Unreliable landlord! whats the measured response

[ismail i]

OK so I'm looking to the wise members of the board for some balanced advice.

Heres the situation.
My recent change in marital status means that I had to find a new place to live. Decided to rent for a bit while things sort themselves out. The opportunity to rent a townhouse in a very convenient location came up so I grabed it.
Signed a deal on Nov 12th basically month to month, the landlord was intending to put a finished room in the basement and I asked him to carpet one bedroom. New it might take a bit of time so I said ill move on the weekend of the 5th rather than the first.

Get a call last sunday that the room isnt carpeted and they will have to build the basement room while im in there and hope to be done by the 19th! He was down ordering the supplies to start the project on Sunday afternoon!

OK this wasnt the deal but im kinda committed to the move and I did give this guy 2.5 months of rent cash(receited) cause I suspected he wanted the money to pay for the work being done.

Its not a question of just delaying the move, I should really be out of the place im in. Im imposing on family who were planning to use my current place. Also I have stuff in storage that will have another bill due if its not out by the 8th.

I could move in but then I have to put up with construction mess and living from boxes for a couple weeks, and whats to say he will even finish for the 19th.I seem to loose most of my trades on my reno projects around christmas.

OH and sure I could move but do I set up my daughters furniture and then have to move it all again so they can carpet. Not a very satisfactory situation.

And yes Ive looked theres nothing else available in the neighbourhood on short notice.

I dont want to overreact but im not sure what a fair response to the situation is.

Advice?

 

[mother_amethyst]

Renovation. projects this time of year can be a nightmare. Firstly do you have a wriiten lease stating the renos that were suppose to be done. If its not in writing you may not have a leg to stand on.

 

[Robert Cordiak]

Ask for a break in the rent to mitigate your storage costs and inconvenience. The bottom line is that the landlord hasn't delivered what was bargained for.

 

[Eamon S]

Yep I'd tell him he needs to give you compensation on the rent. And to prioritize the bedroom carpeting. That's something that can be done fairly quickly I would think especially if he knows it's for your daughter.
Personally I hate imposing on others so I'd move even if I had to put up with someone working on the house. It would probably help your frame of mind too given your life changes. But what do I know :arf: Being a quiet single female, landlords tend to work their asses off to keep me happy as their tenant.

 

[Falling...]

Ask for a break on the rent for January, there's little else you can do.

These things happen, I always allow myself a lot of extra time on a project and it doesn't sound like your landlord did the same.

 

[luiselbatigol1981]

As others have said I would suggest talking to him about getting the rent reduced temporarily. Just remember .... after all the nice talk and smiles put it in writing and both of you sign.

I would suggest that rent be 50% from the time you move in until the time the construction is completed. You get a place so you should pay something, but certainly not full fare. He is getting rent which helps him and motivates him to know there will be an increase as soon as the work is completed.

OTOH: Not having something as simple as carpeting done is a bit of a red flag ... that is one day simple work. If he can't lay carpet the construction may take months not weeks.

 

[Judas Priest]

Ask Lisa, she'll know what to do !

:go:

 

[Evil Laurie :)]

And just do the opposite of what she says?

 

[Alisha]

Hey thanks for all the responses.

Guido_ it wasnt on the lease but I had him sign a receipt for the deposit and included the move in day and the fact that the basement and carpet were to be completed by then.

Lots of good suggestions...i would move but my main floor space will have all the basement and usual furniture til hes done and ...im dont see why my daughter should be put out...her furniture would have to go into another room too and then be sorted later....

lagavulin has hit on my main fear that once im in the work may never get done....I dont think you can hold back rent in this province legally.

He just texted me saying his guys only work on the weekends...so he needs this weekend and 1 day next weekend....and then will do the carpet....

clearly im going to have to find him and make the bedroom carpet a priority...or atleast try..I like the idea of half rent to motivate him to finish the work.



png2 and rawd ..you definitly made me crack a smile with the lisa ideas...maybe i should sic her on him....shame he doesnt have an "aggressive son" for her to deal with lol (refernce to another thread):

 

[soccerangel922]

You cannot with hold rent, you can both agree to modify the lease while the work is being done.

There are lost of Landlord and Tenant websites, and I am too lazy at the moment. But do not start the with holding rent game without being very very very careful of the repercussions, not only to where you live, but to your credit score.

 

[kroissey]

Being as how I'm "in the biz" so to speak I'll give you my take:

1) If the location is that good, why make a fight out of it?
2) as stated, carpeting a bedroom wouldn't take more than a couple of hours, let alone a day. But seeing as how it's a rental place, he's probably shopping it around for the best deal on carpet plus the installation. This IS a busy time of year for people doing things like this. Most are trying to get work done for Christmas.
3) Basement renos: You signed on the 12th, and expected it to be completed by the 5th. Unless the landlord had locked in a contractor to do the work by the 12th, thinking it would be done by the 1st is ludicrous. The only contractors who aren't booked for a month ahead are the ones you don't want doing the work. And for the record, intention doesn't mean he went out and found contractors, got quotes etc when you signed the lease.

Depending on what "the finished room" is, 2 weeks might not be enough time. If it's a totally raw space, and electrical, drywall, studding, insulation and a finished floor, all have to be done, at a reasonable cost, then that's dreaming (sorry to be blunt). Maybe Mike Holmes and his crew of 20 could get it done, but who has $30K to spend on a room?

Now this is me being my usual self: You've got an entire townhouse, and your knickers are in a knot over 2 rooms? Sorry, but you're getting a little nit-picky IMO. Not a good way to start off with a new landlord.

If I were you I'd move in, have your daughter move in but just not go nuts unpacking, and when the arrangements are made for new carpeting, move her out for a day.

