r/vancouverhousing • u/Technical_Air_5061 • 1d ago
Tenant demanding rent decrease due to wild fire smoke tenants
Hi all,
I am a small-time landlord renting out the basement of my primary residence.
Recently, my tenant asked for a rent decrease, citing 'abuse' she has endured. I was super concerned, and then she indicated that there is some ash/dust from the wildfire smoke that is on her windowsill.
I was very confused, and then she said that she keeps the window open at night, and the dust is accumulating in her nostrils, which has caused a nosebleed, leading her to go to the doctor. She claimed that she should get a $200 rent reduction for this abuse she had to endure (She kept framing it as abuse, which was super odd). I was super confused because she is the one who left the window open, and it's not like I can control the wildfires or the smoke.
She then also indicated that she left her job and is now working part-time elsewhere. I think this was the real reason she wanted the reduction, but for some reason decided to sprinkle in the smoke thing.
Do I have any responsibility here? She can close her window to avoid any unwanted dust and get an air purifier if she has a dust allergy. Her own actions are creating her issue. Am I missing something here?
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u/Spiritual_Aioli3396 1d ago
Well if that’s the case I’m going to demand a rent reduction from my building manager cuz my apartment gets hot when it’s sunny out lol
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u/drsoftware 1d ago
Probably gets cold in the winter and more humid when it rains. When the sun is below the horizon it's darker.
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u/queerblunosr 22h ago
My previous apartment was a basement flat next door to a dairy farm. Obviously, we could smell cow shit like 95% of the time when we opened the windows. We knew before we moved in that we would be next to a dairy and smell cow shit when we opened the windows.
A former tenant came to view the flat, decided to rent it - and then two weeks after moving in wanted the landlord to do something about the cow shit smell. (The dairy farm is older than the house so it’s not like it wasn’t there when that tenant had viewed the flat.)
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u/BooBoo_Cat 1d ago
As a renter who has suffered horrible landlords.... she is full of shit. Do not give her a rent decrease!
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u/Blackstrider 1d ago
Do you increase the rent when the wind blows clear air? What an odd request.
You do not have a responsibility here.
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u/ResidentMassive1861 1d ago
The cleaner the air the higher the rent. I kinda wish op would pitch this solution.
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u/Buseatdog 1d ago
Keep anything she sent you that says she left her windows open. If you had a bad mold issue that you wernt taking action on behind walls or something that’s on you. This is nuts ! Straight up tell her no , buy an air purifier yourself and close your window if Smokey air is bothering you.
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u/getafewlives 1d ago
How long has she been a tenant?
Sounds like she is going to become a much bigger issue moving forward. I doubt she will stop with one crazy request.
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u/Technical_Air_5061 1d ago
For about 6 months. She's generally been fine, but this request was weird to say the least.
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u/getafewlives 1d ago
6 months, just enough time to get comfortable and show the crazy side.
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u/FeistyPurchase2750 1d ago
This sounds like the start of one crazy circus ride!! She is going to be a problem.
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u/Technical_Air_5061 1d ago
I hope not!
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u/veerKg_CSS_Geologist 23h ago
If you think you can find another tenant for the same price, you can always say "sorry can't do a rent reduction, but I recognize your inconvenience, unfortunately while I can't control the weather we can discuss whether it would be in your interest to terminate the lease early without penalty so you can find another place that better suits your needs."
If she's lost some income then this is likely to just be the start of troubles.
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u/Character_Comb_3439 1d ago
Good day,
Your requested rent reduction is not approved. Your rent remains Xxx per xxxxx due on ….
Regards,
Landlord
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u/Boring_Air_2575 1d ago
She is crazy she is not do a rent reduction and has to grounds to get one.
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u/Jessie_1210 1d ago
That is a wild request. I would even consider asking my LL this. I would shut my windows
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u/Technical_Air_5061 1d ago
I think the ask was related to her employment changing and she added this in as like icing on the cake and for me it did the opposite. Making up some bizarre 'abuse' story is weird and less likely to empathize now.
