t want to have any conflicts with him so I was originally thinking to take back the rental units for personal use as the reason. However, the officer suggested not to use this way. If I take the unit back as personal use, I have to give him two full month notice and also pay the tenant one month rent back as compensate. On top of it, I cannot rent the unit out for 6 months. So in my case it is better that I spend some time to gather evidences and time come evict the tenant.



Thank you



Amy
 
Amy:

It is normal to want to avoid "conflict" under these circumstances the tenant is counting on it..
Each time you interact with him he will attempt to bully you and you will be inclined to compromise to avoid conflict.
Never compromise, this is your property and he will leave. Do not listen to his lies and excuses. If he agrees to leave if you let him stay X more month say no. He will never leave if you agree to his terms.
Do not mutually agree to him voluntarily leaving or paying him to leave. Always follow through with an eviction or official paperwork through the LTB.
Someone must be prepared to face him down every time regardless of the consequences or this will never go away.

Hire a specialist in tenant evictions, pay the money and be done with it if you do not feel up to the task..
 
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