I also have to ask: what kind of a surcharge are you paying for the month to month lease? Most places charge around 30 - 50% over a 1 yr lease rate. Up here in Muskoka when I moved up here I had to pay $200.00 a month extra on a $700 a month unit....

 

[Karen H]

NA I wasnt thinking of withholding rent usually im the landlord not a tenant, so ive seen it from both sides.

tboy couple points
The landlord claimed to be in the reno biz. He said he could have the place ready for the first, I just did a 3200 sq foot reno took better part of a year so I thought that the first was un realistic and said the 5th. Point was he hasnt even started anything yet. Says he will be showing up tommorrow to supervise.

He picked the dates not me.

It was his idea to do the basement not mine, and its just a 10 by 12 room and drywall and ceiling.

the upstairs carpet should be a no brainer. and I paid him the deposit cash and some extra rent so he could get the work done.

Also the month to month is his idea, this makes me a bit nervous also, I wanted a fixed term to start but he didnt want to go there. SO maybe hes thinking of selling???

Also Im paying maybe 10% above market so I expected some cooperation.

Dont get the wrong idea this is a small townhouse 2 good size bedrooms and a small room up but the mainfloor is small kitchen and a common room. Thats why he thought to do the basement. There really isnt much room to spare common room is probably only 12 by 11 so the basement would have doubled the common space.

I took it for the location not the size, thought it would do for now and the month to month didnt really bother me cause I expect to be shopping for something more permanent soonish.

Still I upheld my end of the deal, cash, extra deposit, etc hes the one dropping the ball

 

[sunnym5]

If the Landlord has any fucking brain cells that are functioning he will know how difficult it is to find a good tenant and the great value in a good tenant. In this market the majority of potential good tenants are buying not renting.

The stories of tenant's from hell are legendary, with the not paying rent for 6 months go ahead and evict me, attitude.

Between the reno and your rent this deal is worth somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000 to the Landlord, why the hell would he not want to just talk to you and play it straight.

OTOH: If people were honest with one another and fulfilled their commitments then lawyers would disappear from the face of the earth, and surely to God we can't have that.

 

[dividedselfhood]

Scotty:

WHat's that saying? all good plans of mice and men? lol....Not to make fun of it but the vast majority of my customers "want to" or "plan to" and then the second things start, plans change.

The 10 x 12 room:
is it studded already?
is the electrical run for the 8 outlets, switches, lights?

Good to know you had an idea that the dates were unrealistic.....

Anyhow, talk to him. See what's what and I realize that it would be a pain to move in while the work is still being done, but you'd save on your storage for the extra month wouldn't you?

I'd say to him: get the carpet done asap so your daughter could move in properly, and if he can't get it done, I can get you a number for someone that can probably get it done with 3 days notice, and tell him you'll deduct the cost from your next month's rent. That's more n fair.

I know the common room would be a bit cramped until the basement is finished but not life or death no? I know townhouses these days have tiny rooms, usually 2 per floor so yeah, it'll be tight but doable......

Like I said: if he can't get the carpet done, tell him you'll get it done. As for the basement, be a little more firm with him during your next call and if he's indifferent to your needs, start hinting that you want your deposit back. That might put a fire under his butt.

BTW: was this place rented before? Kind of sounds a little like he's not used to being a landlord....

 

[ladybug]

I'd give him a deadline and ask for my deposit back if my deadline is not met.

 

[b*tch]

Yeah, I'd hint around that that is the next step first though. Give him one more chance to fulfill his part of the deal and if no progress is made in a couple of days, then hit him with this.

Better still, if you have a lawyer who will do you a letter on the cuff, that would lend more credibility to the deadline. I bet though he's already spent the deposit......

 

[Atherfool]

Exactly what I would recommend.

 

[Marisa]

Tboy, Lagavulin et al I must say thanks for all the solid advice, often the point of view of someone a step removed is advantageous as its that one stepped removed. Met with him before reading the last couple posts.
Current compromise is hes going to talk to his people to get the carpet in my daughters room, I will put up with the crowded main floor if I can get the upstairs finished in the next couple days and will stall the move in a bit.
If basement misses next deadline we go to half rent.

I agree I think hes new to this although he says he isnt. Probably just a procrastinator by nature.
His wife was there giving him a look:grrrrrr:...so he was reasonably humble. But we both appreciate that with this late start theres no way to finish the lower room quickly.

As I mentioned I know how renos can run into trouble but nothing causes more delays than not even starting til the day before possession :
THe room is studded..he says this reno will cost him 8k seems high for drywall, ceiling some berber and wiring in a room that I think may well be only be 10x 10 now that i look at it. And im sure my deposit is paying the actual reno and is long spent, asking for the deposit back snookers me as well as ive no other place to go at present.

anyways thanks again all

 

[missjaimy]

Yeah, 8K does seem high for a 10 x 10 even if it needs wiring etc. I know sparky's are expensive but not THAT expensive.

I'd do a 10 x 10 room for $1200.00 plus materials, that'll give you an idea of the cost......I mean, you're only really talking about 10 pieces of drywall, 8 outlets, 1 switch and some lights. 40 feet of baseboard (at $1.00 per foot and that's the good stuff), some casing, caulking, mud. Totaly MAYBE $400.00 in material, especially if it's already studded.

 

[Alesha <3]

Actually tboy that sounds more in line. I have done a bit of this kinda work and hired most out. If I was paying 8k for 3 days work for 2 guys, and 2 sections of carpet 10x10 and 14x9 id have never made a profit. I think he was trying to squeeze more money out as it was he texted me at 3pm saying it was going to cost him an extra 200 for the installers second trip. I was like ok..so..hope you dont think im paying it its about what im paying for extra month of storage.

He let it drop lol.

Why do I feel this isnt over yet lol.