4 ms·

Just seconding - being a landlord can REALLY suck, and is full of hidden obstacles. You need to be committed to it, get proper legal advice and do everything b

by dedward 15y ago

Just seconding - being a landlord can REALLY suck, and is full of hidden obstacles. You need to be committed to it, get proper legal advice and do everything by the book. In principle (though I don't know specific state laws in the US) - tennants have a lot of rights. It's their HOME - even though you own the structure. You may not be able to evict them because you want to move back in. You may be liable for all kinds of things. And that handyman close by? That's great - until he has a family emergency and isn't available - then it's 100% on you to fix. I'm not saying the renting-to-pay-other-mortgage is bad idea - it's not, it's a valid strategy - but it's something to be taken really seriously, not something you should try to just pull out of a hat.

nhangen 15y ago
Take a look at CL, there are no shortages of handymen.
- cookiecaper 15y ago
  Let me say that we just moved into a rental unit and the landlord is pretty dang carpy. He is too cheap to pay a qualified person to fix anything. Stuff is falling apart all over. He resents us for asking for simple repairs that cost less than a tenth of what we paid to move in. He calls the neighbors to try and get them to do it for free, and if they won't do it, he comes over on the weekend to try and fix it himself (usually failing, always doing a "ghetto fabulous" job). We are on the verge of asserting my state's statutory process to compel the landlord to fix things because he is too cheap to use a qualified repair person, even on complex or potentially dangerous tasks like the gas stove, and even when there will be a long lag time on repairs if he doesn't. My advice is that if you're going to be a landlord, get familiar with some of the maintenance companies in your area and don't be too cheap to call them out. I have been following this discussion with some interest, but I really believe any position, renter, owner, or landlord, can make sense in the correct set of circumstances. You just have to think things through and do it the right way, and it will save everyone involved a lot of headache.

by dedward 15y ago

nhangen 15y ago

Take a look at CL, there are no shortages of handymen.

cookiecaper 15y ago
Let me say that we just moved into a rental unit and the landlord is pretty dang carpy. He is too cheap to pay a qualified person to fix anything. Stuff is falling apart all over. He resents us for asking for simple repairs that cost less than a tenth of what we paid to move in. He calls the neighbors to try and get them to do it for free, and if they won't do it, he comes over on the weekend to try and fix it himself (usually failing, always doing a "ghetto fabulous" job). We are on the verge of asserting my state's statutory process to compel the landlord to fix things because he is too cheap to use a qualified repair person, even on complex or potentially dangerous tasks like the gas stove, and even when there will be a long lag time on repairs if he doesn't. My advice is that if you're going to be a landlord, get familiar with some of the maintenance companies in your area and don't be too cheap to call them out. I have been following this discussion with some interest, but I really believe any position, renter, owner, or landlord, can make sense in the correct set of circumstances. You just have to think things through and do it the right way, and it will save everyone involved a lot of headache.