Geht das mich eigentlich an?
October 11, 2010 10:01 AM Subscribe
My landlord has asked me via two terse SMSes to show an apartment in my building to a potential tenant. Should I?
Pertinent details: There is no language about this in my lease to this effect. I owe her no favors, nor does she to me. She lives out of the state and has no assigned agent in the area to handle her affairs. There is nothing in the Ohio revised code for tenants/landlords that addresses favors, of course.
If this person were to move in, it would potentially mean a more cluttered public space (shared kitchen, basement, and driveway), but certainly would not affect me materially or financially.
My landlord has also given this stranger my personal phone number and indicated to him when I am likely to be home. I am tempted to flatly say no, but is there a perhaps more diplomatic way I could put it?
Pertinent details: There is no language about this in my lease to this effect. I owe her no favors, nor does she to me. She lives out of the state and has no assigned agent in the area to handle her affairs. There is nothing in the Ohio revised code for tenants/landlords that addresses favors, of course.
If this person were to move in, it would potentially mean a more cluttered public space (shared kitchen, basement, and driveway), but certainly would not affect me materially or financially.
My landlord has also given this stranger my personal phone number and indicated to him when I am likely to be home. I am tempted to flatly say no, but is there a perhaps more diplomatic way I could put it?
'sorry, I am sick with explosive diarrhea...'
posted by By The Grace of God at 10:02 AM on October 11, 2010
posted by By The Grace of God at 10:02 AM on October 11, 2010
My landlord has asked me via two terse SMSes to show an apartment in my building to a potential tenant. Should I?
...
If this person were to move in, it would potentially mean a more cluttered public space (shared kitchen, basement, and driveway), but certainly would not affect me materially or financially.
...I don't understand. Is she asking you to share your apartment/house with a stranger? Is this person replacing you as a tenant?
posted by two lights above the sea at 10:03 AM on October 11, 2010
...
If this person were to move in, it would potentially mean a more cluttered public space (shared kitchen, basement, and driveway), but certainly would not affect me materially or financially.
...I don't understand. Is she asking you to share your apartment/house with a stranger? Is this person replacing you as a tenant?
posted by two lights above the sea at 10:03 AM on October 11, 2010
I think saying "No, I am not available" is within your rights.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:06 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:06 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think saying "No, I am not available" is within your rights.
Also asking her not to give your personal details out to strangers.
posted by grouse at 10:07 AM on October 11, 2010 [11 favorites]
Also asking her not to give your personal details out to strangers.
posted by grouse at 10:07 AM on October 11, 2010 [11 favorites]
Seconding this is the landlord's job, BUT, under the circumstances, it sounds like if someone moves in it is going to affect your daily life. Particularly the shared kitchen makes it sound more like having a roommate than someone in a separate apartment. So, if the personal stuff matters to you, show the place. If you don't care who your landlord rents it to, just say "Sorry, it will not be convenient for me to show the apartment on your behalf."
posted by beagle at 10:07 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by beagle at 10:07 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
You're not legally or morally obliged to do this.
She's asking you for a favour. Up to you.
posted by caek at 10:08 AM on October 11, 2010
She's asking you for a favour. Up to you.
posted by caek at 10:08 AM on October 11, 2010
I would just ignore the SMS. My thinking is that if she wants it that badly she can call and then diplomatically present her case.
posted by crapmatic at 10:09 AM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by crapmatic at 10:09 AM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
Look, while saying "No, I am not available" is perfectly within your rights, the fact is that your landlord is out of state, you are literally right there, you can schedule with the prospective tenant at your convenience, and it will take 10 minutes. So you can do it because it's a nice and easy thing to do to help someone out, or you can offer to do it to maybe take $25 off your rent, but there really isn't a compelling reason not to do it.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:09 AM on October 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by DarlingBri at 10:09 AM on October 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
Best answer: via SMS : "Sorry. I am not available."
DO NOT DO THIS. PLEASE.
You do not not not want to be responsible for this absent landlord's financial relationships. If you show this apartment, you will become the go-between between the landlord and any tenant that eventually signs a lease.
Your landlord is 300% crazy and out of line to be asking this. Also, probably fishing for a sucker. Don't take the bait. Don't be the sucker.
Keep paying your rent as per usual.
If the perspective tenant should accidentally get you on the phone..."Sorry. I am not available. Also, I do not have an agreement w/ landlord, it was inappropriate for him/her to give you my number. Good luck."
posted by jbenben at 10:11 AM on October 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
DO NOT DO THIS. PLEASE.
You do not not not want to be responsible for this absent landlord's financial relationships. If you show this apartment, you will become the go-between between the landlord and any tenant that eventually signs a lease.
Your landlord is 300% crazy and out of line to be asking this. Also, probably fishing for a sucker. Don't take the bait. Don't be the sucker.
Keep paying your rent as per usual.
