Open Letter To a Landlord

Christopher Lay | Jun 27, 2014 1:00 pm | 6 comments | 2047 reads
 
Dear Landlord,
 
Hi, it’s me. You know, that guy who for the past ten months made sure your apartment remained in good working order and even did a few home improvements. That’s right, your tenant. It’s been almost a year and it’s time for your annual review. I know you were not expecting one, but I think you need one and I really don’t mind.

Back in August, you mentioned some things that I took to heart: that you are a good landlord, you wanted our family to live well in your apartment, and that you had no intention of selling. Since your place fit our pressing needs, we inked the contract and took you at your word. As you may recall, our previous landlord sold the place out from under us, as did the two before that. Unfortunately, you did not seem to appreciate that two years does not equal ten months. I’m afraid in the math department, you need some work.
 
Of course, it is well within your right to sell your property and I do not begrudge you that. I think we can all agree that the decent thing to do would be to show your renters some curtsey and discuss the matter with them first. No, we wouldn’t buy the place, but you might have asked. Either way, a bit of a heads up would have been nice. As I hope you can now appreciate, showing up at our doorstep on a Saturday morning and announcing your intent to sell with a half-dozen real-estate agents in your wake expecting to come in and take photos unannounced, that was … well … it made you look like an ass. I’m afraid in the not-acting-like-a-douche department, you need a lot of improvement.
 
Finally, your attempt to play this off as some trivial misunderstanding is frankly insulting. When I review your reassurances from last summer, what is clear to me is that you only care about three things right now – money, money, money. So be it, this is, after all, your place. However, for the sake of the rest of humanity, I suggest that you quit the landlord business. There is too much improvement to be done in this department and we feel your talents, such as they are, must make you better suited to more isolated work. You know, one where you don’t actually interact with people.
 
Note: I’ll be pointing out to any potential buyers just which “home improvements” I’ll be ripping out before I go. Hey look, I’ve already got my crowbar.
 
This article first appeared on beijingkids.
 
Photo: Courtesy of HomeSpot HQ (Flickr)

Comments

New comments are displayed first.

Comments

felicity's picture felicity Submitted by Guest on Mon, 06/30/2014 - 09:03

1st apartment (beijing) - shaoyaoju jilijiayuan

Overall, my landlord was a kind person. He is a guy around 40-ish yo & very helpful.

My neighbour was the main reason giving me a headache. Apparently he is a bit crazy and always complains about noises to the management people. Poor wuye people.

Had to move coz he keeps on raising the rent. Got my deposit back

2nd apartment (beijing) - gaoyuanjie

Landlord was an old lady, but his son was a bit of an a**. He was the greedy one.

Had to move coz her daughter wanted to sell the apt. Got my deposit back

3rd apartment (beijing, my current one)

Landlord is a guy around 40-ish.

Great compound, too many little kids running around and crying though.

Great management office people, always helpful and 24 hour service.

Far from anywhere, unless you love living on the west side of Beijing.

This year is our 2nd year in this apartment, may have to move next year. But, we'll see...

squid's picture squid Submitted by Guest on Fri, 06/27/2014 - 20:54

Compared to all of the other things I have seen landlords do, selling an apartment does seem nearly as bad as some others. I can at least feel a little sympathtic to a landlord that feels they either need to, or its the right time to sell.

On the other hand, there are so many landlords that try to steal the deposit, for no reason whatsoever. That is so much more dishonest and immoral. Their thinking is basically, too bad, what are you going to do about it.

leftboy's picture leftboy Submitted by Guest on Fri, 06/27/2014 - 17:17

I've had mostly good experiences:

#1 (Tianjin) - used to call asking us to pay rent early. When we said we were moving out at the end of the 1-year, asked if we move early, without offering to rebate rent paid.

#2 (Tianjin) - fixed shower promptly when the unit wasn't working properly. Did tell us we could move in before privious tenants had moved out, though.

#3 (Beijing) - we stayed there only six months into a year contract, but didn't complain as we found replacement tenant.

#4 (Beijing) - let us stay in apartment 3 years without raising rent. Added an air conditioner into the spare bedroom. Added double glazing into main bedroom. Replaced washing machine. Been generally very kind and helpful.

On the whole, think I've been fortunate, especially with #4 - from what I understand, not raising rent for three years is unheard of in Beijing!

Arvi89's picture Arvi89 Submitted by Guest on Fri, 06/27/2014 - 14:20

In almost 7 years in China, I've been to 8 apartments (Tianjin and Beijing), only got 2 proper lanlords, the worst one was last year when, after I asked for a month to fix the toilet (I mean, it's kinda important, was no a small thing, need to spend like 1500 rmb), and they gave me fake excuses (We can't fix in this building, other floor work? We can't fix your floor) and I said I wouldnt pay my rent until it's fixed, they came at 5 guys to kick me out, and told me if I was not happy I could still sue them.

So now, when I rent an apartment, the most important thing is to make sure the landlord is a nice person I-m so happy

gnature gnature gnature gnature gnature gnature

Validate your mobile phone number to post comments.