Tenants No Longer Responding and haven't paid pet fee or partial security deposit

[Gloria A.]

Hi all, 

Perhaps you can help me with some next steps.

I recently signed a lease agreement with a couple who have stopped responding to my texts, emails, and phone calls. This is the second month they've rented my property and they were late on the January payment. I contacted them the day after it was due and the husband assured me he would pay. They sent a payment that failed and after I reached out again still did not make a payment. They had several excuses for why they had to pay late, and would not communicate proactively with me in this time. After 5 days past the due date I made them aware eviction proceedings would begin if I were not paid ASAP. Finally, he paid me, but not before sending this message:

"I don't know any different way to explain, that with the 3 days off over the holidays that I wasn't paid for, and the fact we were blindsided by the car insurance put us short. Maybe I need more crayons to explain it to you. Or maybe money is more important to you than having a good landlord tenant relationship. But I can tell you this...I get paid today, and you will have your precious money"

I agreed to let them pay their security deposit (2 months rent) and pet fee in installments; they paid the first half with their first payment and were to pay the remainder in 1/3 over three months. Now I was told by the husband he would pay this portion last Friday, and I still have not gotten a payment or response for more than 5 days now. What should I do at this point?

[Jeff Copeland]

Start the eviction process immediately. This will not get better with age. 

It is never a good idea to rent to a tenant who cannot afford to pay the initial security deposit. That was one of your first red flags. 

This has the potential to cost you thousands of dollars in legal expenses, lost rent, and repairs. It would have been much more profitable to hire a professional property manager in the first place.