Renters - Boyfriend wants to throw her and her daughter out

[Brenda Logan]

So they are not married and the daughter is not biologically his though he's on the birth certificate and claims her.  But the boyfriend is cheating on her (Jessica) and now wants her to move out so he can move the new girl in.  Also wants his car back.  She (Jessica) has no place to go, no family to move in with and lost her job a month ago.  They've been paying rent on time.  

I told her that new girl would have to sign the lease but that I thought she (Jessica) has a right to live there since she is on the lease now.  I told her to tell him that if he thinks he's going to start paying only half the rent that they would both be evicted and that they don't want that on their record.    I told her I was sorry this was happening to her and that I'd look into it.

Need advice.  Thinking of hiring a property manager as my other renters (different house) have been having the Church pay their rent for past 3 months, I'm sure the Church is about done with paying for them.  I think I'm a softie.

Thanks for any advice.

[Kyle J.]

If she (Jessica) is on the lease as you stated, then neither the boyfriend or you could just throw her out.  She has a legal right to be there.  Personally, I wouldn't get in the middle of their domestic squabble.  Who gets the car and who's the biological father of the child is, quite frankly, all irrelevant from a landlord's perspective.  I wouldn't even discuss things like that with a tenant.  Just tell them that you're not going to get in the middle of it and that all you're concerned with is that they hold up their end of the lease agreement and continue to pay the rent in full.  If they fail to do that, that's when you'll get involved and they'll be notified of your involvement when they get the eviction notice.