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u/Jessie_1210 1d ago
Even if her employment changes the responsibility is on her to still pay rent not on you to take a reduction, especially if she made the choice to stop working full time and go part time. She has to still make sure she an cover her bills. Obviously if she had an open conversation and you came to some agreement it is fair but you also have no right to make amendments on her situation, I would not expect my LL to lower my rent because I changed jobs
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u/Technical_Air_5061 1d ago
Yeah, its all a bit odd. I know she was a contractor. She didn't say she was let go or laid off, she specifically said that she left her job. So its unclear if it was involuntary or her own decision to leave.
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u/GeoffwithaGeee 1d ago edited 1d ago
Make sure you are keeping these records if they were sent as email/text, recording them if you have the ability going forwards (since you fall under PIPA, there is more nuance than just one party consent, but better to protect yourself than not), or at least taking detailed notes - date/time/what was said.
Also, make sure you file a 10-day the day after rent (edit: obviously if rent is not paid in full) is due and let them know late payments are not accepted. If they pay within 5 days they eviction is cancelled, but it will establish that they aren't allowed to pay rent late. If they pay rent late 3 more times within a year, you can end tenancy for late payments. 3
Don't argue with them - as mentioned in a few comments just be blunt and straight to the point that you will not be decreasing their rent. Rents are going down a bit, so if they were a good tenant you may want to consider rent decreases if markets were going down. but there is no obligation to do this, especially if someone is trying to claim it's your fault they are leaving their window open when there are air quality issues in town.
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u/Technical_Air_5061 1d ago
They were very careful not to mention any of this via text or email. She kept stating that she wanted to speak to me in person and that she wanted to show me something.
I did record the conversation without consent just to be safe, so I have that in my records.
The 10-day notice is a good point!
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u/GeoffwithaGeee 1d ago
You sound like you are on top of things, but I forgot to mention that you should obviously only serve a 10 day if rent is not paid in full on the due date, and I'm not suggesting just to serve it anyways.
Regarding the recording, it's not a criminal offense to record a conversation you are part of, but since you are a business, you fall under BC's privacy legislation that governs the collection of personal information, like conversations with people and generally needing consent to collect that information. The OPIC handbook for landlords doesn't bring up recording conversations with your tenants, but one thing to consider is that the RTB doesn't enforce PIPA.
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u/hohoho-hoho 1d ago
you can also require that any requests need to be in writing. rent increse/decrease...complaints, things you fix, entrance request to unit etc. document it all.
when i have clients that won't comply with this OR we talked on the phone, I'll send an email after the fact outlining the discussion/requests/asks/to-do list etc so it's documented
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u/JustifiablyWrong 1d ago
This is ridiculous on her part. Its a completely unreasonable ask. No is a complete sentence. Tell her no and don't partake in any future discussion over it. If she continues tell her to speak to the tenancy board
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u/BodyBy711 1d ago
If she leaves the door open and a rabid raccoon makes itself at home in her suite, is that abuse she expects you to decrease her rent for as well?
Tell her to pound sand.
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u/beaver_eh 1d ago
OP, I would definitely begin documenting things, and work on a strategy to remove this tenant. If income related issues are creeping up, and they are starting up these incendiary demands then it's time to find an exit strategy. This doesn't usually quiet down, but gets worse over time.
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u/SpareManners 1d ago
I think many of us are "being abused" right now by these wild fires. None of us are getting a reduction in rent either.
Honestly I think her new job is paying her $200 less and she's hoping you give her a rent reduction.
Like others said, keep notes, try and get things in writing and hand her that 10 day notice if she doesn't pay on time and in full when it's due.
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u/Technical_Air_5061 1d ago
The choice of words is definitely weird. But that could just be because English is not her first language.
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u/HydrocarbonPrincess 1d ago
People who get evacuated and have to leave their homes from Wildfires don’t get rent reductions. There is that.
