All Forum Posts by: Linda Roberts

Thanks @Randall Alan In my case, the tenant has already moved out, and I have her last month's rent and security deposit, which together equal the two months of penalty fees. Now, she wants it back. I don't feel obligated to return it to her. Additionally, she left a dozen large garbage bags in the apartment and abandoned furniture and a mattress on the street. We need to deal with all of this, as the garbage collectors won't remove it.

My lease states that if a tenant breaks the lease and moves out early, they must pay a penalty equal to two months' rent. One of my tenants broke the lease and moved out. I put a lot of time and effort into finding a new tenant, and there is no gap between the two tenants.

Can I still charge the penalty of two months' rent as stated in the lease? The tenant is requesting the return of their last month's payment and security deposit (equal to one month's rent).

Thanks @Dennis McNeely

Is there a standard letter that I need to send tenants a month before the end of their lease to remind them to move out by the end of the term? They already responded three months ago that they are not renewing the lease. I just want to ensure that they will move out on time because I have new tenants moving in the next day. Should I send a notice to quit a month before they move out?

Is there any standard paperwork I need to sign with a troublesome tenant who, after long negotiations, moved out on time? Specifically, anything indicating that the lease is completed and both sides have no claims or issues with each other.

My current tenants have a lease until August 31, but they plan to move out and return the keys by August 15. I don’t plan to reimburse them for moving out earlier. The new tenants, starting their lease on September 1, have asked to move their furniture in earlier.

Can the current tenants request the keys back since their lease isn't over until August 31? Is there any paperwork I need to complete with them to confirm that returning the keys means their lease is officially over?

Thank you @Nathan Gesner   The tenant doesn't want to move out because he can't find equivalent living arrangements at this price. If I don't renew his lease without cause, but he knows that I renewed the leases of other tenants in the house, could this be considered discrimination? If he starts asking questions about why I don't want to renew his lease, do I need to provide any answers?

Thank you.

Thanks @Wesley W. for the detailed reply. The reason I don't go with MTM is that rent in my area is very seasonal. If I don't rent from July to September, all the qualified candidates will be gone.

I have a problem tenant who is extremely annoying and creates many problems for other tenants. For example, he made a huge deal about a sublet in another apartment, which is none of his business. He pays rent on time. What are my options? I don’t have a good reason to terminate the lease. What about the lease for next year? Should I write that I won’t renew it? Should I state any reasons? Can I just increase the rent to some unrealistic amount (there's no rent control in my state)? What is the right way to handle this?

 Yes they signed a new lease, but last month check is still with me from the 1st year and in August they will use this last month check. I want to prorate it to the current rent and ask them to pay the difference. Is it a normal practice?