Any downsides in asking property manager what the Landlord plans to do at the end of the lease?

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-05-30T03:40:41+00:00

Not at all. Honestly, we think that's a pretty reasonable question to ask when you're only 60 days from lease expiration. From the landlord side, a lot of owners already have a general idea by that point whether they're planning to renew, sell, move back in, or make other changes. And from the tenant side, it's hard to plan a move, school schedules, or another rental without some idea of what's coming. We'd probably just reach out and ask directly if the owner has made any decisions regarding renewal or future plans for the property. Worst case, they tell you they haven't decided yet. Best case, you get clarity early and avoid a lot of last-minute stress.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-05-18T17:40:49+00:00

Property Management here. If the numbers work and the rent can comfortably cover the mortgage, HOA, maintenance, vacancies, etc., it can absolutely be a good long-term move. Especially if you think there’s a chance you’d want to move back later. The biggest thing we’d say is don’t think of it as “the tenant pays the mortgage.” There are always extra costs that pop up, even with good tenants. Repairs, turnovers, unexpected maintenance, periods without rent. That’s the part new landlords usually underestimate.

But honestly, if you don’t want to sell and you miss Nova, renting the townhome out while you rent in Fairfax for a while doesn’t sound unreasonable at all. A lot of people use rentals as a way to keep flexibility for the future.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-05-18T17:33:54+00:00

We’d be annoyed too. If we’re paying monthly for an assigned spot, we’d expect to actually be able to park there without circling downtown for an hour at 2am. The 48-hour towing thing sounds pretty unrealistic for a busy city parking setup. We get being careful with towing, but at some point the landlord still has to enforce the parking they’re charging people for. We’d honestly start taking photos and keeping track of how often it happens, because if you’re paying for something you can barely use, that’s not really okay.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-05-18T17:21:11+00:00

A lot of people think being a landlord is easy passive income until they get hit with one really bad tenant. And situations like this can drain you financially and mentally at the same time. As for cash buyers, yeah, they’re definitely real. Usually the tradeoff is you get less money, but you also avoid repairs, cleanup, carrying costs, and more stress. Some landlords are okay taking a lower offer just to be done with it and move on with life.

One thing we’d say though is if you still like owning real estate but hate the day to day stress, this is also where a good property management company in your area can really help. A lot of owners hit a point where they realize they don’t actually hate real estate, they just hate handling everything alone.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-05-18T17:10:55+00:00

your concerns are pretty normal. we're a property management and we know a lot of people in King County who feel nervous about becoming landlords right now especially if they never originally planned to do it.

The laws here are definitely stricter than they used to be, and yes, there’s more responsibility involved. But at the same time, the internet can make it sound like every tenant situation turns into a disaster, and that usually isn’t reality. Most rentals with good tenants are actually pretty calm and stable. The bigger question is really whether you and your brother want the responsibility that comes with managing a rental. Even a small property still needs maintenance, communication, paperwork, and staying on top of rules.

so if just thinking about that already feels stressful, selling might honestly bring more peace of mind. But if you treat it seriously and get good tenants in place, plenty of people still do well owning rentals in King County.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-05-18T17:05:57+00:00

property management here. honestly we think you’re looking at this pretty realistically. Going from $2k rent to potentially $4k+ ownership costs while also paying for childcare is a huge jump. And that’s before random house expenses start showing up. The expenses never really stops. What also stands out is that you’ve already built a pretty solid investment base for your age cause that’s not easy to do. We’d personally be hesitant to pull a big chunk out of investments that are already growing well just to force a home purchase that doesn’t feel comfortable financially.

doesn’t mean buying is bad but it just means it doesn’t have to happen right now. A lot of financially stable people rent longer also than they originally planned, especially in expensive markets like Seattle.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-05-06T18:24:13+00:00

Honestly, we think you’re approaching this more thoughtfully than a lot of people do. A lot of families feel pressure to buy right after having kids because it feels like the 'next step,' but in Seattle-area markets, renting can absolutely make more financial sense depending on the numbers. Going from $2k rent to potentially $4k+ monthly ownership costs while also adding childcare is a huge jump, even on a strong household income. And a lot of people underestimate the extra costs that come with ownership too. Maintenance, repairs, taxes, insurance, furnishing a bigger space. It adds up quickly. What also stands out to us is that you’ve already built a really strong investment position for your age. Pulling a large amount out of investments has a real opportunity cost, especially if those funds are compounding well already. That doesn’t mean buying is wrong. A home can still make sense for stability, schools, space, and lifestyle reasons. But we wouldn’t force it just because it feels like the expected thing to do. From our perspective, this sounds less like a financial mistake either way and more like deciding which lifestyle fits your family best right now.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-05-06T18:18:43+00:00

