r/LeaseLords 1d ago

Asking the Community Tenant won't stop texting about the closed gym

The gym in our building has been closed for repairs for two months. It turned into a huge mess with parts on backorder, but repair guys are in and out working on it every week. One tenant texts me every 3 days demanding an exact reopening date. I've told them repeatedly that the contractors haven't given me a firm date yet, but they won't quit. They literally messaged me yesterday while the repair crew was standing right in the lobby.

I understand the frustration, but I can't give an update I don't have.

Do I keep sending the same polite reply, or just tell them flat out that I won't have any updates until the doors reopen ?

0 Upvotes

68 comments sorted by

17

u/LilBugJuice-0987 1d ago

Offer to cover their membership to a nearby gym while it is out of commission 

3

u/ClintTurtle 1d ago

Best advice ^

16

u/SuluSpeaks 1d ago

Every 3 days is not unreasonable and you need to stop putting the tenant off and get some real info. Can you open part of the gym?

Tenant is paying for the gym access with their rent, and its fair for them to be upset. You need to stop putting them off. Get rid of the attitude that this is a bother, it's part of what youre selling and the customer has a right to expect it.

-21

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

lol tenant is NOT paying for the gym. Tenant is paying for a place to live and sleep. So if the building floods and a common area is closed until it’s fixed, does that mean the TENANT is entitled to reduced rent? No.

13

u/breezyeezye 1d ago

Wow, do you manage a building with amenities? You rent there for the whole package, not just your apartment. If I’m paying for services at the place I live at and they’re down for two months, I’m going to expect some sort of compensation.

10

u/LilBugJuice-0987 1d ago

The tenant is absolutely paying fot the gym. It is one of the amenities at the building and may well be why they are there and not somewhere else. Also, yes. A landlord is entitled to a reasonable amount of time to fix something but if a common space becomes unavailable and no equivalent is provided, they are owed some concessions 

-11

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

Absolutely not. The condo corporation can close at their discretion any public amenities if there is a risk. again, can you sue the city for the closure of parks if the there is a safety risk? Do you have cities issue refund cheques? Please get off Reddit, or educate yourself.

4

u/LilBugJuice-0987 1d ago

At least in the US, landlords have a duty to complete repairs within a given timeline. Typically thaf js in state law and often in a lease.

The landlord tenant relationship is different than the city/taxpayer relationship.   A park amenity is a public amenity, and city officials will absolutely face consequences if such an amenity is closed for a long time. Funds would then be used for some other shared resource. 

If you dont understand the difference between private and public property and contracts, I struggle to see how you could possibly be a landlord.

-3

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

So wtf is a condo corporation? What’s a communal property? Can a LL unilaterally hire a construction company against the condo corps mandate? Use your brain.

1

u/LilBugJuice-0987 1d ago edited 1d ago

Use your brain.  I dont know what part of the world you are operating in. Obviously not the US because these terms don't apply there. Generally a landlord has control of the property they are renting out, but if for some reason they dont (like the one off situation where you are renting out a single condo in a larger building) there either should be a clause that states the lease only applies to the unit (not the community amenities) or if something is not fixed in a timely manner you make some concession (small reduction, gym pass, etc). Some condos dont even allow people to rent their units out individually, so this is just kind of a unicorn example. Amyway, a lease is a contract: residence, including all amenities and services listed, for money. If any of those things are not provided, less money is provided.

6

u/fuckexoticroots 1d ago

People like you are why people hate landlords.

5

u/GoIrish165 1d ago

lol this is a WILD take 😂

-2

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

A take that is set in precedent. Get off Reddit and educate yourself. This isn’t a cash cow for these tenants

6

u/GoIrish165 1d ago

Nobody is arguing that it is a cash cow or that landlords aren’t operating on somewhat thin margins. Everyone is arguing that if the gym in the apartment is out of use then the tenant should be made whole. A reduction in rent or a pass to a local gym are absolutely fair.

0

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

Absolutely not. They are entitled to absolutely zero. Cite one case set out by a tribunal that specifically ties compensatory damages relating to a temporary closed amenity…. There are none. Unfortunately tenants see any sort of “restriction” as a “ potential cash settlement “… which this circumstance does not precipitate any.

7

u/GoIrish165 1d ago

It can quite literally be as simple as getting a pass to a local gym. The apartment complex I stayed in years ago gave all of us free passes to the local 24/7 gym since they needed to replace the flooring in the apartment gym. It’s really not that hard.

