I didn't want to hijack Maytagbear's thread since this is landlord/tenant issues but is totally different. I hope that how I describe this situation doesn't make it sound petty or inconsequential because it really is a huge deal to me there have been alot of hurt feelings and at least one lost friendship over it.
I own two homes. One of which is my parents old home which I was raised in. The other is a 3 bedroom 2 bath home which I built on 10 acres that my parents gave me in 1999. The new home I turned into a licensed adult foster care home in 2002. After running it for 2 years there were some large assisted living centers built around us that took most of the business and I ended up closing my home. My partner and I went to Charleston S.C. for a year and worked for a Hospitality Management Company troubleshooting at a hotel there. We came back in the Spring of 2005 and moved back into the new home. As fall and the colder weather came we decided to move into the older home which is quite a bit smaller and easier to heat. We hadn't been able to find jobs yet and were only drawing unemployment. I had planned on winterizing the new home and just letting it sit vacant for the winter and eventually relicensing it and giving the care home another try. Then one day my life long (since 5th grade) friend called and asked if her and her b/f could rent it for a couple of months. She said all they could pay was 600 per month. Now I know that rents vary all around the country but 600 per month here is very cheap for a home. Also, all my things both personal and professional were still in that home. We only brought what we needed to the old home because we didn't plan on staying there. Plus, all the appliances in the new home were brand new, new side by side maytag fridge, new T/L Neptune Washer and Matching dryer, New Maytag tall tub dishwasher and also a Amana upright freezer the largest that I could buy. After, talking it over with my partner we decided that even though it wasn't what it was worth we could use the income. So, I agreed to rent it for 2 months. That was 2 years ago. Last summer I finally had enough and told my friend that our agreement was only for 2 years and I wanted at least 850 per month for the house or they would have to leave. Per her own words she said fine that she would pay the extra 250 and her b/f could continue to pay the rest. That lasted one month. Then the next month she broke the doorhandle on the dishwasher. 107 to install a new handle so she deducted that from her portion of the rent because she had it repaired. I told her I didn't feel that a dishwasher was a necessity and that all of the appliances were new when they moved in. I made it very clear to her that I would not repair anymore appliances that they wear out or ruin. I would only be responsible for the heat and plumbing and electrical and other normal maintenance. If one of the appliances broke they would either have it fixed at their expense or else get new ones and remove mine. I think this is fair...Am I wrong? To be honest I'm so pissed at her over the whole thing that I just want them both gone. My partner says that she knew when she moved in that it was going to be until I got pissed and threw them out. I don't know. I'm too trusting and way too naive sometimes but I try and see the best in everyone and all I could think about was what good friends we were as kids and that she needed me now. Please let me know what you all think. I'm very open to suggestions. This whole situation has broken my heart.
Signed,
Sucker in Michigan.
P.S. Sorry this is so long
P.P.S. Sorry I forgot the whole point of the story...I cannot pay the mortgage, taxes and insurance on that home for what they're paying in rent. It's coming out of my pocket every month which is getting very very shallow.
I own two homes. One of which is my parents old home which I was raised in. The other is a 3 bedroom 2 bath home which I built on 10 acres that my parents gave me in 1999. The new home I turned into a licensed adult foster care home in 2002. After running it for 2 years there were some large assisted living centers built around us that took most of the business and I ended up closing my home. My partner and I went to Charleston S.C. for a year and worked for a Hospitality Management Company troubleshooting at a hotel there. We came back in the Spring of 2005 and moved back into the new home. As fall and the colder weather came we decided to move into the older home which is quite a bit smaller and easier to heat. We hadn't been able to find jobs yet and were only drawing unemployment. I had planned on winterizing the new home and just letting it sit vacant for the winter and eventually relicensing it and giving the care home another try. Then one day my life long (since 5th grade) friend called and asked if her and her b/f could rent it for a couple of months. She said all they could pay was 600 per month. Now I know that rents vary all around the country but 600 per month here is very cheap for a home. Also, all my things both personal and professional were still in that home. We only brought what we needed to the old home because we didn't plan on staying there. Plus, all the appliances in the new home were brand new, new side by side maytag fridge, new T/L Neptune Washer and Matching dryer, New Maytag tall tub dishwasher and also a Amana upright freezer the largest that I could buy. After, talking it over with my partner we decided that even though it wasn't what it was worth we could use the income. So, I agreed to rent it for 2 months. That was 2 years ago. Last summer I finally had enough and told my friend that our agreement was only for 2 years and I wanted at least 850 per month for the house or they would have to leave. Per her own words she said fine that she would pay the extra 250 and her b/f could continue to pay the rest. That lasted one month. Then the next month she broke the doorhandle on the dishwasher. 107 to install a new handle so she deducted that from her portion of the rent because she had it repaired. I told her I didn't feel that a dishwasher was a necessity and that all of the appliances were new when they moved in. I made it very clear to her that I would not repair anymore appliances that they wear out or ruin. I would only be responsible for the heat and plumbing and electrical and other normal maintenance. If one of the appliances broke they would either have it fixed at their expense or else get new ones and remove mine. I think this is fair...Am I wrong? To be honest I'm so pissed at her over the whole thing that I just want them both gone. My partner says that she knew when she moved in that it was going to be until I got pissed and threw them out. I don't know. I'm too trusting and way too naive sometimes but I try and see the best in everyone and all I could think about was what good friends we were as kids and that she needed me now. Please let me know what you all think. I'm very open to suggestions. This whole situation has broken my heart.
Signed,
Sucker in Michigan.
P.S. Sorry this is so long
P.P.S. Sorry I forgot the whole point of the story...I cannot pay the mortgage, taxes and insurance on that home for what they're paying in rent. It's coming out of my pocket every month which is getting very very shallow.