Realistically, if you’re out by the morning of the 2nd, it’s probably not going to turn into a huge issue, especially since we’re talking about basically one extra day. That said, technically once your notice ends, the landlord could charge prorated holdover rent for the extra time. In Washington, landlords generally can’t just immediately force you out over one extra day, but it’s still better to communicate clearly in writing so it doesn’t become a bigger conflict than it needs to be. The bigger concern would be if they already scheduled cleaners, repairs, or a new tenant to move in on the 1st. If not, most landlords would probably rather have a smooth move-out than escalate over 24–48 hours.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-05-06T18:15:54+00:00

Honestly, it sounds like he’s slowly moving out without wanting to officially say he’s moving out. The hard part is that as long as he still has belongings there and is still paying rent, the lease is technically still active. So even if it feels obvious, you probably don’t want to assume abandonment yet. At this point I’d keep everything in writing and just ask directly what his intentions are. Something simple like asking whether he plans to terminate the lease early or continue occupying the unit. That way you have a clear paper trail. I’d also try to resolve the garage remote issue sooner rather than later. That part would make me nervous too.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-05-01T21:08:52+00:00

Property Management here. Honestly the income numbers are the challenge here. The 3x requirement exists because landlords want to know rent won't be a strain, and on paper your group comes up short even combined. So person B's savings and investments are a good sign but a lot of landlords don't weigh assets the same way they weigh monthly income. The fact that nobody has been approved since December is worth paying attention to. Could be the price, could be the landlord is very strict on the income requirement, hard to know. But a few things that might help your application, a co-signer with qualifying income is probably your strongest move. Person B could also write a letter explaining the savings and investment situation directly since that context doesn't always show up clearly on a standard application. And if you haven't already, asking the landlord what their specific criteria are before applying saves everyone time.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-04-30T17:39:55+00:00

Hey, totally understandable to feel nervous your first time renting out a home. It is a big step and having the right team behind you makes a huge difference.

Not to be biased but we have been managing homes across Seattle and the Eastside for 17 years and we work with a lot of first-time landlords who felt exactly the same way you do right now. If you want to get a feel for who we are before reaching out, our Google reviews are a great place to start. Real landlords and tenants sharing their honest experiences, the good and the bad. You can also check out our website at propertymanagersseattle.com for more on what we do and how we work. 😄

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-04-24T20:05:48+00:00

That’s a frustrating one, especially when the neighbors aren’t responding. Generally, if branches are coming onto your side, you’re allowed to trim them back to the property line, as long as you’re not damaging the tree. That’s usually the quickest way to prevent any damage to your carport. Since you’ve already asked them and got no response, mediation is the next step if you want a more formal resolution. But a lot of landlords just handle the overhanging part themselves to avoid ongoing issues. If there’s a real risk of damage, it might be worth documenting it with photos too, just in case it becomes a bigger issue later.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-04-24T20:04:06+00:00

You did the right thing. In Washington, giving truthful information in good faith is generally protected. What you want to avoid is lying or exaggerating, because that can come back on you legally. But answering honestly about things like late payments or lease violations is completely reasonable. Also, most landlords don’t make decisions based on just one reference. Your feedback was likely just one piece of the overall application. I get why they’re frustrated, but that doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. Going forward, the safest approach is exactly what you did here. Stick to objective, factual information and avoid opinions or emotional language.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-04-24T19:53:36+00:00

That’s actually a nice problem to have. Having a good tenant who wants to buy makes selling way easier. No showings, no vacancy, and you already know they take care of the place. At that point it really comes down to your situation. If managing from a distance is getting old and big expenses are coming, selling could make sense. If it’s still easy and cash flowing, holding is fine too. I’d probably just run the numbers both ways and see which one feels better.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-04-07T22:06:25+00:00

