Refused to Renew Section 8 Tenant

[Mitch Dowler]

I have a Section 8 tenant in St Louis who has been in my property for two years. She was well below market rent at $925 per month for this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with a full basement and garage. I had the property management Realtor pull comps and I decided I would renew at $975 which is still $50 below market rent and on top of that I pay the sewer bill which is unusual for the area outside of Section 8.

This tenant has been very needy to deal with and frequently breaks things such as the kitchen sink rinse hose and storm door causing costly repairs. She also tried to charge me to clean her carpet she stored in the unfinished basement that got wet when they had floods and unusually heavy rains and small amount of water seeped in.

Section 8 managed by the St Louis Housing Authority has been late with rent two times at about two weeks late each and SLHA refuses to pay the late fees per the lease. I have always had any repairs made ASAP and maintain my property in a high state of police.

The SLHA delayed and delayed on the lease renewal now at the last moment of the last possible day they want to renew again at the $925. For me this tenant is costly and not worth my time to renew at $50 to $100 below market plus the additional $40 per month I pay for sewer so I am saying not no, but hell no to SLHA.

What would you do renew or take the 30 day vacancy in exchange for hopefully better tenant closer to market rent?