All Forum Posts by: Mary James

Congratulations! It sounds like you bought a great multi-family building that just needs some issues taken care of, which is quite normal when landlords sell with tenants in place...  Since you already own the building, it is your responsibility now to be the landlord, (or hire a good property manager to do for you) and take care of your building.  The existing/inherited tenant doesn't sound like he's complaining, so much, as he is letting you know what needs to be done in his unit.  The items he is asking for are reasonable.  I advise you to take this time to make sure you get a updated rental agreement/lease between you and him, after you do the repairs; take a long, slow video and lots of photos of his unit (& the whole building- especially rental & public areas) LABEL & SAVE the evidence in a safe place (or two!) and then go on with your best life... Your new tenant might turn out to be a good resource of information about your new home & the local area, treat him respectfully & kindly.  

@Matthew Paul

Except when it Does Bounce- like some of the counterfeit bills going around nowadays... There’s no insurance that covers stupidity... if you accept cash, you should at a minimum-have and use at least a bankers pen/ counterfeit color-changing pen...

In my humble opinion- @Josh Collins  you definitely made the correct decision!  You can still be a very good friend by checking in on the house whenever you’re in that area, or as an emergency contact for the professional pm... You probably saved your friendship.

I must agree with Thomas S- . ., Even IF the remaining tenant CAN prove they can pay the rent on their own; , what would be the advantage for you?  Unless the leaving tenant is NOT contributing to the household in any way, (childcare? Housekeeping?), to have a tenent suddenly become only half of the financially liable tenant I accepted would seem to me be a mistake.  I would not allow a release of the legal obligation...

Love this idea!! I end up writing a ton of post it notes (my passive aggressive way of yelling) letting tenants know what to do instead of what they have done (like it says in their leases!)! 

I just won my first eviction case in court (done several "evictions", just never had a tenant take it all the way to court...  

We now have a court ruling or judgement against her on paper for over $6000. -Not that we will ever see a penny of it, but I would still LOVE to have some credit agency call and/or harass her forever.... just because she did so many personal attacks and emotionally hurt my family, Besides doing thousands of dollars of damage to our property In addition to NOT paying her rent...  I now know so much more, and for that, I am grateful to her, But I understand where you're coming from...