Posted on 07/20/2012 6:29:27 PM PDT by Krankor
I need some Freeper advice. I own a home with a garden rental apartment. My tenant is a nice person who pays her rent on time. She has a dog I like and he is allowed free reign to use the yard. I often go out and play with him. The dog loves to play under a lawn sprinkler and he does it for hours at a time. No problem. She often brings her friends' dogs to play in the yard with hers. Again, no problem. Unfortunately, she often leaves his little gifts in the yard for two or three days at a time. There's been many a time I've had to pick up after him just to cut the lawn. I've always tried to make her feel my home is hers, so I've been somewhat reluctant in pressing the issue about cleaning up after her dog. I have tried to be as diplomatic as possible in suggesting she pick up a little quicker after her dog. She does it for a couple of days but then just blows it off. With the recent heat wave, I became a bit more insistent about the problem. She agreed to be more vigilant. Needless to say, she again fell of the wagon. To make a long story short, it eventually came to a head and I insisted she pick up after her dog once a day. She thought I was being unreasonable, but I disagreed. I'd appreciate some Freeper input.
I have been on both sides of these types of rentals, as landlord and tenant.
If I were your tenant, I would pay for your maintenance of your yard and you would NEVER see a single turd. Landlords like you are rare.
It is very hard to rent with a pet, I know well firsthand, the landlord must charge accordingly.
I was a landlord and I accepted pets. # 1 rule, always get a big NON-REFUNDABLE deposit PER ANIMAL. #2 min one months deposit no exceptions (you will need it to repair the damage from the animal) #3 there will be damage carpet, urine on walls etc, always deduct from the deposit.
Leave the poo there, and just mow. You won’t be able to tell it was ever there.
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That’s the only way poop disappears in my yard (rain helps too). I never pick up poop. I mow over dog, horse, donkey, cow, and chicken poop. If I had to pick up poop daily, I would never have time for anything else.
However, I live on several acres, so I guess it would be different in a small yard.
Amen. Same here. Most rentals do not allow pets. She should be grateful and respect the home she is renting and clean up after her pooch.
Or, do it NGY’s way if you want to stay mad.
Keep moving the sprinklers around and water the poo in....you'll be happy, the dog will be happy and the lawn will be fine.
Yeah. We just hit the “cynic” button and it all comes out prophetic. Like we somehow “knew.”
A renter who pays on time and is pleasant to have around is gold. You’ll find out if she leaves and someone else moves in with no dog, but who doesn’t pay on time and isn’t pleasant to have around.
Don’t make a big deal. Let the lawn mower do the work of picking up the stuff. Thats why lawnmowers have grass catchers. And if it doesn’t have a grass catcher, there won’t be much there to worry about after you mow anyway.
Buy her a pie from a pie house and apologize for making a big deal out of nothing.
ya get lots of flys that way...
It is not about being mad. It's called RESPECT. As a renter myself I would NEVER leave my pets crap in the yard.
That being said, I now have 2 indoor cats, used to have 3. My landlord was concerned but gave me the benefit of the doubt that I would keep the brand new apt. clean.
I did. Now I'm down to two. Been here 8 years...nada a problem.
Most rentals deny anyone w/ a pet, especially a dog, which is why I have not adopted one. Cats are more easily accepted....however, it's still a thin line.
I would LOVE to have a dog. But as a renter, I will not because most DO NOT accept your application.
I strongly disagree. I see this as a case of passive aggression on her part - dog = her; lawn=you. I am mystified as to why you put up with this for one minute. Are you male? If so, it would seem to me that you have a crush on her. Get over it. I dislike this woman, because people like her make it harder for the rest of us who have pets.
If a tenant does not pay rent then they get EVICTED!!! rule #4 before you become a landlord memorize eviction laws in your state and determine the costs.
You’re not being unreasonable but you’re mixing business with pleasure. You are the landlord and she’s the tenant. There are lots of pet cleanup services out there. Find out the price of a service and tell her that if it continues you’ll have the service clean up and tack it on her bill. You can be polite about it and diplomatic, but you need to be firm. You should not be cleaning up after her pet.
I see this as a case of passive aggression on her part - dog = her; lawn=you. I am mystified as to why you put up with this for one minute. Are you male? If so, it would seem to me that you have a crush on her. Get over it. I dislike this woman, because people like her make it harder for the rest of us who have pets.
I get those little fly larvae eating bugs sent to me once a month. I just sprinkle them around the barn and yard, and I almost have zero flies in my yard or barn. They are the best bugs ever!
“A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.” - H.L. Mencken
‘It’s my home’ really cuts to the chase. You don’t have to explain, it doesn’t have to be reasonable; you are just setting an appropriate boundary, politely. Think of a good alternative - if she doesn’t pick up daily, you will raise the rent. Or she’ll have to mow the lawn. Or something that will be a simple choice for her. “The other choice will be xx.” I have used this quite effectively.
It’s like you would do for any 20 year old. Perhaps ‘making her feel like it is her home’ invites her to bring her pig-pen ways into your home. Perhaps a little more formality and a little less ‘let’s all be friends’ would help. Perhaps the informality makes you her parent in this situation, to her.
It's a lot cheaper than finding a new renter.
re: ‘leave the poo there.’ Hardihar.
Too much pressure and betcha she’ll put the dog down and move. Once again I fear for the animal. Sorry.
Some people need continuous management. you ingratiated yourself to her and the little baby.
Just gonna have manage it.
Yuh did a good thing
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