First deadbeat renter

[calmloki]

Originally Posted by bbbamI

I owned a couple of rental properties a few years ago. I found that I simply did not have what it takes to be a landlord. I second guessed myself too many times. Therefore, no more rentals for me.

I have not had any experience with paying someone to manage my properties, but that might be an option for you.

Just back from checking out a 21 unit. Offsite management is 8% of the rents recieved, repairs are handled through the management company's separate contracting business, billing at $28/hour. That explains the $600/month yardwork expense. Every time i get tired of landlording and think about having a managment company handle everything i price them out and am amazed - cannot understand how a property owner can pay for management and make a profit....

My vote is with Tryan - but hammer your tenant on the brother smoking there and point out he is liable to cost her her home - may get him down the road.

[HpRyder]

Late rent, start eviction NOW of her and everyone else in posession. Get a flat rate attorney specializing in evictions. If you don't know of any, contact your local real estate association for a list of them. Starting eviction of her & everyone else in possession, can later be terminated if they payup and clean up their act. You should not be too supprised at the incredible long length of time it will take to get them out. All the time you will be paying not them. But until they payup and follow the lease, all they are giving you are words. And if you will accept words instead of money and actions, words will be what you get.

[A854321]

You'll be lucky if they are evicted before that baby's first birthday.

[chevytruck1]

I had a deadbeat in one of my rentals, took months to get them removed, Had the local police serve him at work several times to appear before a judge. He never appeared. Finally the judge told me to go to house with police escort and change locks on house with all his belongings inside. The tenant never returned to pick up all his belongings. Judge told me to dispose of all of it. Hauled everything to dump.

Since tenant never showed up at court he automatically lost the case and all back rent, damages,my legal fees, clean up fees,etc. all went on his credit. Ive never seen a dime and im Sure he could care less about the knock on his credit.

I only use propery managers not for all our rentals, Much less headache for a minimum fee

[stargazer08]

Your initial serving of what we here in Illinois call a 5 day notice is only the start of a long drawn out process. I'd say start the ball rolling now. You personally can't kick them out. You might get lucky and they move out on that initial notice you personally serve them but most tenants know they have several months at which they can live off your dime. Whatever you do, only accept cash if she pays up and realize if she defaults again, you start from square one. If you accept a buck from her on this back rent, you start from square one which is why I say cash only and full payment.

In my younger days DH and I had 4 single family home rental properties. Hated it, sold them and vowed never to head down that road again.

[P.S.]

Originally Posted by A854321

You'll be lucky if they are evicted before that baby's first birthday.

Nah...this is Virginia, which is pro-landlord, or at least as pro-landlord as you can get. Proceedings in Md would be much more painful.
That karma thing though is nothing to be sneezed at. Although all the signs portend more trouble down the line.

[thefed]

Get the ball rolling. Tell her why you are doing it...hint:to cover you butt! She's into you for a month already....

Serve/send the papers as needed, and an additional note stating that if she pays xxx by Feb 5th (NO CHECKS!) you will stop eviction proceedings.


it's business. I was on here asking the same thing a few months ago. The kind-hearted responses like "oh, give her a chance...at least she didnt _______" helped me justify the extra time. She paid it,and was a midnight 'skip' the next month...I wish I would've kicked her out the first time!!

Your gut is the one thing you can rely on. If your gut says to let her slide and you get burned...your gut will be better trained for next time!

[youbet]

Originally Posted by chevytruck1

Since tenant never showed up at court he automatically lost the case and all back rent, damages,my legal fees, clean up fees,etc. all went on his credit. Ive never seen a dime and im Sure he could care less about the knock on his credit.

I guess if people today are willing to walk away from a house/mortgage they're upside down in, they'd sure be capable of walking away from back rent, fees, etc.

[youbet]

Originally Posted by thefed

Serve/send the papers as needed, and an additional note stating that if she pays xxx by Feb 5th (NO CHECKS!) you will stop eviction proceedings.

Is there any reason for the (NO CHECKS!) other than concern that the check will bounce?

[megacorp-firee]

Originally Posted by youbet

Is there any reason for the (NO CHECKS!) other than concern that the check will bounce?

... it also prolongs the process (i.e. delays everything), in that you THINK you have a paid up rent for the month. By the time you figure it out, you're another 3 weeks out. I had one tenet that gave me an out of state check. It took weeks to clear. Do you think the bank gave me 3 more weeks on the mortgage payment? I told her no more out of state checks. A few months later she tried the same trick ... I refused the check and gave her a late notice. 3 months later I had her evicted. I did get all my back rents (3 court sessions). It cost me time, a lawyer, court filing fees, ...etc. Being nice does not pay the mortgage.