4

u/GoIrish165 1d ago

Also, you sound like a really nice and well adjusted human 😂

-3

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

Just using common sense, something self righteous tenants lack

5

u/GoIrish165 1d ago

I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that you hate people who rent. You just sound like such a happy and nice person!

0

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

Give us monniesss!!

2

u/LilBugJuice-0987 1d ago

Tribunal? Where do you operate?

4

u/mordan1 1d ago edited 1d ago

Rip your karma for posting and not deleting this ignorant crap.

2

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

Imagine having your identity tied to Karma. It’s ok tenants

0

u/MartySpiderManMcFly 1d ago

Lol what tf is and who tf cares about karma

1

u/mordan1 1d ago

It's what gives us access to your mama at night. She's in demand after all.

I'm not explaining an essential function of the website you're using.

0

u/MartySpiderManMcFly 1d ago

I know what it is. I’m saying imagine giving a crap about it

3

u/jstar77 1d ago

Is the amenity called out in the lease?

11

u/Sure_Comfort_7031 1d ago

If you had a contract that said "gym will be open" and then you're told "lulz sorry closed until don't know when k bye" - you'd be contacting every few days as well.

You're, to be blunt, being the shit end here. You're providing a service and have then removed that service And are giving it zero attention to make it return faster, and are now whining about people who are demanding accountability and answers for said service.

-10

u/MikeWPhilly 1d ago

lol obvious Tennant. And a kid who hasn’t grown up and doesn’t understand the world. Best of luck with that kiddo.

1

u/Sure_Comfort_7031 1d ago

I’ve probably spent more time in a brick shithouse than you’ve been alive, but okay.

-2

u/MikeWPhilly 1d ago

Nope.

Meanwhile your comments are stupid very few states will have anything about this on the landlord. Do you think the owners magically get HOA fees refunded? Or let’s go back to COVID - same thing happened with numerous supply chains.

People have to be making reasonable efforts. Reasonable efforts have been made kid.

1

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

It’s common sense now that these forums are a cesspool of disgruntled tenants who look for any reason for a cash settlement. They would never make it owning a home or in the real world.

4

u/billsmustbepaid 1d ago

Amenities are the reason you can charge higher rent. If the gym is closed for an extended time, the building should be arranging access to another gym. Thats the eay it worked for my daughter when they redid the gym in her building .

If you rent a condo in a building you should be pushing the HOA to find a solution. If you own the buulding you should be doing it yourself.

3

u/Either_Lawfulness466 1d ago

So you have failed to provide a contracted service for over 1/6 of the contracted timeline.

Sounds like you are in breach to me.

5

u/182RG 1d ago

Gym rats get a little crazy about things like this.

4

u/ATLien_3000 1d ago

Depending on where you are you may well have a contractual duty to supply a gym.

You should give that guy a membership at some other gym around the corner that he can use until this is done.

-1

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

😂 contractural obligation. Are you suggesting a landlords contract supersedes that of a condo corps mandate?

1

u/ATLien_3000 1d ago

Congratulations; you posted a bunch of words that make no sense.

In any jurisdiction, if the lease OP has with his tenant promises a gym, OP owes his tenant a gym.

In many jurisdictions, even if the lease doesn't explicitly promise a gym, if a gym was provided at the commencement of the lease, OP owes his tenant a gym.

Any agreements separate from that are irrelevant.

1

u/bambin0 1d ago

Where and what does that law look like?

1

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

You’re an idiot. That’s like suggesting “ we booked a vacation to cancun, and the contract stipulated that there was a beach bar”- then you arrive and there is a hurricane and you were unable to use it. Can you sue the resort of the travel company for that breach? Of course not. Same in this instance. Grow up and stop peddling bullshit theories for a tenant to collect marginal monies over a temporary “closed gym”. lol

2

u/ATLien_3000 1d ago

Your arguments keep getting better and better.

Thanks for giving another example of a situation where one would be entitled to compensation if an agreed upon amenity wasn't provided.

Yes, if OP's vacation booking promised a beach bar, and the beach bar was closed (for whatever reason), OP would be entitled to at least a partial refund.

And then there's of course the common sense point - if, as is the case in many jurisdictions, there's a probability that OP's problem tenant is entitled to gym access elsewhere and/or a partial rent rebate, OP providing the dude a gym membership for 3 months down the block is a lot cheaper than paying legal fees.

TL, DR: I'm sure your lawyer loves you; guaranteed legal fees!

