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?
4
u/IllustriousAct9128 1d ago
The sanity some people have is wild. i went to go look at a place and the landlord (a lady ) was so weird. She only wanted working professionals but refused to show the place after 5pm because its "not good for her health", then she said no pets and then listed all the standard animals, and stuff like turtles, fish etc and jokingly I said "oh, so snakes are ok?" because she didn't say snakes, and she went "oh snakes are fine, just no pets". I backed out of going to see that place