Recently went round with a departing tenant about blinds. She swore they were broken and used when she moved in. She said she told me that. I told her I had no record (or memory!) of that at all. Then she said she told my HUSBAND and that we should communicate better! :)

In fact, she was the first tenant to occupy the space after a renovation - all blinds throughout the house were new.

And in fact, even if they are low-quality: if you break 'em it's really easy AND CHEAP to replace it YOURSELF and then I won't charge you!

perhaps it would be normal for them to stop working, but not be damaged,,, for example if a part inside the horizontial shaft stopped allowing the blind to go up and down,,, if someone broke it then it would not be normal wear and tear.

They could last for 10 years if not abused. ABUSE is not normal wear and tear.

One of the things I have in my lease is below. Saves any argument.

As a convenience to Tenants. New Mini blinds are supplied and must be replaced with new ones by Tenants upon termination of lease.

Or landlord will remove before move in if requested.

Brilliant. Stealing it!

Except...except...the reason I supply blinds in the first place is because I don't want to see Sheets and Beach Towels thumb-tacked up in place of real window coverings. We supply cheap blinds, so they don't have to. But if I remove them at their request, chances are they will do exactly what I just said: stick up a sheet.

what Ken said! Brilliant!

It's one of the items on the Move In-Move Out checklist that the tenant has signed.

Replace blinds $15 -$45

WMH

In over 20 years nobody has ever requested I remove them. Thats really just to show a court I am reasonable and do not force the blinds on anybody.

Tenants appreciate the blinds. One less thing they have to do when moving.

Gives us some privacy before they move in.

And with replacing them when they move out. Tenants do not even think that far ahead to be concerned.

I use the $4 Wal-Mart blinds. In one house, they've lasted over 12 years, so anything less than that is clearly damage.

Bill to replace is $20 per blind. My handyman won't do it for less than $20, so my time is worth at least that much. If they want to save money they have two choice:

a) don't break stuff

How often do you have to replace blinds in your own house? I have some of the cheapo ones in my house that I've had up for over a decade. If they can last that long in my place (and I've got pets), destroyed in two years in a rental property is damage.

Torn, broken, and dirty mini blinds IS NORMAL for tenants. Now a good resident can stay 4 to 5 years with no blind damage. It's time to upgrade your residency requirements.

Joey - I agree with Ken - I am so tired of tenant's nickle & dime'n everything they damage. But more fustrating is that I am finding parents who won't tkae responsiblitity for thier own children's actions.

Resently tenant in 2FAM with two out of controll boys bought them bb/pellet guns. How did I find this out other tenant call to say lamp post light out ( she is a GR8 tenant ) could I change bulb. Sure when I get there the entire glass globe cracked and has a hole. When I look into the globe I see orange and neon green pellets. REALLY ?

I had no idea at first - I couldn't image how this happen all the neighboring homes are adults. When I speak to the tenant to tell her it looks like more then just bulbs. She tells me it is the two boys as well as other behavior.

I pick out the pellets - knock on the door with a large handful and as the father does he know what these are becasue now I am finding them EVERYWHERE in yard - flower beds driveway etc. Oh yes they are from guns that the boys HAD but they don't anymore.

REALLY?

I then tell him about the light - that was an accident and the boys said they hit it with baseball.

REALLY?

I explain how I picked several out of the lamp post light.

He insists that can't be so - and besdies they no longer have them and it was and accident - so he no responsible and the glass probably $20 at HD.