All Forum Posts by: Peter Hroph

Appreciate in advance for advice. 

I plan to re-new lease but unsure how to deal with deposit and last month's rent. I have 3 great tenants who are roommates - who also paid last month's and deposit in '15. One of them is moving out, and 2 remaining will be staying. I only get one check from them on monthly basis, they divide amount between each other, equally.

Oct 1 is the date when lease expires. Instead of 'returning' deposit from '15, and having two remaining write new check, can anyone suggest wording/letter that I could have the moving out tenant sign stating something along the lines of 'I, ____, have received my full deposit back, including interest, from my roommates Xname and Zname and do not expect any additional monetary return from my landlord, _____' ? 

Should I deal with it differently? They are nice young working professionals, and I have no doubt they will, if not already, return their deposit share back to the leaving tenant. However, I would like to protect myself.

I like the idea of the release. Colleen, would you be able to share a sample release wording? 

Last September '15, I had 4 tenants (young professionals, all friends, great tenants thus far) sign the lease on my 4-bed rental unit. This year, 1 of them is going away, so 3 will remain (incomes are in check). Given that they ALL 4 have paid for 'last months' and 'deposit' in '15, how do you recommend I should deal with last month's and deposit when signing the new lease which I plan within a week or so? I'm also increasing monthly rent by $50. 

Appreciate your responses. Very helpful information.

Hi,

I'm in the process of purchasing my first property and have few basic questions that I would like to get your input:

1. How do you verify that tenant signed up for utilities under their name? (ex. electric / gas).

When you call Nstar/National Grid to sign up for new service, they do not send any proof (until first bill is actually due, assuming I don't sign up for online billing). Therefore, how would I even request any proof from the future tenant that they have indeed signed up? In my town, utilities are turned on even when there is no name attached to the bill (therefore I assume owner would get billed at the end?). In addition, utility company will not disclose person's name anyway.

2. What is the timeline when you require tenant to give you first month's, last month's, and deposit? Is it during signing of the lease, or on a move-in day? Else? How many days in advance?

3. When communicating with tenants, do you use e-mail? Do timestamps/headers of the e-mail hold up in court as a proof that a notice has been delivered?

Appreciate your input.

Peter