I’m a landlord… I don’t answer tenant’s calls & I charge them extra if rent is late – I know it’s bad but I don’t care
A LANDLORD has divided opinion after telling tenants not to call him, fix problems themselves and charging late fees no matter what.
Scott Ulmer sparked debate after claiming his approach to the job will cut out “90 per cent of landlording headaches”.
He said he only has two rules – pay your rent on time no matter what and fix issues yourself.
“I have owned properties for 26 years and been a landlord for 26 years and I can tell you I’ve seen it all and I’ve certainly heard a lot of horror stories – and unfortunately experienced a lot of horror stories”, Scott shared on TikTok.
“I always say to my tenants some variation of this – ‘I want you to know right up front I’m not a good landlord, I’m the person that if you call me at 2am I can promise you there’s a 100 per cent chance I won’t answer the phone and I won’t call you back’.”
The controversial landlord explained he tells tenants he does not want to be bothered in early hours of the morning when there’s a clogged toilet.
“If you’ve caused it you fix it”, he added.
“We have some very simple ground rules that can make the relationship very effective, efficient and pleasant.”
And there are only two requirements, according to the real estate speaker and trainer.
“Number one, make your rent on time, I have a sliding scale for late fees, five per cent after first five days, 10 per cent after ten days, etc, that can add up very quickly.
“I tell them whether their grandmother dies or not, I’m going to charge a late fee.
“I have my own problems, you don’t want to hear mine, I don’t want to hear yours. There’s really no exceptions.”
The second rule Scott sets is if there is a problem or something breaks – “just fix it”.
“Knock it off the rent, include the receipt, and I will honour it every time – if I find you abusing it one time I will take that privilege away”, he explained.
However, if there is a major problem he will take care of it straight away.
If something goes wrong with your heating or plumbing Scott reassured he would get someone out to his tenant immediately.
“Aside from that there’s no reason for us to talk”, he said.
“You should never need to call me, I should never need to call you.
“Anything outside those two rules, it will probably not end well for you.”
Scott claimed this tone will “set the stage” for a professional relationship and tenants should never be treated as friends.
“This approach will save you 90 per cent of the headache calls”, he concluded.
But not everyone was supportive of his attitude towards the role.
One commented: “This is a business for me but don’t make me do any work.”
Another wrote: “I will never rent from this person or anyone like him.”
“I have the exact opposite approach, I developed a great personal relationship with every tenant. Life is better that way”, claimed a third.
Other employees in the real estate industry also disagreed with Scott’s approach.
I tell them whether their grandmother dies or not, I’m going to charge a late fee.”
Scott Ulmer
“As a Realtor and a property manager I wouldn’t suggest to ever let a tenant fix something. Have it fixed professionally and charge the tenant if needed”, posted someone else.
One joked: “Man treats tenant like children.”
But there were plenty of people who agreed with what Scott had to say.
“You’re my kind of landlord, I take care of the place, pay you on time, you leave me alone”, said a supportive user.
Another agreed: “I don’t know why it is so hard for people to understand take care of the space where you live and pay on time – simple.”
“Best advice to a landlord, this creates a very professional relationship for both parties”, wrote someone else.
It comes as another landlord was slated on social media for shamelessly demanding a 20 percent tip from his tenants when they pay rent.
Kevin and Matthew, who dub themselves the Property Prince and the Flippin Landlord Ninja, encouraged fellow letters to cash in further on their tenants.
In a video on TikTok, the pair acted out an exchange in an attempt to justify their reasoning for the hefty charge.
They said: “So you’ll tip a barista who pours overpriced coffee into a cup, but not the guy whos on call 24/7 to make sure you have a safe home?
“You’ll tip an extra 25 per cent for somebody to carry you a basket of chicken wings, but you won’t tip someone who responds for after hours emergency calls?
“Well, I guess when its time for your lease renewal I’m gonna make sure gratuity is included in your rent.”
And one greedy landlord came under fire for doubling the rent of a mum already working two jobs to survive.
Raul Bolufe, from Miami, was slammed for threatening to evict his tenant if she didn’t increase her payments from $1,100 (£930) to $2,500 (£2,100) a month.
The unaffordable price jump sparked outrage from both the working mum and people watching the scene unfold on TikTok.