Posted on 07/20/2012 6:29:27 PM PDT by Krankor
I need some Freeper advice. I own a home with a garden rental apartment. My tenant is a nice person who pays her rent on time. She has a dog I like and he is allowed free reign to use the yard. I often go out and play with him. The dog loves to play under a lawn sprinkler and he does it for hours at a time. No problem. She often brings her friends' dogs to play in the yard with hers. Again, no problem. Unfortunately, she often leaves his little gifts in the yard for two or three days at a time. There's been many a time I've had to pick up after him just to cut the lawn. I've always tried to make her feel my home is hers, so I've been somewhat reluctant in pressing the issue about cleaning up after her dog. I have tried to be as diplomatic as possible in suggesting she pick up a little quicker after her dog. She does it for a couple of days but then just blows it off. With the recent heat wave, I became a bit more insistent about the problem. She agreed to be more vigilant. Needless to say, she again fell of the wagon. To make a long story short, it eventually came to a head and I insisted she pick up after her dog once a day. She thought I was being unreasonable, but I disagreed. I'd appreciate some Freeper input.
You say you play with her dog, and you allow her to bring other dogs on your property to play.
You seem to have set the expectation of “dog poop clean up” every 2-3 days, and suddenly decided to change the rules.
Again, just based on what you have shared.
As a lifelong renter (always got my security deposit back) while I would much prefer to live in a single family home, duplex, or small complex, I have learned my lesson about dealing with small and private landlords.
Don't give them an inch, or they will take a mile!
They never get around to minor repairs in the lease stipulated timeframe, and always ask for extended forbearance on major repairs, no matter the magnitude of the inconvenience to the tenant.
Tell her the day(s) you intend to mow,and leave it at that.
Now, a nice landlord picking up my dog poo - I can respect that!
Bill her for picking it up.
If you have a small yard and use a walk behind mower, I’d tell her I am a little ticked at stepping on her dogs poo. If you use a garden tractor, just mow over it...My biggest problem is that in spring, here in Michigan and the snow melts, I have a 5 gallon bucket to pick up all the winter stuff. Not bad if you get it when its still slightly frozen...but since its not your dog, I understand your being a bit ticked with it...
#3 there will be damage carpet, urine on walls etc, always deduct from the deposit.
Sometimes you get that from a tenant without pets!
I have been a landlord for over thirty years. This isn’t going to work out for you. Do not renew her lease.
I don’t know if it’s possible to charge her a poop pickup fee. Basically you’d raise her rent the appropriate amount where you’re getting paid to pick up the poop. If she picks it up, you refund her the difference.
“Call the cops. Theyll be happy to shoot your problem.”
ROFL!!!
You are being very reasonable and she is being very irresponsible. Every dog owner knows they are supposed to pick up after their pet makes a deposit on the ground to pick it up immediately.
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