 thermostat (by Dawn [NY]) Sep 1, 2013 3:50 PM
 thermostat (by Ellen [ME]) Sep 1, 2013 4:17 PM
thermostat (by Hollis [MA]) Sep 1, 2013 4:36 PM
thermostat (by Robert,OntarioCanada [ON]) Sep 1, 2013 4:43 PM
thermostat (by Heather [IL]) Sep 1, 2013 4:46 PM
thermostat (by frank [NY]) Sep 1, 2013 5:37 PM
thermostat (by V [OH]) Sep 2, 2013 6:34 AM
thermostat (by Gruvin [TX]) Sep 2, 2013 7:00 AM
thermostat (by Dawn [NY]) Sep 2, 2013 5:23 PM
thermostat (by Dawn [NY]) Posted on: Sep 1, 2013 3:50 PM
Message:
State Specific Question About: NEW YORK (NY)
I have a tenant from hell, who will be evicted next May, when the lease runs out...in the meantime, I got a letter enclosed with the rent check, DEMANDING that a thermostat be installed in their apt. It's a 4 unit bldg., with 2 thermostats. All the info I can find states only that I provide heat, not access to the thermostat. Am I missing something? May can't come soon enough! --72.10.xxx.xx |
thermostat (by Ellen [ME]) Posted on: Sep 1, 2013 4:17 PM
Message:
You can put one in, but if there is no separate zone then it won't do them any good. :-) Would they like to pay the cost of a zone separation.
The question is why do they feel a need to control the thermostat? It's too cold or too hot?
BTW, if it is at the end of the term it would be a non renewal, not an eviction, which is a court action because the tenant is not abiding by the lease terms. --70.16.xx.xxx |
thermostat (by Hollis [MA]) Posted on: Sep 1, 2013 4:36 PM
Message:
Can you keep the unit w/i legal heat range? Does he pay for heat? (I'm guessing not) if heat is in legal range,..Tell him ,......................................................................................no............................................................................................ Don't get into any argument or even dialogue with him..
(I just might send a letter with only the word "no" on the page, nothing else,..but that's just me.)
Now you might get some shenanigans like him leaving doors and windows open just before he invites the do gooders in to see the terrible conditions that he has to live in.
in many units I have several (some are dummies) wireless thermo sending units. I have hidden some too.one in a smoke detector, tenants can't figure out what they are. You can also glue them shut and have a handyman "rotate them,..taking them back to the office to clean and check them, replacing them with a smoke/thermosending unit. I find that batteries in them (thermo) last a year or two. I can tell by drive by parked in the driveway/curbside just what their temp is and from the receiver in the basement, I can tell the hi and low from the last reset.
One time I had a tenant that would have liked it 85 in the winter, would call and say its freezing. I would ask what the temp was and he would pick a low number like 60. He knew it would take me an hour to drive there. and of course he would then say the heat wa off all day but JUST came on. So I called him and asked how the heat was and of course he said a VERY low temp. My wireless thermometer said it was 76.He was shocked when I came to the door to check the heating system and everyone was in t shirts and some in skivvies.
--96.236.xxx.xxx |
thermostat (by Robert,OntarioCanada [ON]) Posted on: Sep 1, 2013 4:43 PM
Message:
Here the amount of heat required for a residential apartment where the heat is provided is determined by the local building codes when one view at the town or city hall. In the Town of Hanover for example the minimum temperature should be 21 degrees celsius or 70F under the imperial system regardless of the temperature outside. If the building has a boiler system one can install a electronic boiler control then install locking non-electric thermostatic valves which are made Danfoss or Honeywell Braukman which requires a key to adjust where the tenant can not turn up the heat. Another option is separate out the heat by installing a wall mounted high efficiency gas boiler in the rental unit then let the tenant pay for the amount of heat they use. If the tenant wants control of the thermostat then the tenant should be paying for amount of natural gas used. Tenants think they should have the same rights as homeowners when they don't have nickel invested in the property. One tenant told me that the rental housing providers are building equity. Replied you can build equity as well by going out then buying your own condominum. Once in while have some tenants who complain about the heat where they think if the windows and balcony door are left open the heat should go up to compensate for the huge heat loss. Ask them if they want rent turned up as well. One can install a thermostat but the tenant does not to have control of the thermostat. Electronic boiler controls often pay off in less then one heating season as on the warmer days or nights the heat does not come on which saves a considerable amount of natural gas, electricity along with less wear and tear on the system. --74.220.xxx.xx |
thermostat (by Heather [IL]) Posted on: Sep 1, 2013 4:46 PM
Message:
You tell your tenants that they rented the apartment with no thermostat and you are not going to put one, if a thermostat is so important to them then to look for another place to live.
You have PITA tenants, let them out of their lease, if you don't things will get worse, you need to put your foot down now. --66.87.xxx.xx |
thermostat (by frank [NY]) Posted on: Sep 1, 2013 5:37 PM
Message:
In NYC, we need to provide 68 during the day and 55 during the night if outside is below 55.
With that said I aim for 70-74. Many a time when the tenant complains there is a problem but we don't know what it is because we are not getting accurate feedback from the tenant.
If you had a thermostat in that apartment behind a locked glass do you think it would show 68 during the day and 55 in the night? If so, then put one up. If you can get one wireless so that you can check the temp at your convenience is good too.
In the city, I've talked to landlords and they can't guarantee the heat is getting to every apartment. They just keep on raising the temp until the tenant stops complaining, and then the landlord complains the fuel bill is too high and some apartments have their windows open.
I dont know your setup, steam, hot-water, forced-air. Why do you have two thermostats?
My houses are old and the pipe fitters that installed the heat 90 years ago where very smart compared to the plumbers that pass themselves off as heat experts. I've spent hours just sitting in the boiler rooms watching the thing function. I've gone into apartments to check the rads, over and over again. Many a time, the tenant is right. the apartment is cold and we are spending money for nothing.
After 94 I was able to keep a log of the boilers going on and off. I've used that printout (greenbar) to show the tenants that they were lying on more than one occassion.
If I had to, I would visit during a 40 or below day and go into the apartment every hour and check the temp. anything above 45 is going to real boring.
Bottom line, assume the complaint is real regardless of the tenant, investigate, remedy if necessary. but don't do anything just because the tenant suggested it.
--71.190.xxx.xxx |
thermostat (by V [OH]) Posted on: Sep 2, 2013 6:34 AM
Message:
Putting in a wireless that is more monitor than t-stat will help you keep your building under control, they can push-pull and spin but it really does nothing - many like this. I have recently become familiar with the mini-computerized systems where we used to use relays to control zone pumps and valves, adding a temp sensor on the outlet pipe was most effective when set for 140-160, this interupts the gas valve to reduce waste when return water is coming back too warm to heat. --75.94.xxx.xxx |
thermostat (by Gruvin [TX]) Posted on: Sep 2, 2013 7:00 AM
Message:
some wireless T-stats can be adjusted by you from your cell phone so you can reset them back to a normal temp if they kick it way up or down...
--99.126.xx.xx |
thermostat (by Dawn [NY]) Posted on: Sep 2, 2013 5:23 PM
Message:
Thanks for your input, everybody.....I decided today to write them a short letter telling them that I would not be installing a thermostat in their apt. and letting them know that I will GLADLY allow them to terminate their lease early if they so desire....will be so very happy to have them gone...
--72.10.xxx.xx |
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