Tenant owes $41,000 in unpaid rent in Baltimore County. Help

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Tenant owes $41,000 in unpaid rent in Baltimore County. Help

Devon Rogers
Rental Property Investor · Lake Worth, FL · Member since 2021 · 16 posts · 26 votes

Tenant currently owes me $41,000 in unpaid rent. Please help. Property located in Baltimore County MD, I am trying to seek help within the county, and or Cares Act to help. Have anyone had any luck with getting the state, or county to provide some assistance with past unpaid rent?

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Bjorn AhlbladPro Member
Investor · Shelton, WA · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 6k+ votes
5y

Landlords looking to the government to pay a deadbeat tenants rent is a fool's mission in my view. You should have looked for a good attorney 38,000 dollars ago. All the best!

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  • Sam Lewis
    Real Estate Agent · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2018 · 285 posts · 228 votes
    5y

    I would highly recommend working with an attorney at this point. I recommend Jacob Rappaport - while I have never had an eviction, he has helped me with tenant issues within the past year

    I hope this helps!

    5Reply
  • Bjorn AhlbladPro Member
    Investor · Shelton, WA · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    5y

    Landlords looking to the government to pay a deadbeat tenants rent is a fool's mission in my view. You should have looked for a good attorney 38,000 dollars ago. All the best!

    18Reply
  • Russell BrazilBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
    5y

    How long has this tenant not been paying? If they had a $1500 a month rent thats like 2 years 3 months?

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    12Reply
  • Steve Vaughan
    Rental Property Investor · East Wenatchee, WA · Member since 2014 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Devon Rogers:

    Tenant currently owes me $41,000 in unpaid rent. Please help. Property located in Baltimore County MD, I am trying to seek help within the county, and or Cares Act to help. Have anyone had any luck with getting the state, or county to provide some assistance with past unpaid rent?

    This is out of state for you?  Do you have a PM?  What do they say?

    0Reply
  • Ozzy SirimsiBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 782 votes
    5y

    41K rent , how long has this been going on ???

    It might be right time to sell !!!!

    9Reply
  • Stephen Kehoe
    Property Manager · MD · Member since 2015 · 186 posts · 125 votes
    5y

    Check out this page on March 1st. The intake form for phase II should be up then. https://www.baltimorecountymd....

    At $41,000 I presume the tenant is past their original lease and is now in the tenant hold over category? If so, that is not included in the moratorium.

    6Reply
  • Devon Rogers
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Lake Worth, FL · Member since 2021 · 16 posts · 26 votes
    5y

    @Stephen Kehoe Thanks, Stephen. Yes, lease expired back in November 2019, and the have not moved out. I recently filed for Breach of Lease. I was successful in getting a court date for 2/10/21. I won due because they didn’t show up, currently I have the sheriffs office scheduled for Monday at 10am for eviction. I’m hoping I can sell Asap! Thanks for the link, I will try that to see what help is available.

    9Reply
  • Joe Norman
    Property Manager · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y

    Thats a tough one man, sounds like it went on for too long - hopefully lesson learned. I'm glad you are able to evict them for holding over, and I hope the place is in decent shape so you can sell quick. I'm happy to take a look at it for you once they have moved out, just let me know.

    1Reply
  • Seth Hochberg
    Member since 2020 · 121 posts · 135 votes
    5y

    @Sam Lewis's comment. I would also suggest the attorney route and would recommend Jacob Rappaport.

    0Reply
  • Michael Noto
    Real Estate Agent · Southington, CT · Member since 2008 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    5y

    Is this a real post? I do not know how it is possible for a rent bill to run this high for a residential tenant. Let's say the rent is $2k a month (which is probably way high), that would be 20 months worth of rent they are late. Is there any more to this story?

    3Reply
  • Lam N.
    Rental Property Investor · Troy · Member since 2017 · 175 posts · 271 votes
    5y

    I suspect the OP dragged his feet in dealing with this resulting in the situation dragging out for the last 2 years.

    OP, in my experience the chances of you seeing any of that money is almost nill.  

    Investing is a numbers game.  Like everything else in life, you win some you lose some.  The trick is to win way way more than the losses.  

