Garage Landlords Responsibilities

[Blkctsv05]

I have a few questions about renting a garage from the landlord
I have a shop in Pittsburgh pa
The new landlord ***** so I wanna know what's right an what's wrong in this picture. So the garage hasn't had gas service in 10-12 years we have electric an water. The waters free electric we pay but the problem is the gas so we had a agreement if I paid for the gas line installed outside an clean side of shop up outside anD I give him plumbers recite from work and he will take care of the suppose month we was behind on. So when rent was due I shorted him $100 off the rent because the rent is $800 an the plumbers bill was $900 then he came in pissed cause I shorted him money then it went to that he said he pay half which he never said I spent $900 on line $200 to dig an backfill with sand an clean up which cost $100 then he said he had it written down on paper with out me knowing or a signature. So he wants another 350-450 next month. What I wanna know is the landlord renting 2 garages out in Same building by law to provide his renters with gas services? I paid the gas company their deposit $250 their turn on fee $230 paid for gas line $900 an digging an sand $200 plus side clean up he always complained about his water pipes freezing in winter due to no heat. another subject garage has flat slanted roof it's been leaking for years he wants to fix an forgets an never fixes it an I kept reminding him an he wants to put a new roof on an he wants to jack up the
Rent more since he had to do new roof is this right at all rent use to be $600 then to $800 know after roof wants $850-900 an he doesn't fix anything

So I'm asking is this right an should I take him to the local court over this cause I'm helping to fix an provide for building an I'm not the owner an he don't wanna cut money of each rent

 

[dw1]

Do you have anything in writing? back your case up before you threaten going to court, it will turn into a "He said" "She said" and if you dont have anything in writing and he has a contract with you on the lease of the bldg, you probably will have to pay up. I would'nt do anymore til you straighten it out, you are renovating his property.

PS, I have rental property, it is in my lease that "No Improvements" can be made unless both sides are in agreement and it is written out, signed and notorized by both parties, kind of CMA.

 

[slip knot]

Whats on the lease agreement? if any of this isn't in writing then you are"behind on the rent" by the $100 and he can start the eviction process.

It sounds like you need to start looking for another shop to rent.

 

[bwringer]

I can't even begin to follow your story, but I will agree with dw1 that the only agreement that matters is what's written down on paper and signed by both parties. Verbal agreements are worth less than nothing.

It also sounds like you might have had some sort of agreement with a previous owner but not the new owner?

If there is a lease, what does it say?

If there is no written lease or agreement for the repairs and such, you have nothing to take to court. The only thing you can do is either:

1) Work it out like gentlemen, negotiate your terms, put everything on paper, and then follow the letter of the written agreement. Might want to have a lawyer do a sanity check.

2) If that's not an option, cut your losses. Stop spending your money and time on improving someone else's property for free, pack up, and get out.


With an apartment, there are certain standards of habitability that have to be met with or without a lease, and you generally have to follow a certain process before evicting people, etc.

But none of those protections and processes apply to a commercial property.

 

[UpNorther]

As said by others, it should have been all in writing.

A lot of leases will say no improvements unless signed by management, you'll have to check yours.

First thing I would do is while its fresh in your mind; write down dates and all conversations had about it, no matter how trivial it seems now. That way if you do eventually end up in court, they can see that you somewhat have it documented. Then it kinda looks like you got it together.
I own apartments, so rules are different than Commercial properties like yours.

 

[Dirtydan69]

Like others have said. In writing is your only enforceable agreement in a court. When it come to commercial property there are NO TENANTS RIGHTS. Best to sit down with him and hash it out. Talk, don't argue. Agree to something even if you're giving a little. Get it in writing and both sign it. Being adversarial with your landlord is not in your best interest. Been there. Good luck.

 

[Blkctsv05]

Nothing is in writing at all we been renting for 10-12 years then old landlord sold it to this guy rents always paid he said I can do anything I want to Aslong as building doesn't catch on fire I just wanna know if it's by law the landlord has to provide gas service

 

[matt_i]

The landlord does not have to provide any utilities by law. Its up to them to create a space where people would potentially *want* to rent.

I would just look for a new space to rent.

 

[nadogail]

Is this the kind of man you want to continue to do business with?

 

[Blkctsv05]

Says one thing then after is done wants to change his mind set on things after we had a agreement what makes me mad

 

[ABADWILLYS]

When it come to commercial property there are NO TENANTS RIGHTS.

Not True!! it probably varies by state, county or township, etc; but to say a commercial tenant has no rights is a blanket statement. although a commercial tenant may not enjoy the full protection like a residental renter, But to the OP if you have no agreement or lease in writing its all heresay. It is for the both of you to come to a agreement on the terms of the lease and have it written down.
i am a commercial property landlord

 

[58Yeoman]

It's obvious to me that he either has another tennant in mind that will pay more rent, or he wants to raze the building.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

So you've been renting for 10-12 years and when the new landlord comes in you decide that you need gas? What next, you want him to provide heat?
My guess is that most places a insulated, heated garage, with water and electricity would rent for more than a garage without any utilities.
Taxes go up, cost of maintaining a building goes up, rent goes up. ($50 increase after 10 years sounds reasonable). Everyone renting out anything is wanting to make a profit.
Just buy yourself a garage, then you can do whatever improvements you like when you want to do them.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Leaf beat me to it!

You have been renting the garage for 12 years, and there has never been any gas service there the entire time according to your first post.

