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User Stats

134
Posts
99
Votes
Bob Romano
Pro Member
  • Investor
  • Warwick, RI
99
Votes |
134
Posts

Tenant wont give phone number?

Bob Romano
Pro Member
  • Investor
  • Warwick, RI
Posted

My tenants phone has been working fine until the first month he took residence. Since then he has been consistently late by a few weeks for the rent.  Now I call it and it goes right to vm. I went to the house to tell him this and he said" his phone is being fixed and he had to send it out for repair" . well 3 weeks later , it still does not work. Now who waits 3 weeks for their phone to be repaired? I keep trying to call his wife's phone, she never answers' either. I sent him an email yesterday stating I need a new contact number and have not heard back yet. What would you guys do?

  • Bob Romano
  • User Stats

    21
    Posts
    6
    Votes
    Alicia M.
    • Specialist
    • Midwest Market
    6
    Votes |
    21
    Posts
    Alicia M.
    • Specialist
    • Midwest Market
    Replied

    I agree with @Thomas S. also @Bob Romano is Cozy the only way your tenants can pay rent or your preferred way? Did you screen this tenant prior to, because in your original statement you said "up until they moved in"? Lastly, he's not trying to be a responsible tenant, he knows how to "play" the system. He doesn't really have the money to pay on the 5th but he doesn't want to get that late fee, so he pays on the 4th knowing it takes 4/5days to process the payment, AND knowing it will come back NSF, so it automatically sets it up so he's behind in his payment when it bounces. He's calculated and he will just get further behind. thats just my opinion :)

    User Stats

    1,239
    Posts
    1,096
    Votes
    Michael Ablan
    • Real Estate Broker
    • Watertown, NY
    1,096
    Votes |
    1,239
    Posts
    Michael Ablan
    • Real Estate Broker
    • Watertown, NY
    Replied

    @Bob Romano  Unfortunately you can't require him to have a phone.  However, you CAN require him to pay his rent on time.  Explain to him that you will be doing so the next time he is late, and if he's late then file the eviction and see it through.  He is trying to walk over you.  Don't let him.

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    User Stats

    176
    Posts
    96
    Votes
    Jacob Villalobos
    • Whittier , CA
    96
    Votes |
    176
    Posts
    Jacob Villalobos
    • Whittier , CA
    Replied

    EVICT!

    User Stats

    54
    Posts
    31
    Votes
    Robert Fornwalt
    • New Boston, MI
    31
    Votes |
    54
    Posts
    Robert Fornwalt
    • New Boston, MI
    Replied

    I've been told there is no such thing as a bad tenant just bad landlords. put your foot down do what you have to do and move on. learn from this and have a plan to never let it happen again.

    User Stats

    103
    Posts
    54
    Votes
    Steve Graves
    • Investor
    • Lancaster, CA
    54
    Votes |
    103
    Posts
    Steve Graves
    • Investor
    • Lancaster, CA
    Replied

    You're working way to hard to get what is due to you. I've been through this before so I started posting 3 Day Pay or Quit Notices the day after they were late. Solved the problem and now they even pay rent in advance sometimes.

    User Stats

    12
    Posts
    4
    Votes
    Irving Keighley
    • Rental Property Investor
    4
    Votes |
    12
    Posts
    Irving Keighley
    • Rental Property Investor
    Replied

    i would send the 5 day notice to or vacate place it in mailbox.

    U have to start documentation now this way if u have to evict tenant u show courts how many times u had to send notices to pay

    This helps on ur end

    Nip it in the butt now 

    User Stats

    33
    Posts
    18
    Votes
    Stephen A Binion
    • Rental Property Investor
    18
    Votes |
    33
    Posts
    Stephen A Binion
    • Rental Property Investor
    Replied

    @Bob Romano. His phone isn’t broken it is off for non payment.

    Post a 3 day notice and get the lawyer warming up in the bull pen. His at bat is coming soon.

    I see an eviction coming soon.

    User Stats

    26
    Posts
    9
    Votes
    Douglas Petrie
    • Ramsey, NJ
    9
    Votes |
    26
    Posts
    Douglas Petrie
    • Ramsey, NJ
    Replied

    @Mike G.  @Bob Romano

    I agree with everyone here, start the eviction process.  The tenant is not all of a sudden become responsive. make sure to keep a record of all communications.  

    User Stats

    523
    Posts
    474
    Votes
    Shiva Bhaskar
    Pro Member
    • Investor
    • Los Angeles, CA
    474
    Votes |
    523
    Posts
    Shiva Bhaskar
    Pro Member
    • Investor
    • Los Angeles, CA
    Replied

    Talk to your attorney, prepare pay or quite notice, and get this resolved. The guy is either lying about the phone (most likely) or he cannot pay for it to be fixed, in which case he can't pay the rent. I would get a local landlord attorney involved, and take care of this ASAP. Maybe you get lucky and he pays, but if not, cut losses and move on. 

  • Shiva Bhaskar
  • User Stats

    1,025
    Posts
    610
    Votes
    Charles Kao
    • Specialist
    • Grand Rapids, MI
    610
    Votes |
    1,025
    Posts
    Charles Kao
    • Specialist
    • Grand Rapids, MI
    Replied

    @Bob Romano

    Who cares if his phone works? He can't call you for complaints and repairs now and you should be evicting him for late payments. Not sure if your area allows it but habitual late payments is cause for eviction in my lease. My lease also states they must notify us of current contact information.