Hot Water?

[Joseph F.]

One of my tenants in a fourplex I recently purchased, March 2014, has been giving me the run a round with respect to rent. The very first month, April, she was late and claimed the bank made a mistake. I gave her the benefit of the doubt and she eventually paid April. Now, May's rent is due and she's giving me the run a round again. The same recycled story about the bank making a mistake. We agreed to meet at her bank so that I can speak directly with the bank and see where the problem is, but she did not show.

I gave her a 3 Day Pay or Quit and was planning on evicting her, but I chose to give her a Notice to Terminate instead. I am giving her until June 30, 2014. I have a deposit, so I will be out one month's rent.

Now comes the kicker. It so happens that her hot water heater, although new, shut off and she doesn't have hot water. I think its Karma, if you ask me.

I tried lighting it on my own but was not able to light it. I think something got wet and needs a service call.

The question now is, how strong an effort should I make to get the hot water heater lit for a tenant that has been dishonest and deliberately not paying me rent.

She was served her Notice to Terminate today and she claims she will be out June 30 as instructed, but they are not trust worthy tenants.

My first instinct is to try to get some money from them, at least to cover the cost of the service call, but perhaps there are better suggestions.