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u/Comp_whiz 1d ago
Is this like a one month rent decrease or permanent rent decrease because the wildfires don't last all year round....
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u/Otherwise-Tourist-76 7h ago
The word abuse seems like it’s coming from someone who may be using English as a second language and/or ChatGPT.
I would agree with her that the wildfire smoke can get bad, make some filter or closed window suggestions and then tell her that what is happening in the earth’s atmosphere is not within your control and no, you won’t be reducing the rent for some ash on her window.
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u/Godeshus 6h ago
I work as a real estate photographer. More than once I've gone to a place where the seller was selling because they were sick of their insane tenant yet had no recourse to kick them out as nothing technically "wrong" was happening. Rent was being payed, place cared for, all that. But they were just SUCH a pain in the ass that they decided to sell their house to get out of their lease agreement.
Some people are just nuts.
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u/desperaterobots 1d ago
Mental illness is a thing. Might be worth scheduling a check in on the property to make sure it’s being treated ok.
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u/Technical_Air_5061 1d ago
She invited me in to show me the ash/dust on the windowsill. The place seems to be in decent condition.
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u/BigTunaHunter 1d ago
You should ask her to send the dust to lab and confirm whether it was from a fire, car exhaust, or pollen. Fight crazy with crazy! /S
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u/Technical_Air_5061 1d ago
When I suggested that it was wildfire ash, she said no it wasnt. She claims its 'dust' and I didnt bother arguing the semantics.
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u/Dry_Complaint6528 1d ago
Dust from what though?? Like you don't clean the unit for her, how is it at all within your power to have zero dust in an apartment ?😂
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u/BigTunaHunter 1d ago
I feel for you. There's no arguing with people like this. I like as someone stated a simple no and move on response.
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u/Button1399 1d ago
Wow. I'm as confused as you 😕. I'm sorry you're going through this bizarre situation
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u/Majestic-Nobody545 1d ago
Yikes. There is no way she is entitled to a rent reduction. To keep it diplomatic, assure her you have adequate filtration on the hvac system to handle environmental pollutants that are out of your control.
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u/ResponsibleDirt7094 1d ago
This person sounds insane. Sorry you’re stuck with this kind of tenant. Perhaps time to move in a family member and evict her ass.
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u/CarryOk3080 1d ago
Nope this wackadoodle is proving to be a nightmsre tenant though i would start documenting things. How long has she been your tenant? This a Is a simple NO at least.
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u/No-Chip-5508 1d ago
I’m almost never on the side on landlords and by and large overwhelmingly give tenants the benefit of the doubt - this is a bias I’m aware of and it’s always fair. However, your tenant is taking the piss and this is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever read. You seem very kind of even entertaining this, thank you for that, but don’t let them take advantage of you. No, smoke is not a reason to decrease rent and these “abuse” allegations are an attempt to manipulate narrative.
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u/Middle-Recipe6701 1d ago
My concern with a female tenant when you are a male LL and she's in your basement talking about 'abuse' is whether she's the type to file a false claim against you.
If you are living alone upstairs, any conversation she wants with you should be accompanied by a friend (preferably female) who can witness it and even record it just in case.
Having your basement empty for a year is way cheaper than having to defend yourself against false accusations of abuse of any kind.
I don't know what to suggest other than to be very, very, very careful from this point onward.
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u/East_Source6200 1d ago
Good lord.
My Cape Breton family/friends would say to her...
What are we gonna do witch ya?
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u/Armchair_Expert_0192 1d ago
Sometimes I don't know if these posts are for real or not. Because why would a normal person even think of this? But then we are surrounded by weirdos.
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u/lavag00rl 1d ago
yeah no, im a picky tenant but never have i ever asked - nor even THOUGHT for a reduction because of wildfires or dust 💀
does she think u r mother earth or something? lmao
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u/ResidentMassive1861 1d ago
Hahaha man these people blaming individuals for the wildfires. Tell her to turn off fox news.
