landloard question

[Renee Kostermans]

I have been renting my house out to an older couple for 2 years. They moved out June 1st and let their daughter in law take over the lease. she signed a year lease and she told me on June 28th that she had to move July 6th. I was pretty upset and she told me she knew someone who could take over the lease for her. I told her no because I could get at least $400 more per month with a new lease. She was a single mom and I thought we could help each other out. Anyway a few days later A lady calls and tells me that she is my tenants roomate and has been living there for over a month and is getting mail there. She does not want to move and will pay extra per month. I told her no and then she says that she will sue me. This person is not on the lease. What rights does she have? how do I get her out of there? I am in California and the house is in Colorado Springs, Co. I just don't know what to do. 

[Joe Splitrock]

@Renee Kostermans you are making a horrible mistake by letting her stay. You will have nothing but trouble. 

She is very likely a scammer because she has been careful to try to establish her rights to the property. She told you that she has been there 30 days and receiving mail there. She told you that she paid rent (to the previous tenant). She set it up all too perfectly to be an innocent victim. She is educated on the process, so either she has done this before or she has been reading up on the internet. She is playing you. 

Lets pretend she is telling the truth. She was a roommate paying probably half the rent. Now she is going to pay the whole amount plus $150? She was scammed out of half of July rent and now she is going to pay all of it plus security deposit? Lets say this is all true. Why is she willing to go to such lengths to stay in this property? It doesn't make sense.

The lesson I have learned is that when things don't add up, it always means trouble. Early on in my landlord career I tried to make sense of the crazy. There is no sense to make, crazy is crazy. You keep her and it will be nothing but trouble. There is no "bird in hand" this is bird crap in hand and be ready for much more if you keep her.