All Forum Posts by: Annette Radvansky

Tran Vu and Jim Cummings, thank you both for your responses. I did speak directly to the Landlord and expressed my views. They understood my concerns completely, and I didn't fill out the form.

My tenant has violated the lease several times, had late payments, and has been negligent with the property other times. I have looked forward to the day the lease expires so he will move out. 

I am reluctant to fill this form out because I have negative feedback. The new landlord told me she would share feedback with the tenant if it is negative. Given his lease doesn't expire until the end of August, he may be vindictive and damage the property. 

Am I obligated to fill out this form?

@Jim Cummings. Thank you for your response. I use the standard TAR, so I'll continue to follow that, in addition to communicating with the tenant. Thanks for pointing out 18.B. for me.

Tenant has been in property over 3 years and last week told me deck needed repair. Someone came out yesterday, the deck needs to be totally replaced. I had it completely dismantled and hauled away this morning because I felt it was unsafe and a liability.

My question is this: under Texas law, am I obligated to immediately replace this deck, given the tenant rented the property with a deck? I do plan to replace it, but I need to know how much time I have to accomplish this task? I'd like to get three separate estimates before undergoing such an expense as this. Meanwhile, I'd like to purchase and place stepping stones for them to walk on, so they don't have to walk on the ground. Is this acceptable for the time being?

I have an applicant with the above issues. He hasn't yet submitted a formal application (he wrote me a lengthy letter explaining his story), so I don't know his credit history, but I'm unsure whether to proceed even from this point. The thing that concerns me is the addiction, because that seems to have been the first thing that happened before the criminal record came about. In other words, if he stays clean (from pot), no problem. But if he starts smoking again, all bets are off. My gut says, "Stay away, don't do it." 

Am I being unfair? 

Another concern I have is that there is a single male next door to my rental property. I don't know anything about him, but if he happens to smoke pot or do drugs, then this could be a slippery slope for the potential tenant. They could meet, talk, and one thing could lead to another...

Thanks in advance for any perspective you can offer!

Looks like I've learned that one the hard way, I'm Glad it's over! Thanks Brad.

Yes, I agree Rick. After all this, I think I'm going to continue managing my properties for the time being. I will, however, use this same company to market the property and draw up a new lease that gives me more protections from the tenant. I had Keller Williams draw up the previous leases. The tenants abused my property and I found  I had no legal leverage to collect from the Security Deposits because the leases were so loosely written and tenant-friendly. A well written lease isn't a panacea, but it will solve a lot of my problems. Thian company can also screen better than I can due to their experience.

Brad, thank you for this information. If the PM doesn't need to be bonded, then where does my assurance come from that these security deposits will eventually make their way back to the tenant? Where is my protection? Caveat Emptor and due diligence, I suppose.

@Dave Toelkes, this is the piece of information I needed. There was nothing in the contract stating the PM was bonded. This would be a question I would need to ask him. If he wasn't bonded, I should look for another PM. 

Thanks everyone for your quick responses!