Evicting vacation rental tenant for smoking in no smoking house

[Katherine Pinkerton]

I am brand new in the vacation rental market. I have a very nice property, furnished for short term monthly rentals.  The listing clearly states no smoking several times through out the description.  The tenants have been smoking cigarettes and weed in my nice house.  They have been asked to stop but have not.  My property manager has pictures.  They are slobs and completely disrespecting the property.  We are trying to get them to leave because of the smoking.  The owner of company these men work for is demanding remaining rent back plus security deposit.  I don't want to give security deposit back until I see how badly they treated my house.  I am sick over this.  They are my first renters in a pristine home.  They blatantly keep smoking. How do I get them out.  There are 3 more weeks on the ageement.

[Nathan Gesner]

How is the company owner demanding "remaining rent back plus security deposit" if the workers still have three weeks remaining?

I'm not sure where you live but weed is still illegal in most states. If it is illegal in yours, call the cops the next time you smell it.

My main question: why isn't your property manager answering these questions for you?!? 

The damage is done. Unless they are breaking the law and can be arrested, there's not much you can do in the next three weeks except document. Once they are out, clean and repair as necessary and use their deposit to cover the charges. If the deposit doesn't cover the charges, go after the employer that made the reservation.

If you had an experienced property manager, they would have warned you against putting a construction crew in a pristine vacation rental. I don't even put them in empty homes without a significant deposit, increased rent, and a credit card on file. And when your tenants are smoking weed in the home and living like slobs, your property manager should be able to explain exactly how he/she will handle it.

You need to find a better manager or get out of the business.