[Vent] Not enjoying this landlord business so far
It's been less than two weeks since we had tenants move into our old house. We were really excited about it, because we really didn't want to sell it if we didn't have to and it's an ideal rental. We're hoping this will be just our first rental and we can start to get ahead with property. But it's just been trouble from the start!
First there's the annoying property manager. She showed through potential tenants without telling us (original one had cancelled so she went through with another), pushed hard for us to sign up the tenants we weren't interested in, rather than the ones we wanted, and in the end she signed a lease on our behalf without even showing it to us first. I got really annoyed at her lack of communication and in the end called the owner/manager of the agency. And now I'm thinking I must be in her bad books, because she doesn't call me anymore, she calls DH. Even after we've both asked her not too - he works maintenance in a glass factory and can never hear her on the phone, whereas I'm home or at least able to talk on the phone. She hasn't got the message yet.
Before the tenants moved in, I figured I'd write them a little note just letting them know what days the bins go out, and how to work the water heater. It's gas, and by the kitchen sink is a little panel. Basically, when the panel is off, cold water will come out of the hot tap. If you want to do dishes, turn it on, set the temp as high as it goes (50), turn on the hot water tap and off you go. Having a shower? Turn on the panel, set it somewhere between 40 & 43, turn on the hot water tap and there you go. These tenants and the agent apparently don't understand it, because we're having nothing but trouble!
The agent called DH and said the tenants were having a problem with the water temp in the shower, and apparently the cold water taps don't work. He couldn't talk so got me to call her back. I found out they'd been trying to use the hot and cold taps in the shower - how and why, I don't know - so I explained how the thermostat thingy works and she said that's fine. As to the cold water tap, it's slow in the bathroom, laundry and kitchen, there's very low water pressure. But the hot tap is fine, so we always just used that tap - the thermostat was off most times so cold water came out. I explained that to the agent but she didn't seem to get it.
She called DH back the next day. Told him the water pressure and temperature in the shower isn't right. I called her back and explained again. And told her again about using the hot water tap for cold if the pressure isn't enough for them. She said that's fine, but it's "part of the Act that tenants must have both hot and cold running water." They do have hot and cold running water! How do they suppose we got by for over two years!!
They still weren't happy with the explanation, so a plumber was sent out. He said it's because the house is old (built in the 50s) it has tiny old copper pipes. That's why the pressure is so low. He believes that's why the gas hot water system was put in, so you could just use the one tap and have either hot or cold. He said the only real way to fix it is to take the pipe out (which means taking bricks out of the wall) and he can't do anything til after Christmas. After the property manager calling DH, I spoke to her and explained what the plumber said. She seemed ok with the explanation. Then she called DH again, and said she was having a meeting with the tenants because they weren't happy!
They had their little meeting, where it was brought up that the temp in the shower isn't right :wall: They absolutely must have running water from the cold tap. I don't know, apparently cold water can't come out of the hot tap. And the cold water coming out of the cold tap can't be slow. Property manager called DH, who luckily was home this time. He tried to ask her if the tenants understood how the thermostat thing worked, but it took him three goes of getting halfway through the question with her cutting him off to actually get it out. She said they've finally figured that out, but the cold water tap is a problem. So now she's getting the plumber to go out again, and DH said he wanted to be there to see if there really is an issue and see exactly what the plumber sees.
I just don't get it!! If you want hot water, set your temperature! If you want cold water, leave it off! It really is simple, and I can't think of a situation where they're going to need both at the same time!
If you were a tenant and had a situation like this, would it really bother you? Am I just being crappy?
