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.