Tenant threatening landlord

[f6rebel]

Thanks in advance for the assistance here. I'm a landlord with two homes on one parcel - both are rentals. Part 1. One is a smaller home much like a granny unit. The power to the 'granny unit' runs from a panel (meter)on the main house - also a rental. Because the 'granny unit' does not have it's own meter (therefore no way to determain the amount of power used), I have been crediting $200 per mo back to the tenant of the main house to offset the additional power usage they are billed for. Part 2. I have informed the tenant in the main house that - should she not pay on time this month - that she will be recieveing a letter to 'pay or quit', after which she has 7 days to pay the rent or I will begin legal proceedings to evict. She now threatens (via email) that she 'could' take legal action over the power arrangements of the two homes sharing one meter (which she states is illegal) - and also states that it's illegal to have a single mail box for the two homes to share (which they do). I have let her out of her lease early - 3 months of 12, and she is planning to move at the end of Feb. BUT this person habitually lies and I have had nothing but problems with collecting the rent from her (has been 30 days late before) so I thought I should begin the eviction proceedings with the letter to 'pay or quit' just in case she feels like staying longer (I have the home rented to another party beginning Mar1). Phew - that's a lot I know. Questions - are those things (the power and the mail box issues) illegal? She new about them up front before renting the home. How much legal trouble could this cause me. I don't mind fixing those issues if they are illegal, but if not -I have never had any complaints from anyone else and so would leave it like it is if it's not breaking any laws. Thanks again for any help or suggestions.

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

It's unlikely that one power source is "illegal" based on state laws; however, there may be some local rules that address this. Call your local power company to confirm.

It's also unlikely that either issue will mean much should you two go to court for eviction for nonpayment of rent. Your tenant has lived with this situation for the past 9 months without "suffering" until you suddenly bring up the fact that she needs to pay her rent on time.

Judges handling these type of cases are quite aware that folks defending issues like not paying their rent on time tend to reach deep in their back pocket to sling all sort of excuses around the courtroom, hoping at least some will stick on the judge.

Gail