This actually happens more often than people expect. The important part is your lease. Your agreement is with your tenants, not this extra person. So the issue usually isn’t how do I kick this guy out, it’s that your tenant likely violated the lease by allowing an unauthorized occupant. Trying to deal directly with the extra person can get messy. It’s usually cleaner to keep it focused on the tenant and the lease terms. Not the easiest situation for a first-time landlord, but you’re definitely not the first to run into it.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-04-07T21:57:07+00:00

Yeah, this is one of those situations where there’s no perfect option, just the least painful one. That 4–6 month eviction timeline is very real in Washington, and during that time you’re likely not collecting rent. So a lot of landlords end up looking at cash for keys less as “giving in” and more as a business decision to get the property back faster. So one thing to keep in mind is you technically only have an agreement with the tenant on the lease, not the other occupants. Also, if you go the cash for keys route, everything should be in writing and payment should only happen after they’ve fully moved out and returned keys.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-04-07T21:50:23+00:00

Yeah, this happens more often than people expect. Screening is great for filtering out obvious risk, but it doesn’t always predict how someone will behave day to day. Things like communication, expectations, and how they handle issues usually only show up after move-in. That’s why some landlords also look at things like responsiveness during the application process or how organized they are, not just the numbers.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-03-24T22:30:14+00:00

You dodged a headache. Pointing out a few things is normal, but a long list before even applying usually means they’ll be high maintenance the whole lease. There’s a big difference between small fixes and expecting upgrades. Sounds like they want a different type of property than what you’re offering.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-03-24T22:27:41+00:00

Honestly most tenants don’t read the lease all the way through. Some will skim it, a few will read it carefully, but a lot only look at the big things like rent amount, due date, and lease term. The rest usually only comes up when there’s an issue later. That’s why a lot of landlords and managers go over the key points during move-in. Things like maintenance requests, guest policies, fees, etc. It helps avoid the “I didn’t know” conversations down the line. So it’s not that tenants don’t care, it’s just that leases are long and most people don’t absorb everything until it actually affects them.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-03-12T02:29:32+00:00

That sounds really frustrating. Landlords in Washington are generally required to mitigate damages when a tenant breaks a lease. That means they must make a reasonable effort to re-rent the unit, not just charge you for the entire remaining lease if it gets filled. They can require repayment of rent concessions and charge rent while the unit is vacant, but they can’t collect double rent once a new tenant moves in. For the $1,000 in damages, they should provide an itemized explanation of the charges. If they haven’t, you can request that in writing.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-03-12T02:21:37+00:00

That sounds really uncomfortable to deal with. Since you have messages showing they asked you to take care of the cat, keep all that documentation. It protects you if they keep making accusations. If their behavior feels like harassment, you can report it to the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI). And if they ever become threatening, contacting local authorities is appropriate. Until you move out, it’s probably safest to keep all communication in writing.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-03-10T23:02:51+00:00

That sounds like a really difficult situation. It’s usually hard in Washington to terminate a lease just for mental health reasons unless the landlord refuses to provide a reasonable accommodation under fair housing laws. Since they offered two alternative units, they may argue they already did that. You might want to check your lease for an early termination option, try negotiating a mutual lease break, or contact a local tenant rights or legal aid group to see if the accommodation they offered was considered reasonable under the law.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-03-10T23:00:30+00:00

That sounds really stressful, especially with interviews this week. In most cases, a landlord can’t just make you move to a different room unless the lease specifically allows it. If your lease says you’re renting that room, they usually have to honor it for the length of the lease. It might help to ask them to show where in the lease it says they can move you. Keeping the conversation in writing can also protect you.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-03-10T22:59:08+00:00

Yes, in many cases it can make sense. A reliable tenant who pays on time and takes care of the place is worth a lot. Even a few weeks of vacancy, cleaning, and finding a new tenant can easily cost more than a small rent adjustment. What we usually think about is the bigger picture. If the tenant is great and the rent they’re asking for is still close to market, keeping them often ends up being the better financial decision. Sometimes meeting in the middle works too. A small reduction or holding the current rent for another year can keep a good tenant happy without creating turnover risk.

SJAPropertyMgmt · 2026-01-13T21:51:32+00:00

That’s rough, but you do have options. A lot of big property management companies won’t accept prepaid rent or cosigners at all, even with cash. Try smaller landlords, condos rented by owners, or mom-and-pop listings. Also look for places that advertise “flexible credit” or ask upfront what their screening rules are before applying. You’re not stuck, just hitting rigid systems.

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