Dear Editor:

This is in rebuttal to the “Good and Bad” article on landlords that was recently in the Carthage Press concerning Mr. Wampler and Mr. Dally’s decision to make it the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that the property is kept in good appearance.

I take great pride in my rental homes, keeping them in the best possible condition and over the past 25 years have had dozens of excellent tenants. There are requirements to leasing my property which are not out of the ordinary. They include no smoking, no pets, keeping premises in clean sanitary condition, no loud parties, reporting any repairs that might need to be made, keeping the lawn mowed on a regular basis, and they also must give a 30-day notice when deciding to move, etc.

Recently, a renter left the premises in a mess. Dirty, yellowed walls and ceilings (due to smoking) along with an odor (pets allowed to soil the carpeting), roach residue left throughout the house. Several items, old lawn furniture, tires and trash had to be removed from the garage and lawn left there by the tenants and taken to the city landfill at a cost of $60. Time and money were spent inside the house as well. A signed lease agreement is signed by tenants to ensure that the above doesn’t occur, but some ignore.

As I stated, I have had many excellent tenants, but there are those that do not adhere to their signed agreements which does not make owning rental property “all for profit.” So I think it’s wrong that they think we as landlords should clean up their mess and clutter. Landlords that I have talked with feel the same way, so come one, give us a break.

Bob Cardwell,
Carthage, Mo.