Landlord Diary: What no one told you!

We offered one of our tenants who was significantly behind on rent the opportunity to do some painting in exchange for rent credit.  He did a great job!  He was kind of slow but we were "paying" him for the job, not for how long it took. 

Subsequently he split up with his wife and is living with his mom about 15 miles outside of town.  He has now asked if he can live in one of our vacant apartments in exchange for more work.  Without a doubt, there is plenty of work to do.  He's proven that he can do a good job and he's eager to work.

My fear, however, is getting him back out of the apartment.  We have a vacant apartment that is going to require a lot of work and is on the bottom of our list for renovation/repairs and he offered to take that apartment. 

Call us crazy, but we're actually thinking about it - but with parameters.  Written parameters, with a sunset clause.  Hear me out.  The grass will be growing (or is that groaning) again very soon, which means fixing sprinklers, spreading weed and feed, mowing lawns, and trash pick-up.  We also have two other vacant apartments that need lots of attention; painting, carpet shampooing, window blinds, screens, etc., etc., etc.

So we'll see what happens.  I don't know whether we'll do it or not.  And if we do, it might turn and bite us.  Stay tuned.

And now for scenes from our next episode...My favorite tenant, Courtney is in rare form when she calls the cops on someone dumping their trash in our dumpster.