New Property, Bad Tenants

[Hal Cranmer]

I just closed on a short-saled triplex, that is full of tenants. Sounds good at first. However, at the closing, the previous owner said that there is one tenant that only paid half the rent for January and has not paid the February rent. Another tenant is section 8 but is not paying her portion of the section 8. Then there is a tenant down in a makeshift illegal basement unit (4th unit) that is paying on time, but I cannot continue letting him live down there if I am going to get a rental license from the city.

I am meeting with the non-section 8 tenant who is not paying their rent, and the illegal basement dweller today, and was looking for tips on how to gently explain they need to go - and soon. They did not put down security deposits (why do you think I got such a great deal on the short sale:)) and I want to convince them it is in their best interest to just leave. I will tell them they don't owe me a thing if they can be out very soon, but would be interested in any other tips and techniques that have worked for people in the past?

I also meet with the Section 8 person this weekend. Should I tell her I will be calling the Section 8 office? I've never rented to section 8 and don't intend to once this tenant is out. Thanks.

[Hal Cranmer]

Thanks for all your help everyone. It seems to have worked. I offered one guy who was not paying rent $500 if he could be out by this Friday, and gave him $100 of it up front to show I was serious. He accepted. The guy in the illegal unit thinks he can be out by end of February, and my section 8 tenant just paid her portion of the rent. I told her I will also need a security deposit and she is contacting several agencies to get assistance to pay it. I told her no deposit, no rental and she understands.

I even have an old (good) tenant call me up and ask if I had anything open! Things are working out and I appreciate the help.