Rental Business: Tenant in a Triplex Parked New Trailer on Driveway Without Permission?
Hi All,
I have a dilemma as a landlord how to deal with a new situation in a triplex in Canada:
One of the tenants called me earlier to inform me the other tenant has purchased a camper trailer (just the trailer, does not have the truck yet!) and parked it on the Driveway located on the right side of the property.
None of the tenants own/have a car and their old leases do not include parking space. However, their visitors including myself used to park their car on that driveway where he put his trailer.
I did not call the tenant who owns the trailer yet. The tenant who called me is not even sure when or if the other tenant will purchase a truck for the trailer. (he told them he will purchase a truck later and that he can park it there)
How would you deal with the situation: allow him to park the trailer there (and maybe truck later)? I mean what can he do with it now(!?)
On the other hand he did not ask me permission or even tell me about it in advance(!)
Any advice how to deal with this situation would be appreciated..
THANKS.
As the saying goes “it is easier to get forgiveness than to get permission”. You tenant did not ask because he knew what the answer would be. I would tell him to move it and store it off the property. He has appropriated a common area for his exclusive use and there must be something in your rental agreement that prohibits that sort of action. If there isn’t then you have a poorly written rental agreement. You have to put your foot down now or else he will continue to act like this in the future. I know from experience that it can only get worse.
I would notify ALL tenants, in writing, in a professional manner, that they are not allowed to park a trailer or commercial vehicle in the driveway at any time. By notifying all of them in a general notice you aren’t playing favorites. Not having seen the driveway in question I don’t know what rules I’d institute, but I’d get something decided quickly. There may be local zoning laws that forbid such actions anyway, so check that first.