A friend sent me this Craigslist post. I don't know who wrote it so I can't give them credit. My tenants are not as bad this guy's, but the thing about the heat and the exterminator hit very close to home, as do the evictions...
Date: 2006-07-21, 10:37AM CDT
1. Responsible for the weather
My building manager called to say one of the tenants wanted a discount for the days it was hot outside. Why? Because it was also hot inside. Their electricity is fine. They could run both air conditioners and fans and keep a supply of popsicles, just like I did in my apartment. My response: Will you pay extra if the weather is nice?
2. In charge of the animal kingdom
A tenant complained about mice. I sent over an exterminator several times. He stuffed steel wool in holes, baited traps, sprayed outside etc. Eventually he refused to go back because the tenant continued to leave open packages of food on the floor and counters. She insisted I was responsible for the problem. As if I commanded the mice to invade her house.
3. Menace to domesticated animals
One tenant was convinced I was poisoning her and her wooly mammoth dog with carbon monoxide. (What will I think of next?) Fire department went over there. Gas company went over there. City of Evanston sent an inspector. Everyone who tested got the same result. No discernable level. She tried to deduct $200 from her rent to pay for her vet bill. This woman also accused me of running a bicycle chop shop in the basement. And wanted me to compensate her for a parking ticket she got in front of my building.
4. Pet killer
I hired a carpenter to fix something. With the tenant’s permission, the carpenter went into the apartment. Apparently the act of opening the door scared the dog. The dog ran down a set of internal stairs, bumped his head and died six weeks later. This story was condensed to “Landlord killed my dog.” There are several neighbors who will not even say hi to me. One of whom made it his mission to make sure my landscaping is always in 100% compliance with arcane City ordinances.
5. Made of money
Tenant asked to break her lease because the price of her anti-depressants went up. No mention of the car she just purchased. Maybe she thought the hint of mental illness would scare or embarass me. She was three months into a twenty four month lease. 24 month lease she specifically asked for.
6. Heartless
Contrary to popular belief, I do not enjoy evicting single mothers at Christmas time. It takes months to evict and the landlord rarely recoups the back rent or court costs. FYI, I do not think it is more important to make your car payment. Thanks for asking.
Please pay your rent on time and remember, I am not omnipotent or an evil genius. A lease is a business arrangement.
And one more thing, why oh why wait until Sunday at 8pm to call and say your heat has been out since Friday afternoon? You call immediately if the microwave burns your popcorn.
this is in or around Evanston
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Corzine pledges 100,000 units for needy families
Our illustrious Governor has reaffirmed his vague promise to create or refurbish 100,000 units of affordable housing for New Jersey families. Aside from throwing more money at the problem, he hasn't really said how he's going to do it. That's because he has no idea. Unlike most politicians, here's a guy who actually knows someting about business, he was a big muckety-muck at Goldman Sachs for years. Unfortunately taking office seems to wipe one's mind of any pro market ideas.
How about this: Let's let the people who are ALREADY providing affordable housing (like me) continue to do so by getting the hell out of our way. By getting your hands out of both of our pockets. By ceasing the endless barrage from Trenton of useless legislation that has the opposite of it's intended effect. By ending corruption and waste once and for all so we can actually LOWER property taxes.
Only William G. Dressel, director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities seems to get the joke about property taxes. He said, "The cure is to make New Jersey a more affordable place to live ... Property tax relief is the number one way to provide affordable housing."
I currently pay over $16,000 a year in property taxes for the two small buildings that I manage. Imagine my delight to find out that the local school superintendent, who's total compensation is about $300,000 a year got caught red handed taking a $21,000 "business trip" to London at the taxpayers expense.
Yo Gubna! Cut government waste & corruption and excessive legislation and let the landlords do what they do best.
How about this: Let's let the people who are ALREADY providing affordable housing (like me) continue to do so by getting the hell out of our way. By getting your hands out of both of our pockets. By ceasing the endless barrage from Trenton of useless legislation that has the opposite of it's intended effect. By ending corruption and waste once and for all so we can actually LOWER property taxes.
Only William G. Dressel, director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities seems to get the joke about property taxes. He said, "The cure is to make New Jersey a more affordable place to live ... Property tax relief is the number one way to provide affordable housing."
I currently pay over $16,000 a year in property taxes for the two small buildings that I manage. Imagine my delight to find out that the local school superintendent, who's total compensation is about $300,000 a year got caught red handed taking a $21,000 "business trip" to London at the taxpayers expense.
Yo Gubna! Cut government waste & corruption and excessive legislation and let the landlords do what they do best.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Reply From New Jersey Governor Corzine
In March, 2006, I wrote to the Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine regarding the slew of new taxes proposed in his new budget. (See the post "Tax Increases Will Kill Business in New Jersey" below). Here is his reply:
...
...
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Friday, March 24, 2006
Letter to my State Representatives
The following letter was sent to the governor and my state representatives where I live and own rental property. If you live in NJ I urge you to write the Governor and your State Representatives. Feel free to steal my prose below. If you don't know who your representative is e-mail me, I'll look it up for you.
Bergen County:
Ms. Charlotte Vandervalk
Mr. John E. Rooney
Mr. Gerald Cardinale
Hudson County:
Mr. Bernard F. Kenny, Jr.
Mr. Brian P. Stack
Mr. Albio Sires
**********************************************
Ms. Charlotte Vandervalk
220 Kinderkamack Road, Suite E
Westwood, NJ 07675-3601
RE: The Governor’s Proposed Tax Increases
March 22, 2006
Dear Ms. Vandervalk,
Through the above captioned company, I own and manage rental property in your legislative district.
