11-29-2009, 03:02 AM
To tell a property owner that their rental is not in the best shape is really offensive and irrelevant. The tenants were not forced to rent that unit, they had free will to go somewhere else. Furthermore, all the damage and trash around rental units, I guarantee is done by the tenants, I have NEVER seen a landlord break something on his own building.
In addition, 98% of tenants don't even know how to spackle a nail hole properly (it ends up looking like a lump), or know how to paint (usually get paint on carpet, wood trim, and everywhere else), so I would be hesitant to call any modification an "upgrade". The tenant did this for THEMSELVES, not to benefit the landlord.
Furthermore, what is there to "mediate"? They haven't paid rent, the only thing there is to do is PAY or MOVE!