All Forum Posts by: Beenna Han

So I purchased a multi family unit that has an existing tenant in Maryland. I closed the purchase deal on late May, and soon after the closing I realized that the settlement did not include prorated rent (around $300) and tenant security deposit ($1200) related to the existing tenant. 

Unfortunately my real estate agent and title company did not check that these items should be included at the closing and I, as a first-time home buyer, did not know either at that time. So after the closing, I asked my real estate agent to contact the seller and asked for the prorated rent and tenant security deposit. The seller refused, saying the seller already used up the security deposit because the tenant did not pay utilities thus no security deposit left, and they had some financial loss because closing was delayed because of my mortgage lender's issue thus no prorated rent for me. After this refusal the seller never responded. What should I do? Are the real estate agent or title company responsible for this because they missed to check these items at the closing? or Can I do some small claim for asking these items? 

A novice landlord in Baltimore city here. 

To make the long story short, my tenant on a month-to-month lease is not paying rent and refusing to communicate with me. I already sent this tenant a failure to pay rent notice (10-day notice) and vacate notice (60-day notice) yesterday. So basically I just started a process of eviction, but I just want to persuade the tenant to vacate immediately so that both of us don't have to go through eviction. The tenant is very young and kind of clueless person. I am very sure that the tenant even doesn't know what eviction is. So here's an email draft I like to send her. Experienced landlords, please review this letter and see whether it is appropriate, and most importantly, whether some part of the letter works against me (e.g., some expressions resets the 10-day countdown or something).

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Hi Tenant Name,

I wanted to reach out and let you know what your options are as of today, July 3, 2023. We really don’t want to have to legally evict you, but we will do this if you refuse to pay, cooperate, or engage with us. Legal eviction means you will be forcibly removed from the apartment by police and your possessions will be removed as well. This can also go on your permanent public record and once you have an eviction record, it will make it almost impossible for you to rent any place in the future when a landlord runs a background check. Moreover, court fees, attorney fees, outstanding rent, late fees, and all kinds of costs related to eviction will be charged on you, which can lead to debt collection and seize of your future wage and assets, including bank accounts, until they are fully paid.

It’s very unfortunate that you seems hostile to us. We want you to know we’re not angry with you and are willing to work out some kind of solution that’s better for everyone before eviction happens. Unfortunately, the solution cannot be just sitting on the property while refusing to communicate with us like you do now. That only makes your legal and financial situation worse and does not do anything for stopping your impending eviction.

We suggest the best option: if you simply move out today (07/03/2023), take your possession, and leave the place in decent condition, we will not pursue charging you for the $1,200 July 2023 rent and discontinue the eviction process. This is our courtesy to give you an exit before eviction happens. We can even help you with details of your moving out (e.g., find you storage for your furniture, help you packing and moving stuff, etc.). However, if you continue to barricade yourself in the apartment and refuse to pay or move out or speak to us, we will go through with eviction proceedings. To any tenant, eviction is extremely stressful and damaging. 

I am a landlord in the Baltimore city Maryland. I am suffering from a tenant inherited from my recent property. Here's some timeline of the story...

- 05/25: I purchase my first property in the Baltimore City with an existing tenant. The property is a 2-unit multifamily unit. I and my family live upstairs, and this tenant lives downstair. The tenant's lease ends 06/30. When I met the tenant first time and said hi to her, she said she likes the place and wants to stay. 

- 06/04: She paid her June rent, which is my first rental income, although she paid a little late (original due 06/01).

- Around 06/10: The tenant disappeared for two weeks. No response to my texts, calls, emails, anything. I even filed a police report of missing person later.

- 06/18: I emailed her to send new lease draft and ask to formally renew, saying "let us know by 06/20". No response

- 06/21: I emailed to say "because you didn't respond, we assume that you are not interested in renewing the lease and start to show your unit to other persons". Still no response. 

- 06/23: The tenant just showed up. She was in some psychiatric treatment facility. She said she changed her mind, wanted to move out to another place because she wants a cheaper place. She also said she is now estranged from her parents who paid her living expenses for her so she has no money for rent or new security deposit. She said she was a college student but now she dropped out. That is why her parents got pissed and stop paying for her. She even sent me a screenshot of her almost 0 balance of bank account and high credit card balance. She texted me, "Can I still live here until I get my life together? I don't have a job and I can't afford rent or a deposit". I even suggested some prorated rent for July until she can find some place to move out but she just keep saying she doesn't have money to do anything.

Too much headaches. It is very likely that she will just sit on the unit after the lease expiration date of June 30 and not pay rent.

What should I do? Should I evict her after June 30 for holdover (I believe this is 60-day waiting period before proceeding to eviction?) Should I let the automatic renewal lease kick in and evict her for non-payment (is this 10-day period)? Should I persuade her to somehow pay prorated rent and make a new lease agreement? For your information, I don't have any security deposit inherited from the previous owner because the previous owner says they already used her security deposit for her unpaid utility bills. 

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Here is some part of the relevant lease agreement that she made with the previous owner of the property. 

1. AUTOMATIC RENEWAL OF LEASE TERM: This Lease shall continue in force from month-to-month (“Renewal Term”) after the expiration of the Initial Term at a monthly rental rate of 1,200.00 USD. However, either party may terminate this Lease at the end of the Initial Term by giving written notice to the other party SIXTY (60) days prior to the end of the Initial Term. Either party may terminate the month-to-month Renewal Term at the end of any rental month, provided that written notice of not less than thirty (30) days is given to the other party prior to the last day of the desired final rental month of the tenancy.

1. TENANT'S RESPONSIBILITY AT END OF TERM: Tenant agrees to surrender the Property to Landlord at the end of the Initial Term, or any renewal thereof, in the same condition as when received, ordinary wear and tear excepted. Tenant further agrees to surrender the Property free and clear of all furniture and debris and in a bloom clean condition.

1. FAILURE TO VACATE AT TERMINATION: If Tenant does not vacate the Property on or before the last day of the applicable Term, Landlord may in accordance with Maryland law (a) eject Tenant and take possession of the Property; (b) hold Tenant liable as a tenant holding over for another one or more terms at the same rent; and/or (c) exercise any other remedy granted to a landlord under Maryland law.

1. HOLDOVER CHARGES: If Tenant shall fail to surrender the Property upon the expiration, early termination or default hereof this Agreement, Tenant shall be subject to all terms and conditions contained herein, provided that such tenancy shall become a tenancy at sufferance only, and Tenant shall be required to pay rent on a month-to-month basis without reduction at a rate equal to 175% of the monthly rent applicable during the last calendar month of the Term. Nothing in this section shall limit Landlord's legal rights or remedies, or be deemed a consent bv Landlord to any Tenant holdover. If Landlord is unable to deliver possession of the Property to a new tenant or to perform improvements in advance of a new tenant as a result of Tenant's holdover, Tenant shall be liable for all resulting damages including lost profits incurred by Landlord.

Hey I come from future (2023) and accidently encountered "this little gem of a thread" as well. I am dying to know what happened after since then and whether it is a real thread or just a trolling.