I am getting my driveway (blacktop) resealed and repaired. The problem is that my tenant is leaking oil from his oil plan and has messed up my driveway with oil spots since Oct. 2010. So when winter time came, I supplied his car with cardboard boxes by placing them under his SUV. I ruined my Columbia jacket because I moved the box and the wind pushed the side of the box with the oil against me :jays:
I plan on giving them a written notice tomorrow informing them that I am getting the driveway resealed and repaired and please refrain from using the driveway for the next 48 hrs. Also, I would like to inform them that before winter, something needs to be in place (ex: fix his damn leak or provide something on the driveway to collect the oil. If there is a lot of oil after the season, you will be charged for the cleaning/repairing service.).
I would talk to your lawyer on the best route to take. I know he is cuasing damage, but sounds like your in a tough spot on how to do it right. I would tell them to park somewhere else most defenitaly while the repairs are being done and a few days after
They don’t park in the driveway during the summer/spring/fall time. I am just trying to get them a heads up before winter since Kenmore has no parking in the streets overnight due to plowing.
I would politely bring it up because if you have a good landlord/tenant relationship he’ll respect your concerns. But, choose your battles. Seeing as it’s a rental property, the odds of you never having another tenant with a car leaking oil are slim to none.
I’ve dealt with this before by simply saying get something to go underneath your car (those aluminum oil plans work well), and always park it there. I’ve not had an issue.
Just ask him to put something under the car in the winter or get it fixed. Every tenant I have had has had a car that leaked oil on the driveway and I stopped sweating it. It is definitely chargeable to fix the spot when they leave though. I charged my last tenant $10 for the oil remover solution for the power washer, but could have charged more for the actual removal if I wanted to.
If he has already been allowing them to park there for several months, they could throw a fit over doing this in court. Granted its not in the lease, but then a judge will ask why have you allowed it this long. When is there lease up for renewal? On renewal, be sure to add a section about disabled cars, or cars leaking fluids, etc.
You could definitely take money from their security deposit for this. You could probably be a dick and take the whole cost of re-doing your driveway out of his deposit saying he ruined the asthetic appeal of the property.
I have re-done the driveway this year, put about 500 bucks into it. They are on a month to month lease. November 1st is coming and he has yet to fix his leaking issue. He parks in the street now and I know neighbors have called the Village of Kenmore to complain about his piles of oil leaking all over the street and in front of their homes. The Village of Kenmore said until it becomes an environmental hazard, they can’t do anything…