If the perspective tenant should accidentally get you on the phone..."Sorry. I am not available. Also, I do not have an agreement w/ landlord, it was inappropriate for him/her to give you my number. Good luck."
posted by jbenben at 10:11 AM on October 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
Sorry, not to keep pushing this, but I'm really more interested in why you'd be sharing space with this person, specifically kitchen space. Most apartments have their own kitchen, but perhaps your building/house/apartment has a unique set up, therefore you'd have a unique "etiquette" as far as this stuff is concerned. It sounds like you have no legal obligation to help with this, but you might WANT to considering that you'll see this person everyday. Though, you didn't really give much information on what your set up is, which sounds like the weirdest/most important part.
posted by two lights above the sea at 10:13 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by two lights above the sea at 10:13 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
(upon preview)
If landlord had phoned in you in a professional manner, asked the favor, and offered compensation... I would have written an entirely different response above.
Under the circumstances, you have every good reason to not touch this "favor" with a ten foot pole.
posted by jbenben at 10:14 AM on October 11, 2010
If landlord had phoned in you in a professional manner, asked the favor, and offered compensation... I would have written an entirely different response above.
Under the circumstances, you have every good reason to not touch this "favor" with a ten foot pole.
posted by jbenben at 10:14 AM on October 11, 2010
two lights above the sea: OP has been asked to show another apartment in his building.
posted by caek at 10:15 AM on October 11, 2010
posted by caek at 10:15 AM on October 11, 2010
My landlord has also given this stranger my personal phone number and indicated to him when I am likely to be home. I am tempted to flatly say no, but is there a perhaps more diplomatic way I could put it?
If you don't want to do it, say no. If you are annoyed that they gave your personal info out, I think you should be very firm about that. Especially since the new tenant may now think you are the local contact for the landlord.
no assigned agent in the area to handle her affairs
Does she never have a caretaker, or this a temporary situation? If she doesn't, there may be an opportunity for you to be that person in exchange for a rent reduction. But, that's up to you; don't let her force you into it. Also, will she listen to you if you think this person is unstable? You will be sharing a kitchen.
posted by soelo at 10:16 AM on October 11, 2010
If you don't want to do it, say no. If you are annoyed that they gave your personal info out, I think you should be very firm about that. Especially since the new tenant may now think you are the local contact for the landlord.
no assigned agent in the area to handle her affairs
Does she never have a caretaker, or this a temporary situation? If she doesn't, there may be an opportunity for you to be that person in exchange for a rent reduction. But, that's up to you; don't let her force you into it. Also, will she listen to you if you think this person is unstable? You will be sharing a kitchen.
posted by soelo at 10:16 AM on October 11, 2010
This part is kind of alarming: "My landlord has also given this stranger my personal phone number and indicated to him when I am likely to be home." That's pretty unacceptable. You had no prior agreement with the landlord to do so; what if this prospective tenant starts harassing you? On the other hand, you would get to see your potential neighbors and maybe have some influence on whether they take the place or not.
So, I think that you need to set some boundaries with the landlord. They don't need to know your number and she can set up something within your available timeframe without letting them know when you'll be home. Stress that this is above and beyond what you're either obligated under the lease to do or otherwise expected to do.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:19 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
So, I think that you need to set some boundaries with the landlord. They don't need to know your number and she can set up something within your available timeframe without letting them know when you'll be home. Stress that this is above and beyond what you're either obligated under the lease to do or otherwise expected to do.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:19 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
I read that, caek, but the shared kitchen space (as a mentioned in my second response) threw me off. *shrug*
posted by two lights above the sea at 10:21 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by two lights above the sea at 10:21 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Ask for a discount on the rent in exchange? I'd personally bill her my hourly rate, with a 1-hr or 2-hr minimum.
posted by radioamy at 10:23 AM on October 11, 2010
posted by radioamy at 10:23 AM on October 11, 2010
If you do this, you'll end up being asked to do it again. And new tenants will come back to you with problems about the building. And tenants will come to you with issues with the landlord. You'll become the de facto agent. This is not a favor, this is a job.
posted by galadriel at 10:32 AM on October 11, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by galadriel at 10:32 AM on October 11, 2010 [3 favorites]
The only reason I see to do it is that if you didn't like the prospective tenant, you could steer him away from wanting to live there ("oh yeah, we have roaches but they only come out at night... I hope you don't mind but I'm taking drum lessons in my apartment... Also my hearing isn't great so I tend to turn the volume way up on my TV...")
posted by amro at 10:37 AM on October 11, 2010
posted by amro at 10:37 AM on October 11, 2010
The last building I lived in had a tenant-liaison person. She was the go-to person for maintenance issues and other stuff.