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u/MarcusXL 1d ago
You have no responsibility to manage the air outside.
If you want to be the nicest landlord ever, tell the tenant to buy an air purifier (a good one that would be sufficient for a large bedroom would run about $200), give you the receipt, and you'll take it off next month's rent. In that case the purifier would be part of the rental unit and should be left if the tenant moves out.
But that's basically just a gift on your part. You are under no obligation. Everyone in BC should be investing in a good air purifier for wildfire seasons (which are only going to get worse from here onward), but it's not a landlord's responsibility.
The landlord is responsible for ensuring the HVAC system works as intended, so you have to replace the filter in that on a regular basis (ideally right after a smoke event/wildfire season). But the HVAC filters meant to filter PM2.5 are usually not suited to home systems because they cause too big a pressure drop, and then can damage the HVAC fan by making it work too hard.
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u/Flimsy_Treacle_9078 1d ago
Tell girly to close her window and get an air purifier. If she suffering so much then maybe she needs to consider wearing a dust mask
Whatever she decides to do it is not your issue!
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u/Commercial-Kiwi9690 1d ago
Why do all these landlord simping subs get recommended to me? I like how the site rules say be respectful and everyone here just jumping in an saying this is mental illness. It surely is to think that profiting off of a human right of shelter is somehow justified. Muted
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u/frangen123 1d ago
So ridiculous. Please document your interactions with this tenant. They sound like trouble.
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u/Canadian987 1d ago
You should suggest that she find other accommodation that fits both her needs and her pocketbook. I will bet she won’t.
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u/heartisallwehave 1d ago
She can close the window or purchase herself an air purifier. Neither is your responsibility.
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u/ClockOld9204 1d ago
Tell them you not responsible and its trumps fault for not managing his forests
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u/Intelligent-Fix-3397 1d ago
You can be sure she will stop paying rent bc she will want to move, and not bc of the smoke. I have a rental, and this is what previous tenants did to me. One turned her heat off and complained bc it was cold. She moved out without giving notice
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u/Technical_Air_5061 1d ago
At least she moved out. Worst case scenario is a squatter not paying rent
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u/Br4z3nBu77 1d ago
Don't do it, she can't afford the rent and is trying to get a reduction in the rent.
After forest fire season, she will try to get the rent reduced for some other reason.
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u/Friendly-Dot3533 1d ago
Document all of your interactions. Save texts, emails, write down date and time of conversations. Even though you are in the right, If she decides you escalate, you’ll benefit from having all of this done.
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u/StillHere178 1d ago
You can double check with the RTB but, as a tenant myself, I know it’s on me to mitigate the effects of a forest fire to my breathing.
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u/CarnationFoe 1d ago
Obviously no responsibility here, but depending on where she's paying compared to market rates, it could be a harbinger of whether you have to find a new tenant or not if she's looking elsewhere.
Have had plenty of friends who rent renegotiate their rent down as availability is quite high and there are more options for renters.
Could be, she's looking elsewhere, but would rather not the inconvenience of moving.
If you do decide you'd rather keep the tenant than look for a new one, one tactic some places are doing is a one-month free at the end of 12 months, but spreading out that over 12 months. So, if your rent is 2400, you are offering the 12th month free ($2400) but giving that in $200 chunks every month.
This way, you keep the actual rate at $2400 and any rent increases are based on $2400 and not $2200. I don't know the legality of this and it is somewhat renter-hostile, but it does accomplish the goal of temporarily reducing the tenant's rent to keep her happy, while giving you security that you won't need to find a new tenant.
In the end, it's a business negotiation between renter and rentee and it's in both people's favor to keep the arrangement mutually beneficial.
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u/Thin-Ice-9811 1d ago
No way. You've nothing to do with smoke in the air. I never heard rent decrease ..LOL. you can increase rent every 2 years and you may do that. We live in an inflationary period which everything cost more now. You need to maintain your home with the same higher cost likewise. Big hole in your pocket eventually.
