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Updated over 6 years ago,
Subtenant Won't Schedule Move-Out Inspection
I have a tenant in a triplex whose lease is up at the end of the month, but they bought a house 5 months ago and found a subtenant. I'm holding the tenant's security deposit and the tenant is holding the subtenant's security deposit. The subtenant signed a new lease with us starting May 1 with no deposit but a $500 move-in fee.
This subtenant has been a pain, but not enough of one to risk vacancy. I texted her this morning asking when in the next few days works for her to do a move-out inspection. We can then give the tenant back their deposit who can in turn give her back her deposit and she can pay the move-in fee. She's telling me she's swamped all week. I know thew type of people who are very busy and she is not one of them. She finally said she'd get back to me with a time that works in the next few days.I won't count on it.
My concerns are:
1. I can't return the original tenant's deposit until we do an inspection.
2. I'm concerned she plans to not pay rent starting May 1 and see how long she can stay for free seeing as she's already got squatter's rights.
I'm thinking I give her until later today to call with a time and then say tell her I'm coming with the original tenant in 48 hours and we're going to do an inspection ourselves. And if she doesn't pay the move-in fee, she'll be squatting and we'll have to begin eviction. And if she changed the locks, then she's trespassing and we call the police.
Is that how you'd do it or is there a more amicable way to handle this?