Many years ago, I owned some properties in Milwaukee, WI. One of the tenants in a three unit building became seriously delinquent and defiant. We were arguing over many things, including her claim that the heating was insufficient. She complained to the local agencies, all the while bragging about not paying any rent. It was known by everyone she had damaged the heater, but of course no proof.
My company at the time was in Granada Hills, CA, and I had very little knowledge of WI rules. The agency enforcer told me to get it fixed to their standards or they would condemn the property. I asked, “When a situation like this happens, do you condemn the building or only the one unit.?”
“Only the one unit,” they replied.
I said, “Fine.”
So, they condemned the unit and moved her out immediately.
That building taught me a rule that you never buy a building with master utility meters. Do you ever wish that you could go back and have a second shot at some situations?
Fast forward many years to Studio City, CA.
A tenant in a 40 unit apartment building was the personification of a bad tenant. Loud, obnoxious, argumentative, and did not follow rules, especially concerning noise levels. Tenants were very angry.
He addressed my manager with a racial slur when paying his rent once in pesos. On that one my manager, a wonderful person, took immediate action and decked him.
We served him the three day notice to stop the antics, personally. Then, the unlawful detainer became a problem. He was a master at getting into his apartment fast and locking the door. The manager could not serve him. He could not get close enough to drop the form and tell him he was served.
So, we had a meeting of the tenants, and I explained the situation. I got copies of the unlawful detainer papers for everyone. Anyone who got him would get somewhere around $300 in today’s dollars.
They got him before nightfall. We still had to go through the full legal process, but he was out.
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