Three of the Governor’s proposed tax increases will kill business in New Jersey:
1. Sales Tax: Increasing the sales tax will reduce sales, plain and simple. That will drive jobs from New Jersey.
2. Corporation Tax: This will strangle business and drive jobs from New Jersey.
3. Commercial Realty Transfer Tax: Landlords provide affordable housing to New Jersey families that need it. This money could be better spent on capital improvements to multifamily housing and likely would be. Landlords have to make a profit or they will leave the business. Who will be left to provide housing for New Jersey families that need it? The government. We all know how that turns out.
I understand the need to balance the budget, but may I suggest spending cuts instead of tax increases?
Thank you for reconsidering these destructive taxes.
Very truly yours,
Rosey
Bergen County:
Ms. Charlotte Vandervalk
Mr. John E. Rooney
Mr. Gerald Cardinale
Hudson County:
Mr. Bernard F. Kenny, Jr.
Mr. Brian P. Stack
Mr. Albio Sires
**********************************************
Ms. Charlotte Vandervalk
220 Kinderkamack Road, Suite E
Westwood, NJ 07675-3601
RE: The Governor’s Proposed Tax Increases
March 22, 2006
Dear Ms. Vandervalk,
Through the above captioned company, I own and manage rental property in your legislative district.
Three of the Governor’s proposed tax increases will kill business in New Jersey:
1. Sales Tax: Increasing the sales tax will reduce sales, plain and simple. That will drive jobs from New Jersey.
2. Corporation Tax: This will strangle business and drive jobs from New Jersey.
3. Commercial Realty Transfer Tax: Landlords provide affordable housing to New Jersey families that need it. This money could be better spent on capital improvements to multifamily housing and likely would be. Landlords have to make a profit or they will leave the business. Who will be left to provide housing for New Jersey families that need it? The government. We all know how that turns out.
I understand the need to balance the budget, but may I suggest spending cuts instead of tax increases?
Thank you for reconsidering these destructive taxes.
Very truly yours,
Rosey
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Tax Increases Will Kill Business in New Jersey
Governor Jon Corzine
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
March 22, 2006
Dear Governor,
Three of your proposed tax increases will kill business in New Jersey:
1. Sales Tax: Increasing the sales tax will reduce sales, plain and simple. That will drive jobs from New Jersey.
2. Corporation Tax: This will strangle business and drive jobs from New Jersey.
3. Commercial Realty Transfer Tax: Landlords provide affordable housing to New Jersey families that need it. This money could be better spent on capital improvements to multifamily housing and likely would be. Landlords have to make a profit or they will leave the business. Who will be left to provide housing for New Jersey families that need it? The government. We all know how that turns out.
I understand you must balance the budget, but may I suggest spending cuts instead of tax increases?
Thank you for reconsidering these destructive taxes.
Very truly yours,
Rosey
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
March 22, 2006
Dear Governor,
Three of your proposed tax increases will kill business in New Jersey:
1. Sales Tax: Increasing the sales tax will reduce sales, plain and simple. That will drive jobs from New Jersey.
2. Corporation Tax: This will strangle business and drive jobs from New Jersey.
3. Commercial Realty Transfer Tax: Landlords provide affordable housing to New Jersey families that need it. This money could be better spent on capital improvements to multifamily housing and likely would be. Landlords have to make a profit or they will leave the business. Who will be left to provide housing for New Jersey families that need it? The government. We all know how that turns out.
I understand you must balance the budget, but may I suggest spending cuts instead of tax increases?
Thank you for reconsidering these destructive taxes.
Very truly yours,
Rosey
Monday, March 13, 2006
Late Rent Payments (Again)
Late Rent Payments
March 7, 2006
Dear Ms. Menudo,
As you know, we value you as a tenant and you have been in the building for a long time without causing us any problems.
Thank you for calling to let us know your March rent payment would be late. It was not clear in your message when you would be paying. I thought you said, “Next week.” I was not sure if that meant the week ending the 11th or the 18th.
We hate it when good tenants pay their rent after the 10th of the month, because it forces us to do something we don’t want to do: File court papers against a good tenant. We are required to do this to protect our legal rights. Because the courts in High Ho County have slowed down, when we have problems with tenants it now takes much longer to resolve; so we can not delay in our filings. If rent is not received by the end of the day on the 10th, we normally file court papers. The tenant is then required to pay $29 in court filing fees plus $50 in attorney’s fees.
Because you are a good tenant, I will wait until the 13th before filing. Hopefully your payment will be received by then and I will not have to file at all.
Thank you for you understanding.
Very truly yours,
XXX Mgt, Co. Inc.
Rosey,
Property Manager
March 7, 2006
Dear Ms. Menudo,
As you know, we value you as a tenant and you have been in the building for a long time without causing us any problems.
Thank you for calling to let us know your March rent payment would be late. It was not clear in your message when you would be paying. I thought you said, “Next week.” I was not sure if that meant the week ending the 11th or the 18th.
We hate it when good tenants pay their rent after the 10th of the month, because it forces us to do something we don’t want to do: File court papers against a good tenant. We are required to do this to protect our legal rights. Because the courts in High Ho County have slowed down, when we have problems with tenants it now takes much longer to resolve; so we can not delay in our filings. If rent is not received by the end of the day on the 10th, we normally file court papers. The tenant is then required to pay $29 in court filing fees plus $50 in attorney’s fees.
Because you are a good tenant, I will wait until the 13th before filing. Hopefully your payment will be received by then and I will not have to file at all.
Thank you for you understanding.
Very truly yours,
XXX Mgt, Co. Inc.
Rosey,
Property Manager
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