tenants

For some strange reason, problems with tenants always comes in groups.  Tonight, we’ve signed a new lease (at the 11th hour) with one tenant, and served a Notice of Breach of Agreement on the other.

We have two investment properties, and two tenants, one per unit.  Generally they’re pretty good.  That said, the things they do never fail to amaze me.  When we signed the new lease with one tonight, I saw SO clench his teeth, and followed his gaze.  He was looking at the flyscreen on the front screen door.  We had replaced it just prior to the current tenant moving in.  However, so she could hang a sheet from it, she had ripped two holes in the top, one on each side, and threaded the ends of the sheet through.  I said quietly to SO, ‘Just calm down… stay calm…’ and fortunately he did.

If the unit were hot, I would understand.  However, we put in icy cold aircon as soon as the weather warmed up, so it’s definitely not that.  I can’t think of any other reason why she would have done that.  It’s not like it’s a big deal, by any means.  We’ll just replace it when she goes.  But why?!

We’re pretty reasonable landlords.  We don’t charge exorbitant rent, and we always fix problems as soon as possible.  We leave our tenants to live their own lives, and don’t intrude on the properties.  We’re making a conscious effort to treat our tenants the way we wish to be treated.  There are so many horror stories around of landlords who let unlivable units, charge unbelievable rent, and just drop in whenever as it’s ‘their property’, that we have been careful to avoid the stereotype.

And it’s interesting.  It really is.  I enjoy it, dealing with different people, doing a grotty place up so it looks nice, and having a good relationship with tenants.  Every so often it does strike me how bizarre it is that we’re in this position, though.  Perth is one of the most expensive places in the world to own property, and we have three.  Uh, correction: the bank has three.  We own about the equivalent of a doghouse.