Have you had fear or hatred from a tenant? I don't think I did until the last one, the mold lady called the police when I put a mandatory water notice up in the common hallway. But she was probably just trying to get me in trouble. I think she went nuts for some reason.

Anyway, yesterday I was waiting for an inspector to reinspect the new gas heater and central AC unit. The heater guy had used the wrong clamp on an aluminum cable so they failed it.

So I spent part of the time sitting in my car out front in the warm sun reading. They give a window of time from 9AM until 2PM Then I came in and waited and then he pulled up around 10:30 so I went outside to make sure he came in the best way to get to the basement. I stood there while he fiddled around in his car.

Pretty soon the upstairs tenant's father speeded up in his car and slammed on the breaks in front ot the house. I waved hello to him. Tenant is a, young female new mother, with the baby's father. So her dad gets out and walks up to the door just as the inspector and I are going in the other door. I hear the dad say to the daughter.

"She is hanging around here because she is waiting for the inspector". This woman called her father to come to the house because I was there in the empty downstairs apartment waiting for the inspector.

Now the previous tenant, the mold lady, left a letter for them saying how bad a landlord I am. The woman's grandmother goes around saying that I am nice but "don't cross her". Well yeah, isn't that true for everyone?

The new tenant who hasn't arrived yet for the downstairs asked me if I was checking the place every day. I don't but I will check once a week with the handyman now.

Ally, you're too involved in your tenants lives. I know it feels good to give them money for a kid, but don't. Also, why are you inspecting weekly? That way too much.

I agree with NE. You're caring too much what they think of you. The old tenant may have caused some fear in them so they may now have a suspicious mindset.

Ally, to me, you sound like a thoughtful and responsible landlord, and generous as well in giving the young couple with a new baby some money off of the next month's rent. I hope on some level they were appreciative rather than feeling weirdly entitled.

As for hatred or fear of landlords, I think that's problematic as we deal with all kinds of tenants. Sometimes we get lucky with our tenants, and it's also nice to put some kindness out in the world.

I think that the tenant with the baby probably was sleep-deprived and exhausted and noticed that you were at the property when she opened the door for her father. She probably wondered aloud about you being on the property. The father who seems like he's possibly from a previous generation's version of Fast and Furious just answered the daughter's question which probably was just fine.

I think that most tenants fear landlords in general, and you must know as psychic that fear usually is the kindle for hate. You are doing your best for your tenants, but many especially younger people actually or seemingly abhor support or contact. For some, it repels them.

In my experience a fear and hatred of landlords is cultivated by certain groups.

Portraying landlords as evil, greedy, selfish, uncaring, ect makes it easier for groups to "justify" more tenant rights and demands and also impose more penalties, hardship and difficulty on landlords.

If landlords are seen as "the enemy" (as opposed to regular every day people), then its politically acceptable to abuse them; nobody cares.

Thank you all for your thoughtful comments. I am concerned because I have no support system, or large male family member or employee to back me up. The handyman is a huge Germanic guy and will surely help visually when I go to check the basement.

Hatred from tenants is a precursor to violence toward the landlord. So I don't think exploring the topic means that I care too much what they think of me. I'd also prefer that they not move because they hate or fear the landlord.

Ally, people these days are completely off their rocker crazy. I am at the point where I avoid speaking to anyone outside of known friends or business.

Just today I asked my neighbor to deal with her barking chihuahua and she went off on me. This is someone I protected when another nutty neighbor chased his dog INSIDE her home!

The one flaw in my "fortress" on the hill is our rear yard connects to the neighbors with wrought iron so as not to obscure our views. So we can see into each others yards.

Ally, I've texted a tenant the day before to tell them I'd be out front waiting for an inspector . If I have any small tasks to do at their place, I'd tell them I'll do those tasks while I wait.

But, I have also on occasion said, I'm going to take a break and read a good book while I wait in my car. its good to remind tenants we need a break too. :-)

Newer tenants need to get used to me, so keeping the communication friendly helps too. Now, I only have single family, but it probably wouldn't hurt to let the other tenant know if one will be hanging around a bit. Especially a young mother. She's still feeling vulnerable, protective.

... I am concerned because I have no support system, or large male family member or employee to back me up. ...

nor do I BUT the day I need a large male, family or not, to help me do my job, is the day I get a new job.

I've said it before ... perhaps the area I live in ... but I treat my tenants with respect and I have none of these type problems ...and I've had A LOT of tenants throughout the years. Yes, some folks out there are "out there" but not the majority.

Parkside near Carteret is a gentrifying neighborhood and was once populated by doctors. There is crime there since folks come through looking for victims. If I lived there I would still have an alarm system and keep a gun in the dishwasher but I would be a lot more nervous and might have larger dogs. Also too close to the river. I would think the Carteret Arms would be a difficult rental.

I've had tenants say this "your mean".

To me that means I don't take b s answers from them and I want legit answers to questions. The dog ate my homework doesn't pay the bills and we can't support 63 SFH's that don't pay.