Nightmare Tenant Situation

[Jessica Deering]

Hello everyone,

I'm helping my mom manage her duplex, and we're facing a significant issue with one of our tenants. Here’s some background: He applied to rent a one-bedroom apartment attached to the main house with his wife and two children. He got a dog a few years after moving in without notifying us.

He is currently on a month-to-month agreement. Earlier this year, we decided to increase his rent to cover pet rent, an increase in insurance, and rising property taxes. However, he refuses to pay the rent increase, arguing that other apartments in the area charge less.

When he first moved in, my mom explained that he would need to pay more because he was moving in with two children. Now, he has added a large dog, complicating the situation further. He insists that the rent increase is invalid and continues to refuse payment.

Has anyone dealt with a situation like this before? What would you do? Thank you for your time and advice.

[JD Martin]

Yes. You should give him his notice and evict him if/when he doesn't leave. Allow the tenants to set the rules and you'll have a nightmare just like you have now.