Sometimes the naivety of a new manager is a blessing.

Got a call yesterday about a situation I knew nothing about. Of course, I am in Tennessee so unless someone tells me, there is no way I would know! My new manager down there reported to me (which is good, because he is telling me a lot of stuff I didn't know!!)

We apparently have a Band that has rented one of our cc units to practice in and they are hooking up to electricity (for free), littering their beer cans, cigarette butts and illegal drug paraphanelia. They even had one member who decided to relieve himself in the hallway (#2, no, I am not kidding). My staff down there is picking up their trash every day and I would think my owner would hit the roof over plugging up.

Well, I was absolutely FLOORED!!!!! I shot off an email very quickly to my owner about what a liability this was. Smoking, getting high, plugging up equipment!! What if they set the place on fire! What if another tenant heard, saw and smelled this?

I am not trying to stereo type bands here. I live in Music City and my hubby is a musician and we run with tons of singer songwriters, musicians, etc. Great folks! BUT we do not allow bands to rent space here to practice. Mainly because of the problems I just mentioned.

What experiences have you all had with this???

BTW, my owner has not responded yet but I will update when he does.

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MusicCity Gal

Man, these "musicians" have no class if they're doing that to your property. If you boot 'em, where you're located you won't have any trouble finding another cool band to take their place.

So you have a firm "no rehearsing here" rule, huh? Does that include all musicians or just bands? I happen to play the trumpet -- well, I used to and I want to get back into it -- but I would need a place to rehearse. If I do it in my apartment, I'll drive the neighbors crazy. A storage unit has crossed my mind as a possibility.

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John Carlisle
Community Manager, Self-Storage Talk
Virgo Publishing LLC
jcarlisle at vpico dot com
312-623-9395

If I decided to sit down and put to paper what the "worst" tenant would be, it wouldn't be nearly as bad as what you've described.

Maybe they're filiming a follow-up to ANIMAL HOUSE.

You don't have to continue to allow them to stay nor should you. Even if they prepaid for a number of months you can still block them from the property.

You need to outline in your contract what is and is not allowed.

Stealing electricity and defecating on the property are in the NOT ALLOWED area!

They would get one shot from me -- and then out they go!

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Wayne
All American Self Storage
Palmdale, CA.


All arguments can be resolved ... with high explosives and Humor!!!

You shouldn't have to micro-manage your rental contract just because you occasionally run into rude, crude, uncaring people.
It would be nearly impossible to list all the possible contingencies that might come to bear.
Hardly anyone reads the contract now let alone one that has grown ten pages long.
All the other decent folk inherently understand that you shouldn't steal or poop on the stoop. Another thing, did you know that if a state road crew comes across human defication that they can't touch it and have to bring in someone with biohazard training to dispose of it?

Oh, the humanity!

I'd give them the boot in a New York minute, no questions asked!

That being said, I have a drummer who has his drum kit in a unit here. He comes by to practice from time to time. He is no problem at all, and he can only practice when the facility is open: 7am-7:30pm.

Well as you all know, no one wants to lose a customer that is paying standard rate, on time, and on auto debit. A letter was sent stating (in so many words) if we have to pick up after them one more time, $50 per month will be added to the bill. Unfortunately, this was not my decision to make, but hopefully the letter will work......

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MusicCity Gal

We have always said to those who called about renting a space for their bands to practice, "NO WAY."

But then I wondered why. I called code enforcement and the boss and everyone seemed to think it was ok as long as it wasn't bothering the residents on the street behind us. I took a walk back there one day while the bands were playing and you couldn't hear them. They can play until 9pm. And we live in the apartment and we don't mind the music.

I have 2 bands and 1 drummer at the facility and so far no problems....knock on wood. They have all been here for 6+ months.

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When the world says "Give Up" hope whispers "One More Time".

We had a drummer here in a 10x10 climate unit for about 2 years.....he had a couple of very young children at home and couldnt practice there...plus I think he enjoyed getting out of the house for a few hours every now and then...he usually came by after dinner time and practiced till about 9 pm two or three evenings a week.

He was far enough back in the facility that we couldnt hear him, and the back side of our facility has a retention pond...so unless the alligators minded, he didn't bother anyone.

We also had a guy who rented a 10x10 climate and set up a desk and chair in it...he would come over with his laptop and write the "Great American Novel" in his unit. Again, he had young children at home and it was the only quiet place he could work.

I think in some circumstances you should rent the unit and see if they become a nuisance...because the worst problems I have had have not been the people who hang out a few hours a day several times a week, it's the people who bring 10 others to help them move in or out, along with several cases of beer and lots of food, and none of them know how to use the bathroom properly.

Haven't had any bands here. We once had a work out instructor..the people would come in and work out back there. We didn't mind, they were added security for us.
Once had a tenants dog keep pooping in the hall way. When we finally found out who it was they were in the process of moving out.

In all honesty if I had the problem with a band doing all those things you said I would have to evict them. Some one pooping in the hall is just nasty!

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I'm an Angel I swear! The horns are just there to keep the halo up!