Skip to content
×
Try PRO Free Today!
BiggerPockets Pro offers you a comprehensive suite of tools and resources
Market and Deal Finder Tools
Deal Analysis Calculators
Property Management Software
Exclusive discounts to Home Depot, RentRedi, and more
$0
7 days free
$828/yr or $69/mo when billed monthly.
$390/yr or $32.5/mo when billed annually.
7 days free. Cancel anytime.
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here

Join Over 3 Million Real Estate Investors

Create a free BiggerPockets account to comment, participate, and connect with over 3 million real estate investors.
Use your real name
By signing up, you indicate that you agree to the BiggerPockets Terms & Conditions.
The community here is like my own little personal real estate army that I can depend upon to help me through ANY problems I come across.
General Landlording & Rental Properties
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

Updated over 8 years ago on . Most recent reply

User Stats

20
Posts
5
Votes
Mike Morey
  • Investor
  • Waterville, ME
5
Votes |
20
Posts

Early termination of Lease by tenant

Mike Morey
  • Investor
  • Waterville, ME
Posted

Need some advice from experienced landlords out there. Here's the situation.

I have a tenant who reported the discovery of bedbugs in their unit, on a bedspread and mattress. I responded immediately the next day with a pest control inspection by a certified exterminator and they found the presence of bedbugs. The soonest they could schedule the initial treatment was 6 days afterward. The tenant complied with the treatment procedure very well but the next day after the treatment sent a text that they could not live there any longer and they were moving out the next day. I believe they are blaming the bedbugs on a tenant 2 floors below them that I had evicted 3 months prior to them being discovered in the upstairs unit. The unit between these units had been vacant but was occupied for at lease 3 weeks prior to the discovery. There were some signs of bedbugs on a mattress left in the evicted apartment but I saw no signs of them while performing renovations to the unit. The end of the lease term is still 3 months away. The tenant did not give proper notice in accordance with the lease and what are my obligations to agreeing with the early termination? I believe I have the right to hold them to the lease terms but also want to do the right thing. Any other experiences similar to this. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks  

  • Mike Morey
  • Most Popular Reply

    User Stats

    20
    Posts
    5
    Votes
    Mike Morey
    • Investor
    • Waterville, ME
    5
    Votes |
    20
    Posts
    Mike Morey
    • Investor
    • Waterville, ME
    Replied

    @Jim Y, Thank you. I see where you're coming from. Just to expand on being sued, what would they sue me for, loss of use?? I have done everything in accordance with Maine's bedbug law so I was just wondering the what legal course they could use. 

  • Mike Morey
  • Loading replies...