She also got a material discount on her rent in exchange for her services. Like $300/month less, if I remember correctly. She seemed to feel she was getting a fair deal in the arrangement. If you are willing to entertain that kind of setup, then counter-propose that. Otherwise, you're not available.
posted by ambrosia at 10:38 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
She also got a material discount on her rent in exchange for her services. Like $300/month less, if I remember correctly. She seemed to feel she was getting a fair deal in the arrangement. If you are willing to entertain that kind of setup, then counter-propose that. Otherwise, you're not available.
posted by ambrosia at 10:38 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I have a rental property and I would never ask my tenant to do this. Occasionally I have them answer the door for the plumber or some service personnel, but this is something agreed upon beforehand. What your landlord is doing is wrong on many levels and you may be wise to rent from a more level headed person next go around.
posted by dgran at 10:40 AM on October 11, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by dgran at 10:40 AM on October 11, 2010 [3 favorites]
Do not do this unless your landlord wants to pay you a hefty broker's fee. When I did this for my landlords, I was paid between $500 and $800 for the effort (in a semi-crappy part of Brooklyn), depending on the rental rate of the apartment I was showing. This kind of work is priceless for the people who have no one else to do it, so don't give away your time. Also, the fact that she gave out your personal phone number without asking you is a pretty big deal, and should negate any sympathy you might have for her plight.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 10:49 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 10:49 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
What do you want out of this situation? You can have peace and quiet, which means saying no and telling your landlord "please do not give out my contact information again." Or you can negotiate a fee for the service. Or you can do a favor, but given that your landlord is out of state, what favor could they do for you in return other than be a decent landlord, which is not a favor?
Decide what you want, then act. You don't have to do what your landlord wants, but there may be a benefit in doing so.
posted by zippy at 10:58 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Decide what you want, then act. You don't have to do what your landlord wants, but there may be a benefit in doing so.
posted by zippy at 10:58 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Your landlord dropped the ball and is trying to use you to look like they are on top of things. Unless your landlord is prepared to make it worth your time and effort, this is well outside your lease agreement.
And they giving out your info without your permission is extremely bad form. Anything you do agree to do for this person needs to be in writing and feel free to ask for the moon (a month of free rent for each time you show an apartment or more).
posted by fenriq at 11:00 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
And they giving out your info without your permission is extremely bad form. Anything you do agree to do for this person needs to be in writing and feel free to ask for the moon (a month of free rent for each time you show an apartment or more).
posted by fenriq at 11:00 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
This is such a slippery slope not only because it's just plain rude, but in many states you have to be licensed as a real estate salesperson to show property that is being offered for lease or sale (unless it is your own personal property). I would not want to get wrangled into this particular situation because I would not want to misrepresent myself as someone I'm not. This would be a perfectly acceptable response to this request, by the way.
PS Unless you are a licensed real estate practitioner, it is probably ill-advised to accept money for practicing real estate, no matter how innocent the intentions or appearance.
posted by FergieBelle at 11:27 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
PS Unless you are a licensed real estate practitioner, it is probably ill-advised to accept money for practicing real estate, no matter how innocent the intentions or appearance.
posted by FergieBelle at 11:27 AM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Call her (don't text) and say something like, "I'm sorry for any misunderstanding, but I'm not available to show other units in the building. I'd appreciate it if you didn't give any other prospective tenants my private phone number because I'm simply not able to accommodate them." Don't offer further explanation because you don't owe it and giving it will allow your landlord to make further arguments. Let there be an awkward silence if you need to (i.e., Landlord: "Why can't you do it?"/You: "I just won't be able to"/Landlord: awkward silence). Don't be afraid of an awkward silence, it can be useful for getting what you want.
Play dumb, not annoyed--like you're literally just saying, "I'm sorry, I can't do that favor for you," rather than, "I can't believe you would ask me to do that!"
posted by Meg_Murry at 12:13 PM on October 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
Play dumb, not annoyed--like you're literally just saying, "I'm sorry, I can't do that favor for you," rather than, "I can't believe you would ask me to do that!"
posted by Meg_Murry at 12:13 PM on October 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
Add me to the chorus saying don't do this. Also, reply that you want your landlord to stop giving out your personal information.
posted by TooFewShoes at 12:13 PM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by TooFewShoes at 12:13 PM on October 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
"Sorry, I'm not home right now."
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:31 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:31 PM on October 11, 2010
Second the "I'm not home" suggestion. You don't want to burn bridges, but you shouldn't feel obligated to do it.
posted by atetrachordofthree at 1:39 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by atetrachordofthree at 1:39 PM on October 11, 2010
"I'm sorry, but my work and personal schedules don't allow me to handle this on your behalf. Going forward, I would appreciate it if you would ask before giving my personal information out to strangers. Thanks!"
posted by davejay at 2:40 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by davejay at 2:40 PM on October 11, 2010
Response by poster: I ignored her, however another perhaps less circumspect tenant agreed to help her. We had words and he now sees things my way and will not do her such favors in the future.
Thank you very much for the helpful and varied replies! And, FWIW, ORC is meant to be Ohio Revised Code, not “my landlord is an orc!”
posted by vkxmai at 5:10 PM on October 11, 2010
Thank you very much for the helpful and varied replies! And, FWIW, ORC is meant to be Ohio Revised Code, not “my landlord is an orc!”
posted by vkxmai at 5:10 PM on October 11, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dfriedman at 10:02 AM on October 11, 2010 [4 favorites]