tenant keeps running out of oil

[Brian Zaug]

Tenant pays own utilities including his forced air oil fired furnace. He has run out of oil 3 times already and it's only December. He told me he doesn't have a lot of money so he can't fill it. He'll put 20 gallons in as he needs it. 2 out of the 3 times he did this, I needed to go over there and bleed the air out of the system to get it running again. I'm afraid he's going to damage the furnace and I already told him that if anything repairs need to be made to the furnace, it'll come out of his security. With that said, I still see this happening again being it's only December. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.. Thanks BP

[Thomas S.]

Get rid of him.

You could take over responsibility of the oil and raise his rent accordingly but this is only a stop gap solution as he will default on his rent payment at some point and you will be forced to evict.

You have grounds to evict now so I would tell him he has to go and release him from his lease.

Next time you should screen your applicants properly. He obviously does not qualify income wise. 

For future reference you never take money out of a tenants security deposit if they still occupy the property. Never touch a deposit till they leave. You bill tenants directly for all tenant caused expenses.