| Author | Message | ||
     Ratbuell |
OK, so...long story short...we took on a young kid at work who "showed a lot of potential" but was "down on his luck". They asked if I could let him stay in my old house. I..being an idiot...said OK. He signed a lease but no rent has been paid. It was like pulling teeth to get $94.59 out of him for electric. He had party after party in my house, with no renters insurance, despite my saying NO MORE PARTIES UNTIL YOU HAVE INSURANCE. I have yet to go inside - that's tomorrow because the lease says 24 hours notice and I won't break my own rules - but god only knows what I'll find. I left a riding mower and a gas can. Grass is still over a foot tall. Garbage all over the deck. ZERO respect for my property...which is what makes me nervous. I'm going to have a sheriff's deputy there tomorrow when I leave the notice and change the locks. Hopefully they'll document property condition, and any damages that occur in the future will be logged in a police report? I've never had to do this before, so I'm at a loss. I do NOT want my house damaged by some punk with an attitude. I have a signed lease from him and a copy of his drivers license, and plan to document if anything is missing or damaged... Help? This is what I get for helping someone..... | ||
| Whatever |
You will need to look at local ordinances if you haven't already. Ask the County Sheriff if there is a website. Madison had a Tenants Resource Center that helped landlords too. You are out in the boondocks so maybe your deputy can steer you in the right direction. | ||
| Etennuly |
Send in cousin 'Bruno'! Break his knee caps! Smash his teeth in with a base ball bat! Whip him with a rubber hose! Spike him down to an ant hill and sprinkle him with sugar. No, I have not had any bad luck with tenants yet.....why do you ask? Be legal, be firm, stick to it. Don't let a punk you tried to help threaten your property. If he threatens keep the law informed and hopefully on his ass. If you find any illegal stuff from his being there turn it in. | ||
| Kyrocket |
I work codes enforcement/property maintenance and I couldn't run away fast enough from rental property if someone gave it to me. I feel for you. I hope you had pictures of the before and be sure to get them when you go the next time but good luck getting anything out of him. Even if you win in court good luck getting anything out of him. I don't know how it works there but I think here the landlord has to give renters at least 30 days notice to get out and even then sometimes have to put their stuff on the curb. Good luck and I hope this isn't an expensive lesson learned. No good deed goes unpunished. Something else the less scrupulous landlords do is keep the utilities in their names so they can shut them off and make it very uncomfortable for those living there. | ||
| 50dro |
Not sure what part of the country you're in but in PA, it's a much longer process than that. You have to have a hearing and give the tenant so many days (around a month) to pay before you can forcefully evict them. Overall, the process takes the better part of two months and you probably won't see any of the money you are owed even if the judge/magistrate rules in your favor (which he most likely will). It's like squeezing water from a rock! I've been through this several times unfortunately and the lesson learned here is to do your best work up front and get a good person in there via references, credit checks etc (but it sounds as if you realize that now). If I can be of further help, let me know. Good luck! 5-0dro PS - Most leases say that you can go inside without notice if you think the property may be in danger of damage (water leak, fire etc.) so don't let that stop you from going in. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I remember looking at an apartment with three other friends back in the 70's and the landlord told us he didn't have a problem renting us the place because he said for $50.00, he could have someone break any bone in our body. I guess you would have to figure in inflation now days. Needless to say, we passed on that place. | ||
| Ratbuell |
At this point I've given up on the $. Just want to make sure my house isn't going to be vandalized. He was on a month-to-month and has violated about six aspects of the lease, so I'm not concerned about doing it quickly. And I'll have a sheriff there with me to cover all bases. And without a voicemail box or a working phone line, a text message 36 hours out is all I have...but it's the only way to get in touch with the guy so it's gonna have to suffice. And its documented and timestamped. I plan to talk to the eviction sheriff tomorrow, first AM, to see what all I need to document. I'll have his DL copy and the orignal copies of the lease, in-hand. If anything contraband is found...you bet it'll go back on him. If anything is missing, charges will be filed. Anything left inside will be tossed out, rain or no rain. I'm gonna show his property the same respect he showed mine - ZERO. I hate the human race... | ||
| Two_seasons |
Do not place his property outside. Rent a space for it with a 90 day lease. Have him pick his stuff up from there. The laws today do not favor the landlord. | ||
| Cataract2 |
To bad you are in Charleston, SC. I would ask if after the little s*** is out of there if I could become a renter. My wife and I will be coming back from Germany to go to The Citadel and we'll need a place to rent in a good area. | ||
| Ourdee |
