All Forum Posts by: Jon K.

It's easier here to evict someone from your own home than it is from a SFH. If the person paying weekly here didn't pay, I could give them a week's notice on a weekly lease, or 30 days notice for non-payment/eviction on a monthly lease. Much easier to get rid of them when I live with them. I wouldn't be out much.

Of course, if a person doesn't even have $1000 in the bank, they could easily jack my stuff before they leave (or are evicted). I lock my door where my stuff is, but I suppose someone that hard up for cash would be a huge risk. The only reason I considered them is because they work in a law office I know of and have an existing rental with a soon-to-expire lease-- their story adds up. Their money doesn't. ;)

I'm not cash strapped, but I don't like vacancies when I have other roommates. Then I'm paying more than I am already just to live with people.... it doesn't make financial sense to have any roommates with one room vacant. If I can't find a person for the vacancy, I would give all roommates 30 days notice and live alone paying the full price myself. I don't want to pay most of the full price like I am now, plus one roommate's share for the vacant room, when I'm still stuck living with people for the time being. That makes me stuck dealing with the existing roommates and paying for everything but utilities, and that wouldn't make sense. So, I'm deciding what I should realistically compromise on in order to make the roommate situation financially fair to me (or get rid of all the roommates). I like money and don't like vacancies... don't we all?

Even as a roommate?

A normal tenant in a SFH I wouldn't think twice about denying.

There sure aren't many inquiries.

There's this person, a handful of people that want to move February 1 (I'm looking for January 1), or smokers (non-smoking property).

Would you allow a roommate/tenant with a pet (dog) instead of this weekly payer?

Also, we're not talking thousands here.

Deposit and rent is way under <$1000.

Sounds like roommate/tenant could pay full month starting in February when their current rental lease in another city (that they're commuting from) expires.

With such a little amount, I would usually expect someone wanting to move to be able to come up with that amount. They say they just started this job this week and get paid weekly.

Maybe I should just accept this person since I live here and it's not like screening a tenant for a SFH, and don't want to have a vacant room for a month when I already have other roommates.

Are they worth considering since their money shortage seems very temporary?

I wouldn't let a "real" tenant move in with partial rent, but should I let a roommate/tenant move in with partial rent?

This person wants to move in with only partial rent upfront.

Since they are a roommate, can I do a weekly lease, accept deposit and weekly rent, and give them 7 days notice to leave if they don't pay?

Can I modify my lease to make it a weekly lease?

The details they gave me:

- They relocated here for work and commute 2+ hours from their current rental that they're leasing there through January 31
- They want to move in here January 1, a Wednesday
- They don't get paid until January 3, a Friday, and get paid weekly each week
- They work at a law office here (admin staff) and just started the job this week

This person sounded good until they said it would be "cutting it close to pay their current rent and deposit/rent here upfront by January 1."

Would you even consider this person?

Should I try a weekly lease, and just check their current rental reference, credit, job, etc.?

Usually I wouldn't even consider someone who couldn't pay. But, since I'm their roommate, should I consider it?

I haven't found anyone yet, and I'm looking for someone for January 1.

An LLC *and* a personal guarantee/own name on the lease I would allow.

I would screen both the LLC and the person for previous evictions, etc.

It's crazy that squatters even get 30 days notice.

How did this person access the property in the first place?

Why isn't this guy considered trespassing, and able to be immediately escorted off?

You don't have to accept section 8 in my city.

Thankfully.

Section 8 requires signing up, inspections, etc. You're not required to participate in section 8 at all-- unless, like someone else said, you get a tax credit or are otherwise registered in the section 8 program.

Have written criteria of what you accept as tenants.

In fact, I wouldn't even say "I don't accept section 8" just in case someone is trying to test you. I would just state my 3 x rent income requirement, etc. if tenants ask me about requirements.

No.

What if they move in, trash the place, never pay the rest of the deposit, then stop paying rent? Then you're out rent, deposit, and damages.

If they can't pay a reasonable deposit upfront, they simply don't have the money to move. You'll never see the rest of that deposit more times than not. Since you can't evict over deposits, I would require the deposit upfront and allow rent in payments if anything. But that would still be risky. I wouldn't do that unless they checked out in every other way- fairly good credit, good rental references, not going into bankruptcy, verifiable job.

Huge red flag.

For cities where rent is, say, $2000 a month and deposits are $2000, that might be a little different. Tenants don't often have $4000 laying around if they're relocating. Still, they should find somewhere they could afford instead of asking to put the deposit in payments.

Do it once, and tenants will expect it later.

If the tenant finds a better deal, or if you increase rent, tenants will move just as frequently as they would whether or not you give them a gift.

Tenants forget goodwill or nice gestures pretty quick. Give them something extra, or do a little something extra, or let something slide-- they'll forget all about that the first time you charge them a late fee, increase their rent, or something in their house breaks. They'll complain just as much no matter if you give them anything. I've done small gifts and gestures before. They complain just as much the first time anything breaks or a faucet drips, and are just as much of a headache. In fact, I've found that when I do something like that, it turns into "give them an inch and they'll take a mile."

50 years ago, I think giving small holiday gifts WOULD have been appreciated, recipricated, and your good nature wouldn't have been taken advantage of. Now it is taken advantage of, and tenants/landlords/anyone forget about a nice deed you did the first time anything goes wrong.

And,.... your building is uninsured!

I would NOT renew the tenant's lease. No way.

I would get regular property insurance ASAP, if not now when the tenant leaves.

I don't allow home businesses, nor do I have any patience for entitled tenant's that cause problems in general.