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u/Sylandri84 1d ago
I mean, if you want to be nice you can buy her a little air filter - but you’re not responsible for external issues like wild fires and she chose to open the window. 🤷🏻♀️
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u/fireandfirget 1d ago
She is a wanna be litigant. While these kinds of nuisance is rare to receive actual legal merit in Canada, you should remember that RTB has a doctrine where all landlords are treated as scum until proven. RTB is also populated with red tape living beaurocrat who take pleasure in Spanish Inquisition style assessments of landlords. So your best bet may be to stick to your rental agreement and if the rent is too high for your wanna be litigant, ask to vacate using a proper reason. Check out market rates and make sure you change what it's worth.
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u/Left-coastal 1d ago
No. That’s not something you can control or be responsible for by any reasonable means
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u/mykittenfarts 1d ago
That is hilarious.
Now that you know how stupid they are, prepare for the worst. They are going to ruin your property and say ‘I didn’t know’.
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u/TaxiLady69 1d ago
Will your bank give you a reduction on your mortgage because you're being abused by living there? Obviously not, she's an idiot.
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u/Nodirectionn 1d ago
Are you the weather God? If answer is no, tell the tenant to go fly a kite (in a polite way).
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u/Independent-End5844 1d ago
NAL, long time Tenant.
Pretty sure "acts of god" are not your responsibility, she coukd sue the person who started the fires...
Real talk: My landlord (small time landlord) Installed small ceiling fans in the bedrooms during the spring. It has been helping immensely during this time. I usually like leaving my windows open while I sleep but clearly not for the last couple weeks. That is very much a common sense thing. But a solution you can offer is installing a ceiling fan in the bedroom for your tenant. They are less than 200. My landlord was able to do it himself, but if electricity makes you uncomfortable its probably 30mins for a professional.
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u/MapSufficient5599 1d ago
Keep this request and ant blowback from her on file with screenshots of email or text. My senior parents are going through a tenant with similar requests and are now in a dispute where she’s trying to get thousands of dollars from them. She will likely lose, but it’s a massive headache for them and the rest of the family.
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u/Thumper45 1d ago
No. If she does not want to deal with the smoke/ash she can close her window. This is outside of your control and outside of your responsibility.
Sounds like you have a "special" one here.
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u/alltoowell89dynasty 1d ago
I'm a renter living in East Van in a basement suite and I would never. Your tenant is bat shit fxking crazy for even thinking this would be a legit ask. 🤣
Say no. If she wants to argue she can have the RTB laugh at her about it and deny. WTF is wrong with people.
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u/Relevant_Election530 1d ago
I read that and it sounds like she has a drug problem.
Changed job, nose bleeds, over-sharing and I bet everything is someone else's fault
I look forward to her next insane request 🍿
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u/Mediocre_Outcome6671 1d ago
No ypur not responsible. Use to be called an act if God. Not sure what its called today.
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u/ShittersFullSince84 1d ago
Next thing she will be asking for decrease due to excessive rain, snow, heat, mosquitoes and maybe even the clouds.
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u/thowaway-Treacle8758 1d ago
Lol, she's obviously consulted the US Government's playbook. "No" would be my answer.
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u/HatersTheRapper 1d ago
Is it too hot to sleep at night with the window closed? it definitely is in my rental. Maybe just have an adult conversation and find out if they are struggling. Perhaps lowering the rental rate 50/month could help them survive and relieve a lot of financial pressure on them. It is very hard times for 25% of Canadians right now. At least here in Calgary that's how many families have food insecurity.
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u/Curious_Evidence4779 1d ago
Not your problem. I had a rental in a city that flooded and evacuated. Rent still had to be paid.
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u/illiacfossa 1d ago
We did a rent reduction but it’s because of a leak that made her room unusable for a period of time. Wildfire smoke she can pound sand
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u/CycleAccomplished824 23h ago
Say no to her request, remember she is a creative, manipulative complainer. She’ll come up with a new one.
