What would cause you to not renew a lease?

[Kelly N.]

Hello,

I am curious to know what reasons other landlords have to not renew a lease with an existing tenant?

I have a tenant who has bounced a check and has been late twice in the 10 months she has rented.  The NSF fee and late fees were paid promptly but the tenant has needed more attention than my other 5 units combined.  Other issues include breaking the shower head, locking herself out twice in one week, leaving personal items in the hallway, leaving personal items outside with the trash and getting upset when they are taken out with the trash, moving a cat in when it is prohibited on the lease (the cat is gone now), and using the oven for heat  (with the windows open).

In the past I have refused to renew over late payments and bounced checks and a nasty attitude, and over moving in a girlfriend and refusing to put her on the lease, I feel it is time to move on with this one as well. 

Of course this is in the hardest to rent unit (it is tiny- I get a lot of tire kickers due to the low price) and the apartment is a mess so showing it will not be easy even when the tenant isn't there.  We will be upgrading the unit once it is empty but I prefer to have a new tenant ready to go when the upgrades are complete rather than waiting to show it once it is empty.  This might be one to make an exception on though!

Kelly