All Forum Posts by: Dale Walker

Run. People have bad credit because they don't pay their bills. Giving them another bill won't change their priority list. I recommend you pass. Look for ppl with good credit and a stable job. Tenants need something to lose to hold them to pay their bills. I have found my tenants who don't pay their rent have the money they just prefer not to pay because they think they don't have to.

Never heard of the sensor for leaky toilets. I know of pressure sensors to have the water level stop. You can easily adjust it if the water level is too high.  If the toilet is running constantly, that means the water level in the tank is above the overflow. Just adjust the inside screw to a lower level and that should prevent the constant filling up of the tank. In regards to utility savers, I have heard of putting a plastic soda bottle (filled with water) to take up space in the tank and it would save a liter of water per flush. Some toilets it works fine with but others need that extra liter to flush completely. 

3/4 in OSB works great for flooring and carpet on top. Hardwood might give you issues.  I suggest you get the foundation reset then put floors down. 

Check your lease. It should detail the bill and how it is to be paid. If you are on a month 2 month. Did you have an agreement with the tenants to pay it? If not, you are responsible for it and not your tenants. 

If they know the bill is their responsibility and they agreed to pay for it, then I recommend you make a copy of the bill and send them an invoice for half the bill. Make the payment due in 30 days or the next months rent. 

John Chea

I recommend that you screen any new roommates they want to bring in. Filling out the application and getting their information is just the first step. What will you do when the husband and wife don't like what the roommates are doing and move out. Then you have 2 tenants whom you know little about, you do not have any formal agreements with, and they decide to squatt on the unit. It will cost you alot of money to get them evicted and out. Have them fill out an application and screen them. Then have them sign a lease even if it a month 2 Month lease. They will then be bound by your expectations and conditions. 

I assume you inherited the 3 new tenants when you bought the property. Introduce yourself to the new tenants. Have each tenant fill out an application to get their information.  Next, get them on a lease to agree to your terms. If they refuse to sign a new lease, give all of them notice of termination and find new tenants which you know will be good. 

@Sam Taylor

Read your lease about what your procedure is. Idaho is a fairly pro-landlord state. Judges will go with what you have in your lease. I have a clause in my lease which states that any money received by the landlord is applied to fees, unpaid utilities, etc and then to rent. Send them an invoice for the late fee for the 10 days and make it due in the next months rent. If they only pay the rent amount, post their 3 day notice to pay or quit for the balance of the remaining rent owed.   Idaho Legal aid has made it very easy. Its also free. :)

http://www.idaholegalaid.org/node/2206/landlord-an...

Post the 3 day notice. Personally, if my tenants tried skipping on late fees, I would get them out as it may be a sign of very bad days to come.  If they are on a month to month, give them 30 day notice to vacate and get them out. Take the late fees from their deposit. If they are on a lease, you should go with what the lease says.  If you have any other questions, I would be glad to help as I am fairly familiar with Idaho landlord/tenant rules. 

@Tamir Alush

First off, get familiar with the requirements for the state you have the property in. Many states require that a landlord send the deposit back within 30 days or a list of damages which justify why they didn't get their property back. Inheriting tenants never is good when it comes to deposit returns. You may not have the evidence of what the place looked like before they moved in and so if they take you to court, you will need to prove they did the damage. You often times cannot prove it. That means you loose. Next, many states have a penalty for not giving the deposit back or a list of damages within the 30 days. The penalty varies by state. Some states penalize the landlord 3 times the amount of the deposit. It does not matter if you can prove damages, they will win 3 times the deposit because notice was not sent. When I inherit a tenant, I do not hold their deposit if I cannot prove they did the damage.  I think you will be responsible for the return of the deposit and possibly ALL the lawyer fees if the state is tenant friendly. Good Luck.

I am not a lawyer and do not know Arkansas rules but typically you give them the proper notice to correct the lease breach or quit. Each state is different. If they correct the issue, you cannot evict. You can institute the punitive measures which should be in your lease for that breach such as a fine, etc. If on a month to month. Give them the proper 30/60 day notice to vacate. If they don't, then you can evict.

No problem. Always video when you move in and video when you move out. I also recommend that you show the days local newspaper in the video to prove when it was taped. Hang in there and there are good landlords out there.