All Forum Posts by: Brenda Norris

We all already know that I should never have agreed to give tenant discount on Rent in exchange for certain maintenance and repairs. What is done is done, got her out and now I am writing up damage details to send in place of the small security deposit. The question I guess is 1. Can I add the additional rent she would have been paying since she didn't do said repairs/maintenance ? 2. Can I take her to court for these claims ?

I have already come up with1300.00 of needed repairs and negligence of property that I can prove but technically the rent would have been 150.00 monthly higher and I would like to include that in a judgement. 

Advise and comments welcome

I live 2 blocks over from the rental and don't have roaches but it is what it is

Locks have been changed. I did a walk through and she actually left the house in decent condition except it has become infested with Roaches. COULD BE WORSE

All very good advice and confirmation of what I knew in my heart. I did not know that Texas requires me to change the locks. Even though I planned on it still good to know

Thanks Patrick, the lease had ended in April and I actually had to send an eviction notice but I knew her well enough that she would probably go at the end of the month anyway so I chose not to spend 150.00 filing eviction in court since it was less money I was after.

Now I will just move on and like you said take it from the deposit. I only hope she left it in decent shape.

Thanks John, my first mistake was renting to "a friend" 

Can I recoup any of my expenses with her deposit ? such as the locks due to her losing keys ?

I had a tenant who I also knew personally for years ( I know big mistake) She has been a pain from the beginning. Never paid her entire deposit, owes late fees, had unauthorized pet, did not take care of appliances and sink drains, called police on my husband for being in the shed that only we use and she knew he was going to be there. 

There is another shed on the property for her use. She also spent 3 months demanding a new refrigerator when it was clear in the lease she was responsible for maintaining the one I bought and replacing it if something should happen, she kept the freezer too full and froze it up, my husband kept telling her what she needed to do but she wouldn't listen. He has since defrosted it and it works fine.

So much more but She finally left August 1st and left a check for what she determined would be rent for 1 day. She left the 2 house keys that I have had to provide her over the last year (no charge) due to her losing 2 keys. Should I change the locks and can I require that to be at her expense ? Who knows where those keys are ? Also can I legally charge more than what she determined she owes for a daily rate ? When you stay in a hotel it is more by the day than the week or month.

She was asked to leave and the rent was going up 150.00 monthly anyway.

Any advise even partial would be appreciated.

I had already done some research but thank you all for the helpful info. I started out in this biz all wrong and trying to correct that. BiggerPockets has been a great resource so far. Thanks again, Brenda

How much time do you legally have to give a tenant to enter the property ? I have scheduled maintenance due and have offered to come in the evening this week with no response as to a particular day that works. I want to just go during the day like most landlords but don't want to violate any rights. What is the procedure ? This is my first property and I want to do it right.

Brenda

I prefer to use insured labor, it's worth the additional cost vs. having to have it re-done.