Just got back from mine. At the one, the tenant has her adult son living there, and straight-up lied to me about how he was not going to live there, just going to be her and her little toddler. So, a couple months in, and of course, the deadbeat son is there each and every time I come by hmm...looks able enough to get a job to me...at least able enough to pick up the stupid trash. So today, after getting cited from the city for trash, which I had 24 hours to clean up, where I got the notice 3 days later, and after I called and discussed it with the tenant they said they would clean it up, I go over there to see whats up. The blinds are pulled down with the hands, ruining them, as they peep out to see who's there. I go to the back and all of a sudden there's a different guy, the sons friend I presume, who confronts me and says, who are you? I look at him puzzled and say, "who the **** are you?" Are you the landlord? Yup. O. He walks away. Meanwhile, the son never bothers to confront me whatsoever. So, I clean up the trash that was not picked up, and proceed to clean up all the trash in the yard, down the alley, from the city property across the alley that has become the dumping ground, and a few houses either way on the front street - wondering if I am going to get a bill in the mail from a contractor who clearly never bothered to come by when they could have. Meanwhile I meet the neighbor I have become friends with, and we chat a bit, she is embarrassed I am picking up trash. I go inside to meet with the other tenant through the back door, the place reeks of dope, and I look down the stairs and see the two "kids" have set up shop on top of the other tenants washing machine. Lighter, smokes, cell phone, lawn chair - a regular rec room, with the other tenants property as their table. Sigh.
So I go upstairs and chat with the other tenant, collecting rent because he got in a car wreck and is housebound. His unit is perfect. Seriously nice guy, so far a great tenant and guess what? He's a felon. And yes, I knew that.
So I go to my other property to see if the new doors I put in the basement are still there. We have had an issue with the tenants failing to lock the common back door. I have made it clear this is not acceptable, multiple times. Sure enough, back common door is not locked. I was pleased to see the hallway was finally cleared of property after asking multiple times. My doors however, are still there. The basement also has a store room with a mattress in it, and the light is on, and it looks like someone might be using it. So, I pick up all the trash in that yard too, and go home.
The same tenant who can not seem to lock the door, is habitually late on rent. Lies about it and jerks me around too. She is however, caught up and takes good care of her unit. The unit is not horrible, but not so nice either, and needs some serious love. Her rent is late again this month. The tenant below her, is the model tenant, pays early, keeps up the place, and hates the other tenant. I rent each of these for $625, and I pay the water so, about $550 gross before all other expenses. I bought that one for $35k and it needs thousands more. I do not have a bunch of money in the bank for another rehab.
In the other property, I just got done fixing it really nice, have about $110k into it. I get $750 for each, and again pay the water, so about $675 gross before other expenses. Both tenants keep the units up nice, and both have paid well enough so far.
Both properties reek of dope every time I go there. In fact, the entire neighborhoods reek of dope so...
What to do? What would you do? How do you suppose a property management company would deal with any of this? Do you think my tenants are good or bad? Just curious.
