All Forum Posts by: Brian Halstead

Thanks, @Heather O. we can all learn from each other and it's great sometimes when life serves us some lemons and we can make lemonade.

I've heard of this kind of thing happening so I'm extra careful when I rent because I live some distance away from the properties I manage. It's not easy but it can be done. First l advertise cross streets a block away never exact address, second if someone call I will pre-screen them over the phone; does the price work for your budget, what do you do for a living, can you provide paystubs, can you pass a background check etc. then because I use lockbox most times I never give the code until first they send me a picture of their drivers license and second they are at the house with the lockbox in there hands to prevent them from even writing it down. Also they must call me back as soon as they are done looking before they leave the property for security reasons, make sure the keys are back in the box and combination is shuffled and of course to tell me what think about the place. I also tell them if they need to go back to the house for any reason they must inform me first as I have a nosy neighbor that calls me everytime someone goes in the house. (I did have a nosy nieghbor that did that it was annoying but I tolerated her for obvious reasons). Anyway hope that help you with your next rental you don't seem like the type that give up because of a little set back. I'm broker and I can tell you sometimes realtors are too quick to give combinations to anyone and everyone which could result in what happened, try to get a realtor that is willing to show your property in person more often than not, you're paying a commission, that shouldn't be too hard. On the case of the tenant you don't have to evict them you could do simple what I did years ago when I use to buy HOA foreclosures that have tenants, just ask them to leave and charge no rent for that time, yes it's that simple tell them they were scammed if you haven't already but be the good guy I usually say something like this "look this happens sometime you are in a bad position here your lease is not valid, I usually give people a week to leave but .... I can give you two weeks if you promise to clean up and call me for the keys, is that OK? . ;-)

I would say you simple give her notice if she's on month to month in Florida that's the fastest easier way she can be evicted or just leave it goes both ways and at $250 per month that's just ridulculous where's the house, hell! I'll rent it from you for $350 per month. I inherited a similar tenant, no payment issues as her Mom paid her rent on time $600 a month but there was something very wrong and admittedly she told me she was bipolar and schizophrenic. She also dud let me but she needed the required 24 hours notice. Once inside I could barely see anything as she had no lights on or bulbs and the windows were covered with black sheets, what strick me immediately though was the washing machine in center of the living room with no drainage, water was just running out on the wooden floor, the place was hot and stinky, she had no furniture of note just clothe in the corner of every room, the bathroom sink was stained with purple dye which was the color of her hair. The bathtub draining pipe was also not connected water just run out beneath the house. I was inside all of five minutes before I had to run out for air and catch my breath. I told her work will begin immediately that's where my problem started she didn't want any workers in house and said she's available only Sunday's. I tried to work with her initially until I find out what she was doing as she kept cancelling on the contractors I hired after asking them for credentials, this escalated and I gave her notice to leave, she promptly called the city code enforcement and showed them the house, I received more than a dozen violations. Luckily she left so I started work on the house by the time the I received notice of the violations I already finished all the repairs, the inspector was impressed and gave me a list of potential property in the area I might be interested in, after I told him I looking to buy similar properties. The house is now rented with properly screen tenant at $850 per month :-) and I have a large list of properties which I'm working on closing two houses from soon.

Hi Carolyn, I already completed the initial steps and even prepare a complaint of eviction, just want to keep

the process going while I am out of town.  Thank you, I will touch base for the paralegal contacts. 

Be straight up with the tenant, "I cannot lease to you on a reference advice. I am sorry but the contract will be terminated" as almost all contract can be terminated if the parties agree. if you do it by phone remember to apologize constantly so the situation doesn't escalate and let him know there's nothing else you can do and you will send him the cancellation. I doubt he will fight you in court, it's a possibility but that's a calculated risk, I would be willing to take the chance, if he doesn't have money for rent next month, I doubt he will have money for an attorney today.

Hello, everyone here's my situation hunting for a solution, I bought seven single-family properties in Jacksonville Florida in October 2016

(I live in Miami Florida) and inherited a few troubled tenants, I have tried to work with them but I think it's now time to evict.

I gave them all new one year leases since the Seller said they were great tenants, that was my first mistake. 

I am a DIY-er so I started the eviction process but have a few questions.

Is US mail and email an acceptable form tenants notification?

As anyone here ever evicted anyone in Jacksonville Duval County and can give me some tips.

I will also love to hear from Landlords in the Duval County area of Jacksonville.

Warm Regard, to all.