Ok, on Jan 15, I rented an apartment to an unmarried couple with a 4-year -old daughter. Previously, they lived with a relative due to moving back to Chicago. Male works two jobs and the mother works one full-time job.

So far:

They "complained" about the wall color and wanted to repaint it. Per the lease, redecorating is NOT allowed!

Next, they wanted to know my rules regarding hanging photos on the wall. Small ones that don't cause damage.

Cold inside the apartment. Well, the ceilings are 11 ft high, wooden floors and exposed brick. BTW: They don't have curtains in the 5 ft tall windows (10 total), no carpet on the floors and they sleep on top of blankets laying on the floor 9no beds, yet.

Heat is not coming out of ALL of the vents. Some of the vents are intakes.

They don't know how to hook up the gas line to their stove. CALL THE GAS COMPANY!!!

It's unacceptable that he can not barbeque in the backyard. Per the lease agreement, due to insurance issues, barbequing is not allowed on the property.

Here's the biggie...she found out she's pregnant, now they want me to do them "a favor" and shorten it to 6-months because they will need a larger space for the new baby. Not my problem. I turned down other potential tenants.

The next 11 months are going to be interesting.

Stay strong, sounds like they are testing you, you sound like you are seasoned. The stronger will wins. Congrats on that. I do hope it goes well.

...you need to take repair requests in writing and not be so accessible. You should be providing window coverings to eliminate multiple holes in the woodwork for blinds/drapes.

#1, Painting is covered during my thorough lease explanation during signing. Usually takes 45 minutes to go over everything.

#2 Picture hanging is also covered in the lease during lease signing. All tenants are made aware to set aside at least 45 minutes for lease signing so we can go over everything.

#3 Cold inside the apartment, tell them to turn the heat up. If I supply heat, let them know that heat is pre-set at 68 to 70 degrees. Also, if apartment is empty, heating will take longer, since there is not very many furnishing to take up the extra space. I would end that conversation with them at that.

Score so far: LL-1, New tenants-0

#4 Heat not coming out of all vents, Maybe so of the vents are closed? And yes, some are intakes.

#5 Gas line? Is it their stove? their problem. Do you not supply appliances?

#6 B-B-Q, mmmm, tough one. depends on where you live. 2nd story balcony with grease dripping on New Harley Davidson of tenant below? Maybe issues. Out in the country, I would let the B-B-Q slide, as long as it was maintained and not right next to the house.

#7 SHE BE KNOCKED UP!?!?! Who da Daddy? Cimba? I'm sure there is no lease clause in your lease ending it as a result of unexpected pregnancy. ALSO, Do you use an early lease termination? If so, Cha-Ching, send her, her baby, and her low IQ on to the next LL!

@NE:

#4. Vents are open, but they did not know what an intake vent was/is. They are paying for their heat. Each unit has a separate furnace in which the tenant is responsible for adjusting and paying the heating bill.

#5. No, I no longer provide appliances. First tenants stole them from another apartment so I no longer provide them. And, I don't want to hear from my tenants if the stove or frig don't work.

#6. Last tenants left the backyard a total mess after their barbeque. This included chicken bones, beer cans and maggots left in the yard. Eek!

#7. No early termination clause regarding a baby. Not my problem. Tenant doesn't have a low IQ, she just received her MBA.

@Wallace: ALL of the windows have blinds. The tenants refuse to put up curtains.

This is no biggie to me. Lots of new tenants have questions. Some call, others just do without asking.

Lease covers all these questions.

A good Lease Signing Ceremony would have covered common concerns and they would not be calling.

Be businesslike and return their calls, calmly restate the policies contained in the lease.

Good luck, and stay strong. Train them up in the way they should go, and when your lease is 11 months old they will not depart from is (without a hefty ding to the security).

@Brad: You're correct. Not a biggie. I return all of their phone calls. They are better tenants than the previous one...the self-entitled, young skeezer who tried to turn the building into a cathouse and drug store.

Slowly, I'm training them and appreciate they ask questions instead of "fixing" the issues. Ya know, a DIY (do it yourself) tenant who thinks s/he is improving the apartment with unneeded, unauthorized and unapproved repairs and upgrades.