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Updated about 1 year ago, 09/12/2023
My Tenant has Cancer, rent is late...now what do I do
I was hoping to get some suggestions from fellow landlords and property managers on how you might approach this situation.
Tenant has been with me for almost a year. She is nice older lady, that has taken good care of her apartment, kept me informed about the place, and has referred prospective tenants for other units in the building. She has only been late on rent one time up until about 6 weeks ago. She informed that she was having surgery to remove a tumor, and that due to the missed time from work, she was going to be short on rent, but would pay half the rent, then the balance over the next 2 pay periods. I was understanding to her situation and agreed. She has been unable to bring rent all the way current, but has made payments. I have now been informed that they have found more tumors, and additional treatments will be necessary. She insists she can make a payment to get caught up towards the end of the month, and wants to know if I will work with her.
Would you ask her to leave? And if so, how would you handle it?
Would you work with her? And if so, how would you structure it? Where do you draw the line before asking her to move?
That's a tuff spot to be in. I have been in the same situation before. My tenant had been renting one of my $2000 a month rentals for a year. He had been a great tenant and I extended the lease when it was up after the initial year. Well wouldn't you know after that first year rent started getting later and later and I was always having to post eviction notices etc. His excuse was that he had cancer and was having to go to Texas for treatments and wasn't able to work like normal. On about the third month of him being late he said he couldn't get me the rent right now because he was out in Texas getting treatment ( BTW he paid electronically no need to be in town), but he would get it to me as soon as he got back. That very day I went to the house to post notice, rang the doorbell and who do you think answered the door? I said I thought you were in Texas!
Long story short, like others have said treat it like a business. You never know who is telling the truth, people will say anything. If you were late on your mortgage do you think your lender wouldn't foreclose because you couldn't work full time for a couple of months? I'm a trusting person and like to be nice but it just goes to show you when you are you will get burned.
Having just beat cancer, that is a tough one. Glad you got your money. Hate to think their are people like @Blake Jarrett mentioned, but we have all seen them. It just makes it harder to know when to work with someone who has a legitimate problem. But that being said, you still need your money.
Originally posted by @JJ Conway:
"Cutting her rate for a few months will surely turn into great word of mouth to everyone she knows. If you have other properties, you will get solid tenants due to your solid reputation as someone who cares (from her friends/family)."
(having trouble getting the quote function to work)
Is there anyone else who feels opposite about this? Maybe it's because most of my real estate experience has been the into DC-Baltimore corridor but the LAST thing I want spreading is word of mouth that I'll give discounts or work with people for hardships. That's almost like inviting poor tenants with a bunch of made up excuses to line up at your door. Could just be the areas I've invested in, and not your area of the country.
You wouldn't want that? Then integrity, honor, and reputation is clearly lost on this (millennial) generation. I don't want to even be associated with this entitled, superficial generation. Real entrepreneurs would go out of their way to build and sustain their reputation and honor. I remember when Donald Trump many decades ago heard about a woman in a bad situation (the specifics of which elude me at the moment) about to be foreclosed on, and he gave her about $100k so she can preserve her family's house and honor.
Money is money, business should be run with a calculator, etc. these arguments seem pretty petty all of a sudden. Money is EASILY made, and EASILY lost. Reputation, family, honor, community may be easily lost, but are not so easily made, that is the lesson.
Originally posted by @Jon Burns:
Funds received! Tenant has paid her portion, and I have received confirmation from the churches involved that funds have been sent.
Well done. Props for being flexible and coming to what looks like is a great solution. Just more validation that business it isn't always black and white and emotionless.
Originally posted by @Andrey Y.:
Originally posted by @JJ Conway:
...the LAST thing I want spreading is word of mouth that I'll give discounts or work with people for hardships. That's almost like inviting poor tenants with a bunch of made up excuses to line up at your door. Could just be the areas I've invested in, and not your area of the country.
You wouldn't want that? Then integrity, honor, and reputation is clearly lost on this (millennial) generation. I don't want to even be associated with this entitled, superficial generation.
Never been called a millennial before. Lol. One thing 20 years in ministry (and a decade of landlording) have taught me is that when people find out that you give handouts, you end up getting more people who want handouts. Somehow word spreads.
It's about being businesslike vs being compassionate. You can be both. I most certainly work with good tenants who fall on hard times. But isn't it funny how ever since I became stricter in my business practices, to the point that my reputation is "pay your rent or she'll file," I hardly ever have tenants who have those kind of hard times anymore.