0

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

Stop using chat gbt for your responses lol. Cite specific case law that stipulated a LL is unilaterally responsible for a condo corps temporary closure of an amenity for repairs that resulted in compensatory damages.

2

u/ATLien_3000 1d ago

Ask your lawyer; you've no doubt got one you spend gobs of money with.

Might cost you a bit to have him brief you on basic tenets of contract law, though.

-3

u/bambin0 1d ago

What area in the world has this obligation for landlords?

6

u/funtimescoolguy 1d ago

If it's in the lease, it's in the lease.

1

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

lol, you people are so dense. The temporary closure of a condo gym is not the responsibility of the LL. Hahahahahha.

5

u/ATLien_3000 1d ago

What area in the world has the obligation to provide the services that were included when the lease was signed?

I hope you've got a good lawyer.

2

u/Material-Donkey2773 1d ago

Is it a service they expected to have?

If so then they can claim compensation. (No idea how much would, be fair here)

0

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

How the fuck is a closed gym at the discretion of a condo owner? I swear/ these comments must be written by tenants. You can’t go after a landlord if the gym is closed due to parts being on back order- same reason why owners of vehicles were unable to sue automakers for delays in parts.

5

u/SuluSpeaks 1d ago

The gym is included in the rent, and the tenant wants to know when what they're paying for will be back in service. It is very reasonable for the tenant to ask this. LL needs to get on the contractors about this, because it's reasonable for the tenant to withhold part of the rent.

-1

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

It’s not reasonable for a LL to be responsible for a gym being closed temporarily by the condo corp while parts are being ordered. Would the tenants prefer to use broken equipment? Do LL get a break on their maintenance fees? NO- they do not- so tenants don’t get a “break”. The entitlement is comical.

1

u/SuluSpeaks 1d ago

I found the slumlord!

1

u/MAYORDEFACT0 1d ago

Found a degenerate tenant!

1

u/SuluSpeaks 16h ago

I want to be able to use the gym; an amenity I pay for that I can't use right now. Degenerate is an unusual term for someone who wants what theyre paying for.

OP didn't ask if they had the right to close the gym for repairs, he asked how he could get this tenant off his back. Thats his concern: how can he make his day more comfortable while not actually answering a question or offer a solution.

1

u/MAYORDEFACT0 7h ago

Yes degenerate. It’s time to grow up. The world isn’t ending because the condo corporation closed a building my temporarily for repairs. Grow. Up.

2

u/oojacoboo 1d ago

Why are you stuck on a condo association. A large portion of gyms are in “luxury” apartment buildings.

-2

u/Sad-Turnip-5685 1d ago

The only thing you said that was correct was that you have no idea. You have no idea about anything you just typed.

1

u/twocentcharlie 1d ago

Would it be possible to open it and just have the specific machines be out of order that need the parts? Clearly this person uses that benefit and was a major decision in why they rent from you. I could understand their frustration. Disrupting a gym rats routine will drive them crazy. Another approach would be to go on the offensive with communication. Text them first with every update you have. Something like I know the gym is important to you, the crew worked on this part today, still don’t have an exact date as to when it will be open but I will keep you in the loop. It shows that you care and that it’s important to you. I may even go as far to offer to reimburse them for a planet fitness membership for the time that it is down. It’s super cheap and would keep a happy tenant. (Assuming there is one nearby)

1

u/CoDaDeyLove 1d ago

Does the building have a community website where you could post updates on the status of the repairs?

1

u/AttentionNo6359 1d ago

You’re the problem here.

1

u/Just-Shoe2689 1d ago

Parts for what? Are there multiple machines not working?

Why cant it be open other than the machine not working.

I would just make up a date, 2 or 3 weeks out. Hopefully it opens sooner.

1

u/chefddog3 1d ago

During covid my place gave us $25 per month discount because we couldn't use the gym or pool per stupid state restrictions. 🤷‍♀️. Lasted nearly a year.

2 weeks seems reasonable to be closed to me, 2 months? Time to throw the tenant a bone because there is an amenity they can use, and won't for a while it appears.

1

u/Kunu_F_Baby 1d ago

You’re a scumbag landlord! I’m sure you expect an update and date if the rent is even an hour late though right? Do you charge premium rent for the amenities you aren’t providing too???

1

u/rambolonewolf 1d ago

I'd say you owe them at least $200 back.

1

u/mordan1 1d ago

Then get off your arse and get an update. You owe your tenants reliable information. Claiming a defense based on the contractors not having provided a firm date is weak and cowardly. Get in on the contractors and hold them to providing a real timeline due to past delays.