    For example, if you open a retail store it is a given that you're going to get shoplifted.  The trick is to sell way way more than the losses so some of the profits can cover the losses.

    Sounds like a very expensive lesson for you.  

    Going forward:

    • -Choose your tenants more wisely
    • -Pay more attention to what's happening with your investment(s)
    • -If there is a problem, get on it right now, not tomorrow
    • -Keep in communication with the tenants
    • -Establish a good relationship with the tenants
    • -TODAY NOT TOMORROW

    Is this the only investment property you have?  If so, I suggest selling.  At this point you're so much in the hole it is hard to see how you're going to recover from this.  

    5Reply
  • Joe SplitrockPro Member
    Moderator
    Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
    5y

    The federal government allocated $25 billion for rent assistance as part of the CARES Act and they will pay up to 12 months worth of back rent. Please note that a landlord can submit the request provided they have support of the tenant. As it says on the treasury website:

    "An application for rental assistance may be submitted by either an eligible household or by a landlord on behalf of that eligible household."

    Full details:

    https://home.treasury.gov/poli...

    I have been suggesting to landlords that they should not illegally evict or give "cash for keys" for people who owe substantial money, because you can kiss your federal money goodbye. Work with your tenants to secure government money. Explain to your tenant, this is their "get out of jail free card", but it will require them to work with you. 

    One other point worth mentioning is to find this information I simply google searched "CARES act rent assistance". If you are a landlord who is owed money, you need to be more resourceful to solve problems. Many cities, states or local charities have been giving landlords money for months. Just sitting back and doing nothing is a recipe for disaster. When I had a tenant struck with COVID hardship, I found him assistance. I called him and the charity every other day until I got the money. I was on it like a fly on sh1t. I didn't wait months or even weeks to take action. 

    12Reply
  • Lance Edwards
    Member since 2021 · 3 posts · 3 votes
    5y

    @Devon Rogers

    I have received 3 month of payments for a rental property I have in the city of Baltimore. Baltimore has a Rental Support program. Two things. 1. Make sure rental licenses are up to date. 2. It a program for the tenant so you will have to applied for the tenant ( with there permission of course). Let me know if your need more info. Property Managers would be your best resource to streamline the process with you.

    1Reply
  • Christen G.
    Rental Property Investor · Seattle, WA · Member since 2017 · 383 posts · 248 votes
    5y

    I'm sorry to hear about this situation and I hope it resolves for you soon.

    I received about $4k from a local agency for back rent from a tenant. She has not paid since last FEB. We cannot evict due to the moratorium. The trouble I ran into on getting that money is that the tenant has to pull it together to send some documents - and this tenant was just dragging her feet, not communicating, etc... It was really a slog. It took about 4 mo to get it and of course she didn't pay anything that entire time so now her balance owed is another 4k+. There's more CARES act money coming but again - they can't tell me when applications will go up, but I'll try it again - for her sake and ours - but again, it's a slog to get it and the tenant has to participate. Find your local equivalent to 311 and have them direct you / the tenant on to how to apply. 

    Some folks just don't seem to get how bad an (eventual) eviction on their record will be. They've got bigger things to worry about, I guess.

    0Reply
  • Devon Rogers
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Lake Worth, FL · Member since 2021 · 16 posts · 26 votes
    5y

    @Ozzy Sirimsi 15 months

    0Reply
  • Kyle J.
    Rental Property Investor · Northern, CA · Member since 2012 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Michael Noto:

    Is this a real post? I do not know how it is possible for a rent bill to run this high for a residential tenant. Let's say the rent is $2k a month (which is probably way high), that would be 20 months worth of rent they are late. Is there any more to this story?

    I could see how it could be a real post.   There was this post a couple months ago from another BP member not too far from me whose deadbeat tenant owed him/his parents almost $27k:

    California Tenant Missing Rent Since 03-2020

    And in that post, it didn't seem like he was even close to getting this tenant out.  So fast forward two more months to today (2 more months rent @ $2,450/mo), and factor in that our state just recently extended tenant protections for those tenants who do not pay their rent until July (at least 5 more months @ $2,450/mo), and it could actually end up being over $41,000.

