Landlord Tips: Remodeling Tenant-Occupied Properties

by | Nov 20, 2017 | Rental Property Management Tips

When deciding whether to remodel a rental  property, a cost-analysis should take into account whether the property is tenant-occupied. Otherwise, the decision to inconvenience the existing tenant for the sake of future tenants may lead to income loss.

First, it’s important to make a distinction between upgrading the property and repairs or maintenance. Repairs are a legal requirement and should be completed as soon as possible. Maintenance should run on a predetermined schedule which can be addressed in the lease agreement. A remodel makes sense only if it supports future rent increases or secures a good tenant long-term. Otherwise, the cost may not exceed the potential for liability.

A strategy used by seasoned investors for upgrading properties is a planned vacancy. By scheduling the upgrade when the unit is empty, there is no chance of upending the current tenant, violating the tenant’s privacy, or having to hire contractors around the tenant’s schedule. Also, this avoids an argument with an existing tenant over a rent increase.

Remodeling an occupied property is tricky business for landlords. If the tenant is displaced, inconvenienced, robbed, or otherwise unhappy, that can lead to a claim for breach of the lease. The landlord has a duty to protect every tenant’s privacy and quiet enjoyment.

In a typical dispute for quiet enjoyment, a landlord may be required to refund the rent, or pay damages that exceed the rent. A few years ago, a landlord in Los Angeles was ordered to pay a tenant $22,865 for entering the rental unit without providing prior notice. There, the judge awarded $11,250 for the violation of the covenant of quiet enjoyment, and $3,100 for emotional distress. The remainder was a penalty for violating the local rental statutes. In cases where remodeling causes a loss of quiet enjoyment, there is potential for the damages to be even greater. That potential for income loss should be weighed against the cost of a planned vacancy.

Generally, there are two situations where it makes sense to remodel with a tenant in place:

The tenant intends to stay long-term and will benefit from the upgrade; or

The tenant receives some other concession that makes it worth the inconvenience of living in a construction zone.

In either case, the tenant should be on board with living with the noises, smells, and general inconvenience that come from virtually any upgrade project. Best strategies include:

Sit down with the tenant, preferably in the unit, and explain the extent of the work;

Take steps to protect the tenant’s health as well as personal possessions;

Vet contractors, and make sure they run background checks on their employees;

Listen to and resolve tenant concerns throughout the process;

Keep contractors on schedule by negotiating incentives or disincentives; and

Stay involved with the project so that tenants are not managing the contractors at the property.

This post is provided by Tenant Verification Service, Inc., helping landlords reduce the risks of renting with fraud prevention tools that include Tenant Screening, Tenant Background Checks, (U.S. and Canada), as well as Criminal Background Checks, and Eviction Reports (U.S. only).

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be construed as legal advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual legal counsel or consulting your local, state, federal or provincial tenancy laws.

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