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Problem Tenants 7 posts by 5 users

Jo E.

Real Estate Consultant
CT

Posted: 07/07/2008 at 10:43PM

I have tenants in building that have been fine to deal with until now. Now in the summer months, they are up till all hours drinking and swearing in the yard. They pay early and have not caused any other problems to this point. They appear to be having some domestic issue. The brother of one tenant moved in. He clearly has a drinking problem. I see him drunk in the morning, afternoon, evening. He is always polite when I encounter him but he is the source of the friction at the property. The late nights can not continue, it is disturbing others. The original tenants are a couple. They are month to month tenants.
So, approach the orginal tenants and tell the he has go, or tell them they all have to go? I know domestic issues can be sticky. So I want to have the right approach from the start. Any ideas?

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Michael S.

Real Estate Investor
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

Moderator

Author

1093 posts

Posted: 07/08/2008 at 05:52AM

Do you have how long a guest can stay spelled out in the lease? If so and he has exceeded it then tell them that they are in violation of their lease and he must go or they all do.

If he doesn't go then terminate their lease since they are on a month to month. No need to go through the eviction process, just give them their 30 day notice to vacate.

Do everything in writing so you have what you need to back it up if for some reason it ends up in court.

-Michael

Ray E.

Real Estate Consultant
Hibbing, MN

28 posts

Posted: 07/08/2008 at 12:12PM

I agree the only difference is I would give them their 30 day notice (in writing) then talk to them & tell them to get rid of him or they all have to go.

Ray 8)

Jason H.

Real Estate Coach
Oakton, VA

Author

980 posts

Posted: 07/08/2008 at 01:52PM

I would keep a very detailed log of everything that happens....I would also approach them and tell them they are violating the lease (if they are) and that they need to get their act together or they are gone. I would give them one chance to fix this.

Ray E.

Real Estate Consultant
Hibbing, MN

28 posts

Posted: 07/08/2008 at 02:01PM

I agree again documentation, documentation, documentation.

Ray 8)

Jo E.

Real Estate Consultant
CT

4 posts

Posted: 07/08/2008 at 09:14PM

I told the (most often) sober tenant that she and her husabnd and brother need to " tone it down." I started the conversation casually, and finally asked, " Is everything ok over at your apartment?" She said , " yes, why?" I said becasue there was a lot of noise coming from there till late at night. I left it at that. No threats, no further discussion. She got the point. She knows her rent is under market by $75-100 per month, so she'll make it quiet, sure enough

P N.

456 posts

Posted: 07/09/2008 at 12:07PM

You've dealt with it. I hope that is all that it takes. I suspect they will cool it for a day or two and then be right back at it.

I would have given them a written notice that the brother was not on the rental agreement and he would have to move out within 72 hours, or I would file an eviction on them.

If your rental agreement doesn't clearly state that no additional persons can move in without written permission, and clearly have a limit on how long guests can stay, then get your rental agreement changed.

Also be sure it says no pet-sitting, while you are at it.

I might not evict, but they'd get their 30 day notice if he didn't move out. I would file eviction if he didn't go and it looked like my other tenants might go because of his behavior. Then at least when the other tenants complained, I could tell them that I had already filed to evict them.

Don't keep a tenant who drives your good tenants out.