Need your advice: War broke out on first day...

[Brad Fausett]

I recently purchased a duplex and kept 1 tenant who is section 8 and rehabbed the other side as part of the brrrr strategy. I was able to immediately find renters and signed them to a 1 year lease. The tenant who stayed is currently on a m2m lease. Yesterday my new tenants went to move in and all day day I was getting text and calls from the existing tenant that their dog is pooping all over the yard. I asked if she seen which was never answered ,she insist it is there she could smell it. Move to last night as the new tenants arrive to unload their belongings the existing tenant sister is at her house double parked nose to nose off the garage blocking access to the new tenants parking space (duplex home, single drive along side of house then widens in rear for 3 car parking). I'm not sure what happened next but what I was able to collect via the barrage of phone calls were a lot of screaming, and yelling via the existing tenant to the new tenants. When she called me I received the same language that the new tenants were calling and texting me about. She was loud, screaming, cussing acting highly emotional about any change to her parking situation now new tenants were moving in. I could go on to explain but needless to say, the men moving immediately asked for me to cancel their lease and let them find somewhere else. They were under attack from the time they were arriving. At one point the new tenants wanted to call the cops as they advise the existing tenant harshly moved her car in a manor that almost struck them as they were outside with her. I received multiple calls and text from both parties over the course of an hour. Without being biased the new tenants were calm, but highly concerned that they made a mistake, living next to someone like was lot going to be possible. The existing tenant had lost control over her emotions and words and was just screaming and threatening them. Laughing at them and would not move the guest car quickly as I asked. I managed to separate them via phone (I'm out of town). The new tenants are not willing to live next to her. What would you do?

[Thomas S.]

I would advise the new tenants that they have a signed lease and that in short order the issue with the existing tenant will be resolved. You tell them you will be getting rid of the existing tenant. The end.

IF the new tenant refuses (where are they going to go?) you tell them you will release them but they will be responsible for the rent until a new tenant moves in. You still must give notice of non renewal to the section 8 tenant.

You then immediately give notice to the existing section 8 tenant that her lease is not being renewed. Every day you waste in not getting rid of her is a risk to your investment.

Never mix section 8 with non section 8. Never tolerate bad behaviour from existing tenants toward new tenants. Terminate your existing tenants immediately or you will never get rid of the problem. She is crazy and crazy is not negotiable.