Tenant Not Paying Rent & using property as storage

[Polo Vazquez]

Before covid 19 pandemic this tenant was informed that her lease was not going to be renewed next month. Well, next month came by and she didn't move out so we filed an eviction order, a few days later evictions were canceled. Since she knew she was being evicted she actually found another place and moved there but is now using my property to store things! And well, I don't think I can kick her out. She keeps saying she is taking the things out tomorrow and tomorrow she says the same thing

My plan as of now is to play nice and hope she hands me back the property and then sue her for all the missing rent. If anybody know of a better option please let me know. Is anyone going through something similar?

I already tried asking her for at least half the rent, which she said she would pay and never.

I live in Texas

[Todd Snyder]

Does she have room at her new place for her things? Have you tried to offer her help moving them to her new place or offered a storage unit for them? Storage units are like 50 bucks around here and that would allow you to start turning your unit so you can start getting rent again sooner. 

Have you thought about getting a shed at Lowes or Home depot for the property? They can cost anywhere from $600 to $2000 around here and you could store her things there and slightly up your rent if future tenants want to use if for storage. This also has the added benefit of not moving her things off the property so you wont need to inform her if she has been nasty and a headache for you. Just make sure her things are safe and don't damage them in any way.

I heard in one of the podcast someone charging $50-$75 extra to store things in the storage sheds. This doesn't even need to be one of your tenants renting the shed, your neighbors might pay to store things in it.