All Forum Posts by: Carmen Assang

Sure, I'll cover your first month's rent after they have moved out of your place, you have changed the locks, and they have provided you proof or a receipt of the first month's rent they paid to their new Landlord. That first month's rent is then deducted from the $4,300 they owe you. You've already paid in advance.  

So she can go and do the same thing to the next landlord? Don't do it. 

You messed up. You should have called an eviction attorney immediately when she was late. What are you waiting for? Make some calls. Get some prices. Send her a summons and stop talking to her.

How many months rent is $4300? The eviction process should have already started unless monthly rent is $4300. 

Without knowing how long your process takes in your state, the best I would do would be to offer to loan her the money at some interest rate, and still follow through on collecting everything she owes. Assuming that's cheaper than going through the eviction process. 

As far as her being humiliated in front of her kids, well she should get it together and pay her rent, and her kids should understand that when you don't pay rent as agreed you get kicked out of your rented house. It's a good learning lesson for all of them. 

Who cares if she's embarrassed? She's stealing money from you and then playing the victim when you refuse to let it continue. She's playing you for a fool.

I don't reward thieves by handing them more money, but that may be the right answer for you since you aren't sure how to move forward.

In the future, you should consider hiring a professional property manager. A year of management will cost you less than what you are about to lose with this one tenant.

Honestly, you may be better off paying her to leave and I wouldn't give a second thought about her being embarrassed or not.  She should be embarrassed for not paying the rent.  If you really want her out, I'd tell her if she leave before the end of this month and the place is in good condition, that you will return her deposit AFTER she is out, given you the keys and you've inspected the place...and as Colleen says, be there with a locksmith or new set of locks to change the locks.

Then once she's out, you can try going after her in small claims court for the unpaid rent.

Unfortunately, some choices are business decisions and you have to get over the emotions of the moment.  The Question you have is

1 how long will it take you to get an eviction, and how much will it cost?

Also, while this process is going on for assumption sake, lets assume you are not receiving rent.  I would venture to say that it might be worth your time to pay the rent directly to the new landlord to get rid of a problem.

Unfortunately, some choices are business decisions and you have to get over the emotions of the moment.  The Question you have is

1 how long will it take you to get an eviction, and how much will it cost?

Also, while this process is going on for assumption sake, lets assume you are not receiving rent.  I would venture to say that it might be worth your time to pay the rent directly to the new landlord to get rid of a problem.