    And I recently saw the following story about a landlord in New York that has a tenant who allegedly owes him and his wife approximately $80,000 in unpaid rent:

    Landlord Says Party Mansion Renters Owe $80,000

    It sickening to see tenants taking advantage of these eviction moratoriums that were meant to help the people that actually need it, but it does happen.  And when it does, it's the landlord that gets hurt.

    0Reply
  • George Munoz
    Real Estate Agent · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2018 · 360 posts · 213 votes
    5y

    So hard with covid situation ,,, @Devon Rogers  Though I will suggest two options one is more sure than other.. First (Disclaimer)  ( seek legal advice for this one , im not a lawyer, but I have a colleague that did this, Right now there is kind of like a loophole "in a way" on the file in which you could get the judge sign and send sheriff, asap  ) instead filing for nonpayment, file for lease expiration or nonrenewal .  ( that's if they are past the lease)  Regardless of when it ended. If they are past they are past.. 

    Second : by kindness and sympathy ( I know this one is very very, VERY hard , but either way you are screw ( sorry ) but Kindness will go long way, and even though if you didn't get the results, at least you will feel you did everything you could. Approach the tenant and be at service and try to REALLY REALLY  REALLY Understand why is it they are not paying, Offer to help them by cash for keys... give them 2 options Pay in full  2k or even up to 5k enough for a down on another lease, but they have to be out the day of payment  and you actually help them find a new place or option 2nd a CONDITION , if they have X problem you promise to help them BUT the have to leave by X day .... 

    Either way If you end up doing option 2 I will suggest to do it parallele with option one , in case things go south at least you got the file going .. 

    0Reply
  • Devon Rogers
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Lake Worth, FL · Member since 2021 · 16 posts · 26 votes
    5y

    @Lam N. Guess you know what I was doing huh? If you don’t have anything of value to add to people post. Just shut up! Thanks!

    0Reply
  • Devon Rogers
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Lake Worth, FL · Member since 2021 · 16 posts · 26 votes
    5y

    @Joe Splitrock Thanks, for this link Joe, I will try and see what Baltimore can do in this case. Much appreciated.

    1Reply
  • Ma D.
    NJ · Member since 2011 · 34 posts · 3 votes
    5y

    I'm dealing with something serious.  In south jersey, non paying tenant going into 9th month.

    Now looking for any investor to offer to buy property.  Message me if anyone is interested.

    1Reply
  • Ma D.
    NJ · Member since 2011 · 34 posts · 3 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Ma D.:

    I'm dealing with something serious.  In south jersey, non paying tenant going into 9th month.

    Now looking for any investor to offer to buy property.  Message me if anyone is interested.

    similar* situation.

    0Reply
  • Leo F.
    Developer · New York City & L.I. · Member since 2013 · 79 posts · 29 votes
    5y

    NY (Long Island) tenant owes $48,750. Started eviction Dec 2019, covid hit and she has rode the wave!  I have had 3 court adjournments since then. My last landlord / tenant hearing was scheduled for March 10th 2021 and the county just kicked it to August! Even if I secured a default judgement, I could not evict bc of the Federal moratorium until September 30 2021. Not sure about other states, but NY specifically Long island is particularly difficult to evict in general, At this rate she will likely be there for 2 years w/o paying her rent of $3250 per month. CRAZY!  

    0Reply
  • Michael Arena
    Member since 2021 · 6 posts · 2 votes
    5y

    @Devon Rogers try to evict and never let this happen again. No tenent in the world would pay back rent

    0Reply
  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Michael Noto:

    Is this a real post? I do not know how it is possible for a rent bill to run this high for a residential tenant. Let's say the rent is $2k a month (which is probably way high), that would be 20 months worth of rent they are late. Is there any more to this story?

    EVen i would have caught that one..   however it sounds its handled now sherrif show up MOnday and boot them out or they might have already left.. 

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    0Reply
  • David Lichtenstadter
    Rental Property Investor · Northern NJ · Member since 2016 · 341 posts · 144 votes
    5y

    @Ma D. Just sent you a request, I have navigated similar in New Jersey already it’s doable

    1Reply
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