eviction questions

[Jim P.]

I have a tenant who is almost 1 month late on rent payment. Got a call from her saying she can no longer afford and will be moving out in a couple weeks. She is seven months into a 1 yr lease. How should I handle this? go ahead and file eviction and try to recoup unpaid rent or wait a couple of weeks and see if she leaves on her own. I do have one months rent for deposit.

[Joel Owens]

Could be a professional tenant baiting you to reduce the contract rent rate to stay.

You should have filed immediately after being just 1 to 2 days late on rent.This puts the pressure on the tenant and lets them know you are pushing them out if they do not cough up the cash.

Tenants constantly do this as a ploy.They will say "just give me a few more weeks and I promise I will get the funds or be out".A few weeks down the road they say they only have 300 out of 800 and will you work on the rest with them,or they were going to move but something delayed it or they can't find a place.

Go ahead and file eviction.Make sure to include "and all others" in your filing.Tell the tenant I understand your situation but this is a business.The filing is happening and if you can come up with the funds before court we can talk.

Once they know you can't be manipulated you will see their true colors.