All Forum Posts by: Yvette M.

You will have to do background/credit check on parents too.  Another option is to also make the parents leaseholders vice co-signers.  If it comes to eviction having a co-signer is another layer to contend with in the process.  You have to decide the amount of risk you are willing to take.

I'm going through this now. There is no incentive for a tenant to pay post-judgement that's why they are called deadbeats. 

Most times the eviction is settled by stipulation prior to going in front of the judge. If you offer a stipulation make sure it is as air tight as you can get it -- build in consequences and an immediate lock-out date.  Have what you will accept as a settlement prior to the hearing. These are things my attorney did not do.

Post judgement you can report to collection agencies, garnish wages if allowed and possibly put a lien on personal property i.e car. I would suggest getting the VIN now.

Is the co-signer in the same city?

@James Mc Ree, teriffic idea to complete the paperwork at tenant's current house. If they balk ... red flag.

You should get an attorney

@Dewain J.

Yes, the full screening process, I don't leave anything out.  I do drive-bys to their current address too. And if I happen to "bump" into a neighbor on the tenth drive-by then that's a bonus because I can question them about the tenant.

In CA the legal limit for SD is 2x monthly rent for unfurnished or 3x monthly for furnished.  I will never again have the SD equal 1x month rent because people end up thinking when they move that they have paid the last month's rent.  If your state allows it always up the SD a few bucks --$5-ish.

Congrats.

Send a letter of lease non-renewal according to notice period in the lease. You should also contact their S8 to find out the general guidance of kicking a tenant to the curb. Your local housing commission may sponsor owner seminars to get you spun up on the rules.

Unfortunately, it's the dirtbag S8 tenants who give the entire program a bad rap.

I understand reaching out to his contacts, if he has been an on-time paying tenant. However, it seems like his people are giving you the business. He may be in jail.

I would a post notice to enter to the door and take a picture. You can site the entry reason as a abandonment, inspection, change air filters, etc. Enter on the appointed day to survey the apartment and then post a 3-day pay or quit notice. You've gone far too long without payment.

There are state specific forms on rocket lawyer, ezlandlordforms and Legal Zoom

I screen them like I would a non S8 tenant. My security deposit is 1.5x rent, so that gets rid of a lot of tire kickers. I advertise on the S8 website and send a blast email detailing my criteria.