All Forum Posts by: Brandon Hill

Quote from @John Warren:

@Brandon Hill you want to stay away from most of the stuff here on your list. If a tenant doesn't pay, then you need to issue a 5 day notice which is free online. You hand them one copy and keep the other to get it notarized. If you want to non renew them, then you need to issue a 60 or 120 day notice depending on their length of residency. 

If you want to work something out you can. I have personally started moving away from this. So many housing providers were trying to pay off tenants during the pandemic that is becoming much less effective. I can wait for the court system if I must. It takes around 6-8 months for a full eviction if you want to know the worst case scenario, and it will cost you maybe 2k with an attorney. 

It sounds to me like you can go a long way here by educating yourself and potentially becoming a better housing provider. What is the repair? How did they get injured? These are all things that come up, and they need to be addressed carefully. 

Yes, I can always improve but I try to do my very best with what I have. I think I should probably not share the other details right now. Thanks for your response.

I made some upgrades to my property including adding a couple bathrooms. My scheduled reassessment isn't until 2024.

Am I supposed to update the city before then or do I just wait until my scheduled year?

Boy if i knew. some unfounded claim about me misrepresenting the apartment. i never promised what they say i implicitly promised? it's just gone sour. plus they're asking me to fix something that is just an absurd request that i cannot fulfill. they claim they've been injured. it's a long story.

I don't think my tenant plans on paying rent anymore. Our relationship has soured and they are late which has never happened before. I also suspect that they are probably more savvy than the average tenant. What kinds of hurdles can I expect with this population?

I would rather not go through the courts. Some things I've thought of (sorry if these are bad ideas. I have not been through this before):

- Cut off their internet (not guaranteed in lease)

- Change locks

- Bribe (if so, how much?)

- Inform their employer?

I really don't know where to start. There is a clause in the lease allowing me to enter the premises to collect property to pay their debts but I have never acted on it before. Anyone have to resort to this?

Quote from @Chris Seveney:

@Brandon Hill

1. Selling the property could be a major issue, as you will need to disclose on the sales disclosure you did the work without permits

2. If someone gets hurt and it’s because of faulty work hope you enjoy orange jumpsuits and cuddling next to bubba

3. Even if you have insurance, you most likely are not covered

4. If you get a mortgage and do not disclose could be considered mortgage fraud.

Speaking of fraud...
There may be 2 more bathrooms than noted on the tax assessment. Is this fraud? If I pull permits after the fact, will I have to pay back taxes?

@Bob Stevens

What am I in for if I try to pull permits after the fact? Fines? Also, not sure if you can answer this but if I do have to open up some walls, am I allowed to impose this on the tenant?

Quote from @Hamp Lee III:

Welcome to BiggerPockets!

Think about it this way, would you want the person you love most to live in one of your units?

Well, I do occupy the 4th unit so I think that says something perhaps.

I bought a major fixer-upper in Chicago a few years back. I completed the rehab in 2021. I got it all done without a permit including electrical, plumbing, HVAC. 

Okay. I know. I know. What I did was not exactly best practice but at the time I just couldn't tolerate the city getting involved, slowing everything down while getting rich off my investments. It's like every year there's new regulations and codes especially here in this corrupted city. Like if the tax hike wasn't enough, they use the codes violations to fatten up their pockets.

During my entire renovation I avoided by all means the city's attention. They would've made me hire an architect, a structural engineer and everyone up and down the ladder with certifications hanging from their office walls, and obviously, I would have never been able to complete my rehab.

So I get that that wasn't exactly legal but I'm confident that everything is up to code. I hired some knowledgeable guys to do the heavy intervention stuff (electric, putting in windows, etc.). 

I've been renting out 2 of the units now 3. None of them have asked me about permits so I have a don't ask, don't tell personal policy. No issues so far but I was wondering what kinds of issues could come up in the future. One of my buddies had a similar set up but he got into a dispute with the tenant about a code violation, the tenant discovered the lack of permits and is threatening to go to the city. If that happens to me, what are the consequences? I think my case might be different because, like I said, I'm sure that I did everything up to code. Also, am I legally obligated to disclose to tenants the permit status of the building? They could look it up but I'd rather not steer them that way if I don't have to. Like I said, all the work is safe and up to standard anyway.