All Forum Posts by: Jimmy S.

 Thanks for the input everyone.

It does state that in the lease as far as her being responsible for the damage.

"TENANT agrees to pay for any damage caused by TENANT, TENANT’S family and TENANT’S guests."

I also talked to the neighbors and apparently this is not the first time the police has been to my property to deal with them, it was the 2nd time and they have only been at the unit 4 months not that its a good reason but the police should NEVER have to come out. Its ridiculous, it makes me look bad also for renting the unit to them and its embarrassing for me to have to talk to the neighbors about this.

This happened Sunday night and I was NOT notified by my tenant until yesterday night in a email, 2 days later. She never called me, just glad I read my email. Who should pay for this damage, she does not have renters insurance which she was suppose to have.

My insurance will cover it but I don't want to run it through my insurance. Its about $2000 in damage. 3 broken windows, broken ceiling fan, 3 broken ceiling tiles, broken refrigerator handle ripped off and other small items.

I was at the property today and took pictures and talked to the police and neighbors and call my insurance company. From what I can tell is I should charge her and she needs to go after him. He is arrested and she does have a restraining order against him.

This is the email below I received from my tenant.

There was a guest whom was in the house, and out of nowhere became unstable. It seemed like he had a psychotic episode. He was asked multiple times to leave and refused to leave the house or property, or to let me leave the house either, he psychically held me back. I had to hide upstairs to call the police when he became violent. When the police arrived he was arrested.  In his violent rage he destroyed many of my belongings as well as damaging pieces of the house. One window pane is cracked, the front and back windows are broken and then ceiling fan in the kitchen is broken. The police took pictures of the damage and I made a police report and he will be charged. But this was absolutely something you need to know about immediately.

If anyone can give me there opinion on what I should do, this never happened to me before as a landlord.

Thanks

 Yes thank you frank

What is the best way to add someone to a current lease?

 Hand write their name under the current tenant and have them sign the original lease or just do an addendum and have them sign that or should I do both?

Thanks

 yes they signed a 1 year lease and moved out 8 months into it. I have had it re rented and did not really lose any rent....

 Can I charge for my time showing the house or craigslist ad posting and handling phones calls and redoing a new lease?

What are some examples that a landlord can charge to re rent a unit and costs?

 thanks everyone for the input and advice, it eased my mind.

Brian, I did check the borough before renting the unit and the borough stated they do not do inspections and a occupancy permit is not required to rent the unit in this borough, I was actually surprised, in other towns I have to have my properties inspected but did not want to question them.

thanks again

What is a fair cost to re-rent a unit after a tenant moved out. What can I include in re renting the unit? My time for showings, gas money, advertising time on craigslist, lease preparation?

Tenant moved out 8 months into a 1 year lease and has been cooperative up until the final walk through. She wanted me to sign a paper which was scratched down on a sloppy piece of paper saying she did not damage the unit. It was left in good shape but she still had alot of stuff outside the house and my attorney was not present so I did not sign it and she got very mad. She said I will not get the keys back until I sign it. I told them in the lease it states you will forfeit last month rent and security deposit if you move out early, right away there was this other guy there with her and right away he started to accuse me of fraud by "claiming" I had her sign a different lease then what I have. Then he said did I pull all the rental permits, electrical and hvac permits. Also said I have some knob and tube wiring in the basement and could be a lawsuit. The house is 125 years old and the electrician said it was safe only a few lights are on it. Anyways im rambling on and getting off topic.

What would you charge them to re-rent the unit? 

 Everything worked fine when they moved in. Plus if the bathtub had a problem you think they would have told me right away and not waited 4 months and after the fact they are moving out. I do have a security deposit on them. I think the band aid the plumber found explains it all not to mention the big clump of hair.