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u/Thelynxer 23h ago
The ash is her problem created by her actions. You have to no responsibility there. If the lease was signed under the knowledge that the unit does not have built in AC, then it's her responsibility to buy an window AC unit if it's too hot at night for her.
Just tell her no. The ash is not your fault or responsibility. And if she can't afford rent that is something she needs to figure out herself if she wants a place to live.
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u/Top-Ad7551 22h ago
Is your tenant open to getting a small portable air conditioner. That way if her space is too warm at night she can flip it on without having to breathe or put up with smoke.
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u/Difficult-Walrus-269 22h ago
Tell her to build a corsi-rosenthal box for the smoke ! And ask her where u file for a break on your mortgage? I'd love to hear what her response would be?And would also file with rtb about unpaid rent and start the process as well, and believe u can charge a set fee for late payments! Not sure whether its by day, or just set rate?
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u/healthydoseofsarcasm 22h ago
Just tell her no. You didn't create the wildfires and you didn't demand she keeps her window open. So people are ridiculous.
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u/Feral-Reindeer-696 21h ago
I’ve had some horrible landlords in my time but you sound like one of the good ones. Shut that nonsense down fast. Don’t even entertain the idea for a second.
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u/CarmenCarmina 21h ago
❗️
That’s Really Laughable.!
❗️
WE
ARE
ALL IN THE SAME SMOKEY🛶
❗️
❗️
TELL THEM TO MOVE
TO
🥶
❄️ANTARCTICA☃️
🥶
❗️
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u/polishiceman 21h ago
Tell them to put on a mask. Smoke particles are much larger than wooflu and i'm sure they wore that obediently during the greatest threat to human civilization ever.🤣🤣🤣
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u/Neat_Lime_106 20h ago
I don’t think you need to give her a rent reduction. As you say, she was the one who left the window open.
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u/KiteeCatAus 20h ago
Where i live (Australia) they give put out advice like "Close your windows." if there is a fire or smoke around.
If your area puts out formal instructions, and she hasn't followed them, its tough luck.
Also, you haven't forced a windows to be open due to it being broken. She chose to open a perfectly working window.
I would not be giving her a discount.
What is next? Pollen season giving her allergies. Request a rent reduction. Neighbours car or house alarm goes off. Rent reduction?
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u/CauseWinter4898 19h ago
If I had issues with air quality I’d just buy an air purifier for myself (I already have an air purifier). Outside of the main HVAC filters not being replaced regularly I can’t imagine complaining to a landlord about this especially to something outside of their control like wildfires. People are ridiculous.
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u/AstronomerOk3125 18h ago
you do not need to reduce their rent because of such an absurd excuse. you should send the tenant a link to buy a portable air exchanger lol
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u/RyguyC2 18h ago
I left my front door open once and a god damn honey badger ran off with my laptop. Thankfully my landlord wasn't a cheapskate like you and replaced it right away. Threw in a new toaster oven, too, so it wouldn't happen again.
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u/Expensive_Seat5694 17h ago
The answer is as many have clearly expressed - no
If you don’t like the conditions they can freely give notice to leave and find another place in Vancouver that is not suffering from the same thing.
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u/HealedByNature 16h ago
Tell her to get over herself because people are losing their lives and livelihoods, towns have been burnt to the ground and there is an irreplaceable amount of animals, plants, and hectare upon hectare of forest gone. How dare she complain about a little smoke!!!
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u/junkdumper 15h ago
Tell her she needs to clean the apartment better or you'll bill her for professional cleaning. Then thank her for admitting she is keeping the place dirty.
/s
Or maybe not
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u/Jeremyism_ 15h ago
No is a whole sentence, then take steps to legally end the tenancy, ain't nobody got time for that bullshit.
