All Forum Posts by: Melissa Faraias

Honestly, this is one of those gray areas that a lot of landlords run into. Since your lease says they’re responsible for keeping appliances in good working order, you could argue that regular cleaning falls under that, especially if the neglect caused mold and odor. But if it's not clearly spelled out, it's tough to enforce or charge them without risking pushback or damaging the relationship.

Moving forward, the best thing is to update your lease or create a basic appliance maintenance guide/checklist to give new tenants. Just something simple like “clean washer gasket/filter monthly” kind of thing. That way there’s no confusion.

As for this case, I’d probably eat the cost this time (maybe gently let them know this isn't typical maintenance), but use it as a learning moment. You could say something like: “We took care of it this time, but regular cleaning is part of keeping the appliance working properly, and we’d appreciate your help with that going forward.”

Keeps it friendly but sets a boundary.

Thank you for this good advice. I appreciate it.

0 Votes

Houston, Texas

Hello BP community,

I have a rental property with tenants who are an older couple. They called because of a bad odor coming from their washing machine. On evaluation, the unit was extremely dirty, moldy, and it took my handyman over 3 hours to deep clean it. I was assuming that the tenants would deep clean the appliances on a regular basis, but they said that they were unaware that it had to be done. How do you ensure that appliances are been cleaned regularly? My lease does not explicitly state that the tenant should do this although it does state that the tenants are responsible for keep the appliances in good working order. Should i charge the tenants for this cleaning?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

0 Votes

Houston, Texas

Quote from @Carlos Hennings:

As a former collection agency owner, I can share that recovering past-due rent is challenging, primarily due to difficulties in locating or contacting the former tenant. To improve your chances, ensure you collect as much information as possible upfront, such as emergency contacts, employer details, and references. This will aid in the skip tracing process.

When selecting a collection agency, verify that they report to all three credit bureaus and ask about their reporting timeline—some agencies wait 30-90 days as leverage to encourage payment plans. Additionally, look for an agency that not only sends letters but also makes calls, and consider those that work on a contingency basis, as this aligns their success with your recovery efforts.

Be aware that collection fees in this industry can be high, often around 50%, due to the extensive skip tracing and effort required. To protect yourself, consider adding a lease clause stating that tenants are responsible for legal and collection fees. While this does not guarantee full recovery, it can help offset costs. Working closely with your agency and following their guidance can improve the likelihood of collecting what is owed. Hope this helps.

This is very helpful! Thank you so much.

0 Votes

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Quote from @James Mc Ree:

Do you need to get a judgment before turning the debts over to collections? I haven't done this yet, but may need to do so next month.

No I did not need to get a judgement.

0 Votes

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Thank you so much for your responses. I will turn them over for collections just so that it can go on their credit report.

0 Votes

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Hello BP community,

I am an out of state landlord with a rental in Bluffton SC. After a few months of trying to work with my long term tenants (who have previously always paid rent on time), I finally asked them to leave for non payment of rent. They chose to leave voluntarily to avoid an eviction and signed a document agreeing to pay the back rent payments owed (which is a significant amount). However once they completely moved out, they refused to answer my calls and messages. I reached out to a debt collection agency called National Credit Systems Inc. in an attempt to collect the payments owed. Has anyone used this agency or any debt collection agency and has had success with it? Even if I do not recover the money, I do want to have them reported to the credit bureaus etc. so that they do not do this to another unsuspecting landlord in the future. Thank you in advance for your input.

1 Vote

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Hello BP community,

I am an out-of-state landlord with a rental property in Bluffton SC. The tenants, who were always good, fell on hard times and could no longer keep up with rent payments. I decided to work with them but this turned into a long process of approximately 6 months. However, even though they both have jobs now, they still do not pay the weekly rent that they promised to pay. Finally I came to my senses and served them a 'Notice to pay rent or vacate by the 10th of January' after which I plan to file an eviction. I have never filed an eviction before, and that too in a different state. Are there any landlords here who have experience with filing evictions in SC? I appreciate any guidance. Thank you in advance for your help.

0 Votes

Charleston, South Carolina

Quote from @Ryan Konen:

Yes, accepting this family seems reasonable if their financial stability checks out. The woman's income covers the bills, and the employer's reference for the man adds credibility. If you’re concerned about the cash income, you could consider additional safeguards, like a higher security deposit or using a guarantor.

**Regarding TheGuarantors**: They are a reputable company that provides rental guarantees, offering you extra protection. Check their terms and fees to ensure they align with your needs.

Thank you for your response. I accepted the family with a larger security deposit.

0 Votes

Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

Can I charge them rent till I find a new tenant? I was planning to do that and then return their security deposit if the house is in good condition. I plan to aggressively market the unit and hopefully I can find a tenant soon. I personally think they do not like the demographic of the area but I had asked them to do their research before they moved in. I do not believe that they are relocating for their work. I don't think it is fair that I have to go through the entire process of marketing and showing the unit again.

0 Votes

Houston, Texas

All Forum Posts by: Melissa Faraias

Melissa Faraias has started 19 posts and replied 61 times.

Post: Who pays for deep cleaning appliances - landlord or tenant?

Post: Who pays for deep cleaning appliances - landlord or tenant?

Post: Who pays for deep cleaning appliances - landlord or tenant?

Post: Using a Collection Agency to collect debt from prior tenants

Post: Using a Collection Agency to collect debt from prior tenants

Post: Using a Collection Agency to collect debt from prior tenants

Post: Using a Collection Agency to collect debt from prior tenants

Post: Out of state landlord needing to file an eviction in Bluffton SC

Post: Using the company TheGuarantors for my new rental - Advice needed

Post: Tenant breaking the lease - Texas landlords please advise