And now, 12 years later you want to know if the law says a landlord must provide gas service in order to rent out the garage? Did you ever discuss putting gas service in the garage with the old landlord? If you have been working there for all these years without gas service, then the new landlord could argue that you don't need it and never wanted it because if you did, you could have moved out years ago and went somewhere else. Courts will say the same thing. Why didn't you move out if it was so bad. You don't actually have a contract or lease that binds you to the property, so you could leave at any time.

I have a feeling that your new landlord is using you and your money to get gas service in the building, and now he is going to throw you out and use the excuse that you are short on rent.

Then he is going to rent the place to someone else for more money. As others have said, if you do not have anything in writing about the deal you and the new landlord made about paying for the installation of the gas service, then you really don't have a leg to stand on if this ever goes to court.

Are there any other garages in the area you can rent? You said you don't have a written lease, so that means this new owner can kick you out at anytime. If I was you, I would start looking for a new place.

Good luck on this. I hope you can work it out.

Jim

 

[HoosierMark]

It is pretty simple, start over, either move and get a written lease or get one with the current landlord. Maybe you can negotiate the past money you spent, maybe not. But just start fresh and consider it tuition to the school of hard knocks. Sit down with the current owner and put a lease together. If he will not, then you know it is time to move.

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

I realyl have no idea whats going on after reading that post.

Do you have a lease? If so, what does it say - you/he cant change those terms unless you both agree with it.

No lease? He can raise the rent for whatever reason he wants. Depends on your states laws how much notice he has to give you (if any)

 

[kgordon]

Says one thing then after is done wants to change his mind set on things after we had a agreement what makes me mad

May have said one thing and then said another but you didn't have an agreement if it isnt in writing.

Punctuation can go a long way to explaining your case. Following your story is difficult at best, but i don't see how he is required to provide gas. Also it seems like you have been there for years without gas and all of a sudden its a problem? If there is electricity why not just get an electric heater? Then you wouldn't be out the $1,000 you spent on these "upgrades" which you can't prove you agreed to in court.

I would pay your back rent and either use the gas, or pay your rent and get out of there and buy a place. Then you can do whatever you want.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd say it's about time to cut your losses, walk away and find another place or buy your own.

 

[rburke65]

If you have nothing in writing then it's his word against yours and you cannot prove anything. Pen, paper, sign, contract.

 

[nehog]

... we had a agreement if I paid for the gas line installed outside an clean side of shop up outside anD I give him plumbers recite from work and he will take care of the suppose month we was behind on. So when rent was due I shorted him $100 off the rent because the rent is $800 an the plumbers bill was $900 then he came in pissed cause I shorted him money ...

You owe him $100... The agreement was one month's rent for the plumber, not "apply the plumber's bill to the rent". Consider that $100 as interest for his being generous in not locking you out?

 

[jb3]

#1 rule of renting either residential or commercial. You NEVER short the rent. The instant you do that, you surrender your mountain of rights to occupancy and now there is a premise for eviction. Tenants have a lot of rights they don't know they have. Shorting the rent throws those rights out the window.

I learned to my sorrow just how difficult it is to evict a tenant who simply pays their rent on time and in full. People stayed a full 7 months past their lease and there was nothing I could do about it.

 

[astroracer]

I am sitting here reading this and thinking 600 dollars a month for 12 years is almost 85K. Around my parts that would buy a nice piece of land AND put up a hell of a pole barn... Put your rent toward something you can call your own... Then ***** when the "landlord" doesn't step up.
Mark

 

[Blkctsv05]

After all those years I have heat yes due to me providing this year due to me making money an wanting heater garage had gas but it wasn't me renting it was my dad an winters sucked an me making money doing work I bought everything bare in mind I had propane gas on my garage on side due cause I paint cars. All I'm saying is we had a agreement an now he wants to change his mind after I paid for everything an that wasn't the deal! The deal was I clean up outside an paid plumber an he takes care of the
Month that we (supose) to be behind which really is 2 weeks. This me paying $1100 for gas line an $480 for gas service to increase his building an not me the whole roof deal is cause he's a slum lord an doesn't fix one thing that's broke an leak just wants to charge more an more

 

[UpNorther]

#1 rule of renting either residential or commercial. You NEVER short the rent. The instant you do that, you surrender your mountain of rights to occupancy and now there is a premise for eviction. Tenants have a lot of rights they don't know they have. Shorting the rent throws those rights out the window.

I learned to my sorrow just how difficult it is to evict a tenant who simply pays their rent on time and in full. People stayed a full 7 months past their lease and there was nothing I could do about it.

That's intriguing. Must change by state obviously. Here in the Midwest, being in Iowa and Minnesota as an apartment landlord, if we accept even $1 from a Tenant, then the landlord looses our right to evict from non-pay. Result is following month not to accept anything but all money owed from previous month and current month. If not paid in full, then file on the 6th.

 

[bwringer]

#1 rule of renting either residential or commercial. You NEVER short the rent...

Yep. Pay the rent in full no matter what. If the landlord owes you money for repairs or improvements, get reimbursed separately instead of knocking it off the rent. Seems silly, but that steady predictable income flow is VERY, VERY, VERY important to landlords. Rent goes in one account, expenses are paid from another.

 

[boo coo tracks]

Forget your dealings with previous landlord, start talking to your new landlord!
Does he have the money to make improvements? I would expect his taxes are going up! Need to feel him out about his future plans "for this building". Then start from ground zero & put in writing!
HTH
Tracks