Tenant Behaviors That Shocked My Decision as a Landlord

As a landlord, facing challenging situations with tenants is an inevitable part of the job. One particularly frustrating episode occurred nearly a decade ago. Let me take you through the saga I experienced and the lessons I learned from it.

Timing and Property Sale

Back then, I was about six months into a twelve-month lease. Unfortunately, the real estate agency that managed the property informed me that the apartment I was renting would be sold. The owner wanted to maximize the number of open houses during the process. This meant frequent interruptions, every single Saturday for about six weeks.

Compromises and Pushback

Without hesitation, I agreed to leave the apartment for short periods of time to accommodate showings. Sometimes, I even arranged for showings during the week, ensuring only a 24-hour notice was required. However, the lights in the apartment would invariably be left on by the end of each open house session, leaving me with a significant rise in utility bills and a considerable amount of inconvenience.

I approached the agency, voicing my concerns and requesting a small compensation—about 10 pounds a week less in rent for the extra inconvenience and increased electricity usage. The agent agreed to this proposal, but the owner did not.

So, I struck a compromise: the agency could schedule showings every other weekend, provided the power was cut off before the agent arrived. Yes, I took the fuse out, a rather petty yet satisfying solution. The goal was to retain some control over a situation I had little influence over.

Consequences and Outcome

About a month after the sale, the new owner wanted me out. She offered a generous 'lease release' but with absolutely no financial compensation. When I proposed a package involving returning my bond, first month's rent, finding a new place, and having my removal costs covered, her response was a shock: a mere 100 pounds.

Needless to say, both the real estate agent and I were in stitches. To emphasize my dissatisfaction, I promptly stayed until my lease expired, ensuring I had no association with the property post-sale. In a final act of defiance, the new owner changed her mailing address, diverting all correspondence to my apartment. I honored this by only returning mail to the sender, addressed to the original address.

Despite this, the real estate agent supported me and even referred me to a future property opportunity.

Lessons Learned

This experience taught me that while being flexible with tenants is necessary, setting boundaries and asserting control when it comes to home conditions is crucial. It highlights the importance of having a detailed lease agreement and being proactive in addressing any disputes that may arise. My insistence on fair compensation and the subsequent resolve to stick to the lease until it expired demonstrated my commitment to my rights as a tenant.