[honobob]

Originally Posted by P.S.

That karma thing though is nothing to be sneezed at.

totally agree with the Real estate God. She's been good to me but I make my offerings.

Buku. You need the follow up lease talk with your tenant. First you got strung for 15 days then 30 now we're talking 2/5/2008. 5 days past your security deposit!! OK she said 15th and maybe brother screwed her but she said she would be caught up the 1st. So why now the 5th?

Did you ask her why she needed all those beds and baths when she rented? I believe that's legal. Do you have a list of backup tenants that you turned down because you wanted to rent to her because she was a single? If so then I'd get rid of her and all the people in her group that you would not have rented to in the first place if she had not deceived you. If she's the best of the crop even with her entourage then you should get them all on the lease remind them of the rules, perhaps collect more rent for the added bodies. If your talk reveals that she wants to be the only tenant as per the agreement then let her know that she needs to live up to her agreement because you are prepared to enforce it. Talk to her before the first.

[BunsGettingFirm]

Originally Posted by simple girl

We aren't seasoned landlords (use a property management company and so far, knock on wood, no problem tenants), but I recommend you check out the forums at Welcome to MR LANDLORD for free rental forms, management software, real estate books and landlord advice to better manage and lease rental property. Plenty of seasoned landlords over there who deal with these kinds of issues all the time. Be prepared, however, for some to be a little harsh with their advice...gotta have some thick skin there!

How long did you sign the rental management contract, and is the fee 5% of rent?

Have you used any of the forms or books from Mr. Landlord?

[Nords]

Originally Posted by Buku

1 is in Front Royal VA. Brand New 3/2.5 with a finished basement and a 1 car garage. 1500sq/ft.
Request recommendations from more seasoned owners.

Is the property within an hour's commute of a military base?

If so then find their housing assistance office or website and try to rent to military tenants. They get paid twice a month whether they're healthy, ill, pregnant, or smoking...

[simple girl]

Originally Posted by BunsGettingFirm

How long did you sign the rental management contract, and is the fee 5% of rent?

Have you used any of the forms or books from Mr. Landlord?

We did not use any forms or books from Mr. Landlord b/c we decided to go with the management company, and they have all their own forms, etc. We decided to go with the management company because we are two hours away and would have difficulty showing the property.

We had a lawyer look over the rental management contracts for 2 or 3 mngmt companies we were looking at. She advised us against 2 of them due to the contracts being too favorable towards the mngmt company (sorry, can't remember now what the issues were, it was 2 years ago). We signed the contract to be effective for around 3 or 4 months time (while they marketed the property and looked for a renter). We figured if they hadn't placed anyone by then we'd consider another mngmt company (if we had to...mind you, the choices for mngmt companies were slim).

Once a renter signs the agreement is extended for 12 months from the date the renter signs the lease. The agreement automatically renews for 12 months if the renter renews, unless we notify them 30 days prior to the lease expiration that we want to end the agreement.

We pay the mngmt company first month's rent for lease-up and then 10% thereafter for ongoing management. Fairly standard for our area; I hear it varies slightly from region to region.

There are certainly some things we don't like about our mngmt company (like when there is an accounting error it takes forever for someone to correct it), and they took way too long to find out last tenant. However, it's the best option for us in our situation.

[tryan]

We pay the mngmt company first month's rent for lease-up and then 10% thereafter for ongoing management. Fairly standard for our area; I hear it varies slightly from region to region.

Yeah the manager I used got 1 month's fee and 10% ... then 12% then 15%. Then I cut them off. Impossible to make $$ when plumbers are sent for toilet clogs and relighting a pilot. They would have sent an electrician to change a light bulb ... way too much CYA.

[simple girl]

Originally Posted by tryan

Yeah the manager I used got 1 month's fee and 10% ... then 12% then 15%. Then I cut them off. Impossible to make $$ when plumbers are sent for toilet clogs and relighting a pilot. They would have sent an electrician to change a light bulb ... way too much CYA.

Thankfully, no raises in % yet. And, also, no repairs needed yet (knock on wood...property is only 3 years old).

This is only temporary, while we are traveling on assignment. Not sure if we will eventually move back in, sell, or what. Will cross that bridge when we get to it...