- A renter with a background in development leased a downtown condo and upgraded it with a $100,000+ luxury kitchen during COVID—without permits but with landlord consent.
- He stored the original kitchen and promised to restore it upon move-out.
- The landlord’s wife visited, was wowed by the upgrades, and shortly after, the landlord decided to sell.
- The condo listing bragged about high-end renovations—done at the tenant’s expense.
- The tenant, feeling used, removed all upgrades and reinstalled the original worn-out kitchen and flooring.
- The new owners were furious, but the tenant had documented permission and proof of his agreement.
- Bonus twist: if the new owners fail to move in within six months (as legally required for “personal use” evictions), they may owe the tenant a full year’s rent.
Investor Takeaways (Especially in Arizona):
- Never assume upgrades are yours unless explicitly contracted.
- Always document tenant agreements—video inspections and email confirmations matter.