Originally posted by @Jon Burns:
Funds received! Tenant has paid her portion, and I have received confirmation from the churches involved that funds have been sent.
Wonderful! So happy to hear that. I do hope that she will respond well and quickly to treatment, for everyone's sake
I would help her seek the agencies which help tenants in her case. They may pay her entire back rent. Some require paperwork supporting she's going to be evicted before they help. Although this women is elderly, how many bedrooms does she have? Maybe she could enlist a roommate/ nurse aid deal who could help pay 1/2 the rent? I would give the tenant more time. Maybe set her on smaller frequent pays until she caught up. Assist her in finding another rental cheaper...
This is probably the toughest call for being a landlord. None of us can give you a "right" answer to this, I think much of this decision will come off from your personal value as well.
If she has been keeping the unit well, she certainly shows the character of being a great tenant. If financially is not a burden for me, I would consider to work with her a little. ie. agree to keep a record of missing rent to pay pack without late penalty.
this is just a first impression, after all my personal goal is not to be a blood sucking landlord, but like few people have mentioned, this is a business. So it will take some good thoughts to decide a good balance on this situation.
Good luck and wish the lady will be fully recovered soon.
There's squatters in my downstairs unit. I only hired the son to paint. !! they have been there since October 2022. I can't get rid of them. Unfortunately I found out the mother of the son has cancer. Can I still evictthen .The unit was renter to another person.Hes a 75 year old veitnom VET that is STILL waiting to move in!!!.
If you are having trouble meeting your obligations (paying expenses) because of this situation, then you have to begin the eviction process. Do not let your compassion ruin your financial future.
You need to draw the "line in the sand," and let her know what needs to happen by X date. You are the only one who knows where that line is. You need to let her know that you are worried about losing the place and your stress level is increasing with the situation. I would try to find her another place that she can afford under her current circumstances and present her with that solution when you speak with her.
Try to contact any friends and family (ask her permission) to reach out for help. You might be able to set-up a "Go-Fund-Me" page for her to help with raising the balance of her monthly rent.
Do everything you can to ease the transition from your place to her next place if and when the eviction comes.
Good luck to you and her and let us know how things turn out.
#3 Real Estate Horror Stories Contributor
Quote from @Gloria Bradford:
There's squatters in my downstairs unit. I only hired the son to paint. !! they have been there since October 2022. I can't get rid of them. Unfortunately I found out the mother of the son has cancer. Can I still evictthen .The unit was renter to another person.Hes a 75 year old veitnom VET that is STILL waiting to move in!!!.
Call a local attorney who specialized in evictions and get started now. Doesn't matter who they are or if the mother is sick. They are illegally occupying your house and not paying rent.
Quote from @Onna-lisa Kyom:
It is clear that you have no personal obligations to this woman. She is not a friend or a family member, or an acquaintance from your past. The only relationship you have to her is through the document you both signed stating that in exchange for the privilege of staying on your property, she is required to provide you with x amount of dollars paid by date y of each month.
Though her relationship to you extends no further than the terms of that contract, it seems she has done more for you, through her exceptional care for her residence, your property, and her efforts to find you other good tenants.
My suggestion: Do more for her.
Be reasonable, and protect your interests, but please have compassion.
There are plenty of charitable organizations, churches, and other non-profits, who would gladly write a check to you for allowing this woman to stay in her current home, or provide her with a sum sufficient to move elsewhere. Call a few, and see what you can help her accomplish. And, though at least one person has suggested you move toward eviction, you and I both know that having such a recent mark on her rental history would make it difficult, if not impossible for her to find another place to live (not to mention the burdens such a stressful event would impose on her failing body).
She is a good tenant who has, for at least a year, contributed to your financial security and positively impacted the quality of your life. While I won't suggest you support her yourself, you are in a position to help her in a moment of desperate need. I don't see why you shouldn't.
Thank GOD there are people out there with compassion. I was starting to get worried.
Quote from @Aaron Mazzrillo:
Sounds like you're running a hospice. How's that working out for you?
You either invest with your heart or your calculator. Life happens. Guess what, none of us is getting out of here alive! 3 day and evict. Find a healthy tenant with a steady income.
That’s absolutely brutal. I had a post about seeing people struggle. But it ain’t gonna matter and honestly I’m speechless