An Eviction Story - Inherited Tenant

[Wade Garrett]

I have an inherited tenant who has been a PITA since I purchased a fourplex in August. She has been late on rent every month since I purchased the property. The previous owner was in the process of evicting her for nonpayment when I took over. She settled with him out of court. 

Other tenants have called the cops on her for threatening behavior. I have filed for eviction twice before for nonpayment, both times she has paid the outstanding bill before our court date. This time I filed for consistent late payment of rent, and am going to remove her from the property no matter what. I filed on Jan 11. She has not paid rent yet this month (Jan 21). Our court date is Feb 14. 

She was notified by mail today. I told her I would prefer to handle this out of court so she doesn't get hit with court fees and destroyed on her credit. I also said that regardless of the eviction that I am sending a nonrenewal on her MTM effective March1. And if she paid Jan and Feb, plus an outstanding utility bill that we could avoid all of it. Obviously I have no interest in going to court for an un-loseable case. 

She wants to go to court. She claims that she is paying the water bill for everyone in the building, and that I have known this and I have done nothing about it. 

Here's the kicker.... I have never even charged her for water! 

So now I will be going to court for consistent late payment of rent, which I have airtight evidence of. Her argument is that I haven't done anything about her water bill (which she's never been charged for). She can't get out of not paying Jan or Feb. I will 100% keep going after her if she doesn't pay her outstanding bill. She has absolutely NOTHING to gain by going through with this. And a lot to lose. 

Some people are truly just dim. 

[Deanna McCormick]

Bring copy of water bill to court showing the payments you have made to verify it's not her bill.

Good luck in court. I wouldn't  make any other type of arrangements with her. I wouldn't care if her credit was hurt.

Sounds like your part social worker and referee, I'd stick to the issue and get her out. Stop second guessing yourself and realize the win will be when she is gone.