They asked if I could let him stay in my old house. Maybe "they" can pay his rent. It sounds like you can turn off his electric. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I don't think he'll come back, that's not my concern. He's too much of a coward. And yes, I can kill the electric but I won't because of the basement sump pump. I will be changing the locks. I will see what the sheriff says about stuff outside; worst case there's a barn on the property and I'll move it all there, under cover. Trash pickup is Monday. My concern is property damage, and what it's going to cost me to fix it. I have yet to step inside, but the condition of the outside scares the crap out of me. God only knows what I'll find. I've owned that house for 17 years and it was my happy home until my marriage fell apart. I'm still attached to the house, but there were just too many memories there I didn't need so I moved out and am trying to move on with my life. Seeing it treated this way breaks my heart. I am literally sick to my stomach thinking about it. If anyone in Maryland needs a place...3 bed, 2 bath single family home, 2 acres with about 1/2 acre fenced (dog-friendly), barn, 2 car detached garage. Hardwood upstairs, ceramic tile downstairs, finished basement, could be 4 bedrooms if home theatre was converted back (remove platform floor, put a closet back in). 5 minutes from Frederick, 1 mile from the highway, 1 hour from either DC or Baltimore, peaceful rural setting. If you're good with a spackle blade and a paint brush you'll get a discount on rent! At this point...I'll sell it or rent it, whichever happens first. I just need to get with the Sheriff today and get this handled. The wait is killing me, and not knowing what its like inside. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
sounds like a nice place. shame im in fla | ||
| Panhead_dan |
I'm just finishing up with a similar situation. NEVER AGAIN! | ||
| Crackhead |
Next time, only rent to current military members. All it takes is 1 phone call to the CO and all will be made right with your property. | ||
| Oldog |
for you land lords, As I understand it you can ask for references? check credit? Sorry to hear this Joe, the punk will pay some where, Karma is a biotch..... | ||
| 50dro |
Yes you can do a credit and reference check but I have found that the references are worth more than the credit check. There are good people out there that have made financial mistakes in their lives. I simply ask them about their credit in person and read the answer. You can usually tell when people are not being truthful. The most important call it to their current and/or previous landlords. If they were shit-heads to them, more than likely they be the same for you (and visa versa). | ||
| Sifo |
"down on his luck" I'm guessing luck has nothing to do with it. Do not place his property outside. Rent a space for it with a 90 day lease. Have him pick his stuff up from there. The laws today do not favor the landlord. Good advice there. This dummy probably wouldn't know how to use the law to his benefit, but if someone pointed him in the right direction, it can become a real problem for a landlord who has gone outside the "system". You don't want to have to pay to replace his stuff that is probably junk anyway. It took 90 days when I had to evict someone. Laws will vary. I felt bad for his wife and kids (his wife was a friends sister). Unfortunately he was an alcoholic gambler that just couldn't get his act together. Oddly his last name was Leach. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Well the one bright spot so far - I got in touch with his grandmother (a.k.a. Last known address) and she was horrified. Instant response from her: "my husband and I will be there tonight to meet you and haul all the garbage away". I'm going to propose they take EVERYthing, I'm going to change the locks and leave a note that the lease is null and void since he didn't fulfill a single requirement, all his stuff is @ grandmas, and he is no longer welcome on the property. Assuming I don't find major damage, that is. | ||
| Hootowl |
That sucks Joe. I wish timing had been better when my ex needed a place to rent. | ||
| Jumbo_petite |
Joe that does suck and you do have a nice house there | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
I dont think it's that simple to evict someone no matter what they failed to do. As you know, Joe, Maryland is a very liberal state with laws that favor the criminals and deadbeats. I guess since your renter has already left the premises it's a moot point as to the laws. I have been told, for example, if i let a woman move in (even without a written agreement) if her clothes are in my house I can't just kick her out. | ||
| Sifo |
I know of a case where someone had vacant property that he purchased for retirement. He didn't pay much attention to it because he was still years from retirement. One year his property taxes took a big jump and this prompted a phone call to find out why. It was because of the improvements that had been made, noticed when a permit to bring in electricity was given. Turns out a squatter had built a cabin and finally brought in utilities. Believe it or not it took months to get the squatter off his land. The laws really lean in favor of the occupant, not the owner, even in cases where it's incredibly clear the occupant is completely in the wrong and just taking advantage of the system. | ||
| Luftkoph |
Ive thought about moving away from this frozen hell hole,if I did I would not rent my place out, I'd blow out the water and sewer, fill'er up with anti frezze turn the furnace on 55 and pay a cabin service to come around and check every once in awhile. good luck mr.ratbuell | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
and then.... | ||
| Ulyranger |
Do we need to bail him out of jail? I've only been a landlord a couple of times, out of necessity. I used an agency but retained final approval for the candidates. Proper screening is the only way to protect yourself. I hope this works out for Joe, sadly i don't need another residence. Must remain a resident of the Falling Empire state for at least the next ten years..... | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
and then.... He tied her to the railroad track.... | ||
| Chauly |
And a train started comin'! | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
And then, and then..... | ||
| Chauly |
Unh-unh... | ||
| Etennuly |
The train was picking up speed! | ||
| Kyrocket |
Has the deadbeat been ejected yet?  | ||
| Chauly |
... And then along came Jones.... | ||
| Dwardo |
If you plan to continue renting the house, get an agent to handle it. It will cost you a lot of money but in the long run it's worth it. Renting can be a good investment but managing everything yourself sucks. |
