All Forum Posts by: Ben Meddeb

I'm having smaller pockets after this rental !! I'm just lucky I have good insurance ... I mean the adjuster suggested to claim water damage instead of waisting my time with vandalism/property damage ...  I strongly recommend USAA if you are a member, they are a little pricer but well worth it 

No,  I sent someone knocked on the door , no one answered so he left it at the door 

@Colleen F.

Carpet is a biohazard !!

@K. Marie Poe 

I used a specific language of terminating his right to occupy the property (even if he paid) for violating the terms of the lease (I googled the form/language used).

When he received the notice of eviction  he texted me if I let him stay until the end of the month if he pays and I agreed (I'm not sure if SMS is considered in "writing" as oppose to oral agreement) 

Does anyone know if electronic communication (email/sms) is considered legal form of a notice ?  

The house was my homestead, it is my first house , built it 15 years ago, it was well maintained inside and out (I even replaced the carpet when I moved out) it really hurts when something like this happens , I just wanted to keep a property in my hometown to go back to. 

Point is I am not an experienced landlord and the jerk lived here for exactly one year and  4 months, and being an acquaintance is what got me to not even screen him in the first place .. Never again 

Perhaps this post will help someone avoid this headache : never rent to friends and family.

The house is so badly infested with German roaches I had to throw away every appliance! Pest control cost me $250 for a 3 months treatment 

Thanks everyone for your pointers and help , it does good to even vent this out 

Thank you Steve :) 

I posted a notice to evict on the 11th for non payment , but they paid me the next day and I told them they need to move out (their lease was up and they were month to month.

On the first I showed up and the place was a landfill , electricity was turned off , I called the electric company and they said the power was turned off for non payment on the 21st . Fridge was FULL of every kind of food and you can imagine how it smelled like 

I have every receipt for the clean up ... They are not returning my calls and I am not sure where they are now . This is in San Antonio TX , Bexar county , 

The next tenant has to pay a higher deposit (so they would think twice before bailing on me) .. And I'm thinking to include maintenance (landscaping, AC ..) in the next lease ... So I would charge higher rent but I'll hire someone to maintain the place (I do not live in TX anymore )

my tenant completely trashed my place, deposit will not even cover the junk removal service 

I called my insurance (USAA) the adjuster showed up and was very helpful : turns out Trashing the place is not covered BUT (blessing in disguise) I have water damage under the kitchen sink and the laminated floors/tiles walls , countertop  Etc needs replacing and I'm expecting a seizable payout 

My challenge : 

Does contracting with a property management company will help me avoid this scenario in the future ? (Previous tenant was a coworker :( ) 

Where can I look for good help to repair the place ? As I am already spending good amount to just remove the junk and fight a terrible roach infestation (I could use some advice on this too)