Handling Tenant Breaking Vehicle Clause in Quadplex

[Hilary Hageman]

We inherited a long-time tenant at our quadplex, which we purchased last year.  At the time this tenant was our paid groundskeeper and ran a lawn business of his own.  He pays for an extra garage stall and thus is allowed an extra vehicle in the parking lot.  

Now, however, this tenant has experienced some major medical issues and is no longer running his business, but is collecting unemployment.  He still pays his rent (usually late, with fees), but he has accumulated THREE more pickup trucks than are allowed per his lease.  We pointed this out this year upon the renewal of his lease (6 months ago) and nothing was done.  The other tenants are complaining because it's hard for them to park or have guests over.  The garbage can't be collected half the time because his trucks block the dumpster.  

We sent him a (text) notification again last month regarding his trucks (and plows, scrap metal, etc.) and he replied "okay."  As of today, nothing has changed.  

What do we do?  If we charge him a fee, it'll probably still be cheaper than renting a storage unit and he'll probably just pay it.  We want him to get rid of the junk.  But we don't want to evict.  Any ideas?

[Theresa Harris]

Simply enforce the rules.  Tell him he has 5 business days to remove all but one of the vehicles or they will be towed.  Call him and put it in writing.  Explain that the garbage truck can't pick up the garbage and there isn't space for him to have 5 vehicles.  Hand out parking passes to the tenants and put up a sign saying any vehicle without a valid parking pass may be towed.