Tenants falling behind

[David K.]

Do you ever let good tenants (keep units in good shape, get along with people etc) fall behind in rent without doing evictions when you have many units?  For instance the cost of a turnover usually is a few thousand, plus legal costs and potential heat payment over winter.  Good tenant changes jobs and falls behind a month and half.  Makes payments but you realize cost of turnover exceeds the 1500 or so you are owed?  You keep them in the unit.  Obviously you have to be selective in doing this and can't do it too often...

[Jay Hinrichs]

most grizzled veteran landlords on this site will tell you to evict it does not get better.

my last rental I had the same scenario.. but the guy just keeps the house cleaner than anyone i have ever seen in a rental.. even replaced a stove on his own dime and put in gutters :) .. he finally got caught up and has been going along fine.. he wants to buy the house and i want to sell it to him.. All of my rentals in this area were A class so I have sold half of them to the renters this saves in Massive turn over costs and no commissions i figure each one i sell to the tenant saves me 20 to 30k.  so for me I work with them unless they just go dark.. But again my motivation is Exit not long term landlording.