How NOT to Evict Tenants

Question

This should be fun.

Just read a question asking if the LL could turn off the utilities.....hmmm   :)

Well, no.

I recall a public housing director in a small town who told a tenant that the front door had to be repaired and kept the door in the shopfor a few days while the So the tenant left, a couple guys set the stuff on the curb and changed the locks. Totally illegal but common here.

I don't advocate acting illegally, you all know that, but a judge told me a long time ago "sometimes you gotta get stuff done on your own toughness", meaning take care of it and don't come to court.

Many tenants make too much for leagl aid yet don't have money for a paid attorney. They usually want money up front as the LL will usually get a slap on the wrist and no big money in it for the attorney.

So, what have you heard that done to convince a tenant to take a hike without causing a problem?

What have you heard that was done by a sneaky landlord?

BTW, this thread is for amusement purposes and not advice as to how to evict tenants!

Jon Holdman · Answer

Seriously, folks?  This is the sort of crap that results in pro-tenant laws getting passed.  If you pull this monkey business you're hurting us all.

Bob Hank · Answer

We have only have a few a year to do and most are not that bad.

Lady was 15 days late with rent and started the eviction.  We found out she was going out of town for 10 days.  The papers had been served.  A few hours after she left I posted a 24 hour inspection notice.  During the inspection we put up a wireless monitored severity system took pics and left.  After 7 days we saw the sheriff and did a conference call with the monitoring company to prove the property was abandoned for 7 days.  Changed the locks, stored her junk for 24 hours, painted, buffed the floors, and were looking or new tenants before she was back in town.

I had my electrician once decide that there was a safety issue with the between the meter and the service head.  Had the power cut off at the poll.  Called a shop for them to come out and look to see what there opinion would be.  It took 10 days to get the work done, permits, and inspection.  During this time the tenants were left with no power and could of used there renters insurance for a hotel room.  They told us they no longer had the insurance and that’s a breach of there lease.  To get them out we had to help them move there stuff in to a storage unit.

I had one that was a drunk with kids.  She would drink when she was out side with her kids.  I started call the cops any time she was doing it and told them she was a threat to her self and or others.  After the 5 time I called child services.  They made an agreement for her to move back in with her mom so she could help with the kids.  I never started the eviction process and got them out.

I convinced one guy that was 30 days late that if he found a new place to live in 7 days we would help him move.  He singed the contract found a new place and helped him move for the keys.  He still had to pay us what he owed.

Bienes Raices · Answer

I agree. I've found that in life it usually pays off in the long run to do things the right way, even if it's a pain in the short term.

Account Closed · Answer

I had one case were the housing authority did the eviction for me.  I was inspecting a property and was smelling marijuana. I called the police and reported it to the housing authority they evicted the tenant for me in a few days.

I take drugs seriously because it can lead to serious problems and in the extreme to the loss of the rental property.

Joshua Dorkin · Answer

I've changed the thread title to make sure people know that this kind of behavior is what you should NOT be doing. As Jon said, even joking around about this stuff is bad for investors.

Karen Margrave · Answer

Are you able to or do you know anyone you could hire to go over and move in to house sit? That would probably motivate the squatters to move on.

Sib Bahjat · Answer

Hey Rob, I love that approach, but sometimes looking at a barrel of a shotgun can get a little tricky. Must have plan B or even C...

Rob K. · Answer

I know a guy that turns off utilities. I used to know a guy that would remove the front door if someone owed him money.

One trick that I've heard is calling the utility companies and having the power turned off. Someone will call (from a payphone) and say that they are the tenant. They can then give the address, ss#, date of birth, etc and say that they're moving. Once it's off, the tenant will have to call and get it turned back on. Might be hard to do if they owe money.

Another trick is to pull out the electric meter (under cover of darkness) and take it.

I have never done any of these things. I have considered hiring bikers to send over for illegal evictions. My neighbor has a Harley and I asked him if he knew any thugs, but he doesn't.

I was showing a house to a prospective tenant once. He told me that his current landlord was a biker. He said that the guy would come over and threaten him if the check wasn't there right on the first. He said he had to start paying early because he was afraid of the landlord.

How NOT to Evict Tenants

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