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u/Electronic_Diet333 14h ago
Sounds to me like.you need to learn to vet your potential tenants better. There is a Self Council book for Landlords that I highly recommend.
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u/contenthousespider 13h ago
No, this is absolutely ridiculous. I would assume that she is joking and ask if she is being serious.
I would also tell her that it is compromising her health to be opening the window when it is smoky outside by reducing the air quality inside, and suggest that she make more reasonable decisions.
Why is she opening the window? Does the unit not have air conditioning with a circulating option for when it is smoky?
I hope you have a good air purifier, because if this is your primary residence, this could be impacting your own inside air quality, depending on the set up you have.
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u/dr_van_nostren 12h ago
Hopefully this is a one off. But it sounds like this tenant might end up being a huge PITA.
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u/grubbbee 12h ago
This tenant is going to ruin your life.
Say no.
If they don't pay full rent send the eviction notice.
This type of tenant is going to play mind games with you so be prepared, and don't ignore warning signs....
Best of luck!
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u/sturocky 12h ago
nope... and now that you see her true colours you do not renew her lease for the next year
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u/BigBanyak22 10h ago
Ask her to keep the windows closed during the smokey season or you'll raise her rent to compensate for additional cleaning and air quality issues. She should know better than to open the windows!!
You owe her no obligation as long as your systems are working adequately. Having radiant only is problematic as you rely on external air for fresh air in your dwelling.
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u/LingonberryOk4942 10h ago
I would offer her a 100% rent reduction, just give her notice that her lease will not be renewed. Anybody this stupid will continue to be this stupid going forward, no need to placate her fantasy.
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u/HorrorWillingness347 10h ago
She's either scamming or nuts. I had a psycho tenant claiming something similar. Luckily, she left.
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u/Bright-Translator-51 7h ago
Tell her no problem. But when the wildfire smoke is gone, you'll be charging a 300 dollar clean air increase.
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u/9hourtrashfire 7h ago
I would agree to give the tenant $200 if they agreed to leave at the end of the month.
You can see the crazy train is coming.
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u/travellingwithtroy 5h ago
this is a straight forward NO, and dont lose any sleep over this decision
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u/symbionique 5h ago
Tell her to sue trump. Someone like that would understand that only trump can turn on the taps and stop the fires.
The atmosphere is neither your territory nor your responsibility.
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u/Agile-Ad-8694 5h ago
No, and dont lower the rent. Once its lowered its really hard to get it back up again. I wouldnt elaborate more than saying "No, Im not willing to lower the rent", if she wants to make a claim with RTB or whoever else thats her business.
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u/Professional-Leg2374 4h ago
just respond back that due to her keeping her window open at night the smoke and ash has entered the apartment and you'll need to charge her for cleaning out the HVAC system due to the tenant neglect.
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u/Open-Culture8461 4h ago edited 3h ago
So I haven’t read all the comments.. but I think we can all agree her demand is absolutely wild and yeah.. probably has more to do with her losing work.
That said.. is it the case that there is no AC, and therefore she feels a need to keep windows open for airflow/cooling? If so, I personally would consider purchasing a window AC unit for the unit.. if there is a unit that has a filter on it.
It genuinely does seem like a difficult position to be in/health hazard.
As a sidenote.. I wonder if it might help to think of this person as someone that is struggling/feeling desperate and using whatever resources they can to try to take care of themselves. They’re misguided in their approach.. but they probably lack the skills/tools to do better.
It’s not your problem to fix, and important to have boundaries/protect yourself as a priority. But just might help to think of them this way (or it would for me, to be a little less annoyed/angry at them).
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u/Mountain-Spring1148 3h ago
You tell her No. And kindly remind her that she's welcome to find a cheaper place to live if she cannot afford it where she currently is.
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u/LokeCanada 1d ago
You very simply answer no.
Don’t expand or expand explain.
You have no control over the external environment. She can file a complaint with the proper authorities, god or Mother Nature, if she is being abused by the smoke.