All Forum Posts by: Mike Smith

@Blake Henderson

Blake, you totally missed your plan A1:

Get out of California to a free state where you can be an active, free American and prosper!

Forgive me if I'm missing something but it boggles my mind that you would allow a lousy city to enslave you.

Mike Smith

@David A.

Hi David,

I know, that's the general impression out there and it is not without substantial factual basis.

From a purely selfish business perspective, that sentiment is great for landlords who chose Sec 8 as a niche and learn to attract only the best Sec 8 residents.

They are good people trying to provide safe stable homes for their families and need some help paying rent. These tenants will take care of your home, pay their portion on time, and stay for years.

The less desirable Section 8 tenants will trash your properties, abuse every nuance of the welfare system (and the landlord too) and generally be a major PIA. And good luck collecting for damages above the deposit.

The art and skill of it is to discern between the two! Then manage the good ones well, quickly getting rid of the mistakes, while providing an excellent home.

All the best.

Mike

@Mike Smith

If she is still in the first year of her lease, you may have to jump thru more hoops for her to move. Maybe call Section 8 annonomously and present the situation as a what if scenario. Just block your phone number and don't give too many specifics.

@Jas Singh

You can both agree to terminate the lease at any point, as long as it is mutual, and she will not loose her voucher. She may loose her voucher for not reporting the change in marital status to Sec 8. That's irrespective of your involvement and/or reporting.

You can request info from the law enforcement agency that executed the warrant to find out what the charges were and decide if you want him there at all.

The other aspect is the tenant in the other unit and do they feel safe. Men with body armor and rifles raiding the unit next to you tends to make neighbors question the safety of themselves and their kids.

And finally you have to consider if you can evict her at this time and what that will take.

Hope this helps.

Mike

Hi Jas, Mike SMith again.

Also, be sure to check out the Bigger Pockets Podcast show 356. The gentleman on there has excellent info on leasing to Section 8 tenants (and any tenant). A great resource!!!

Hi Jas,

I am very familiar with Section 8, I have rented to Sec 8 tenants for years.

It is not uncommon for the women to have boyfriends move in. It is likely in violation of your lease (assuming it stipulates that only those on the lease can live there, if not it should!) and is without doubt in violation of the terms of her Section 8 voucher. His living there puts her voucher in danger.

You can very clearly ask that he not move back in and inform her that doing so will result in you notifying Section 8 and beginning eviction proceedings. 

That being said, you have to weigh the options from a business perspective and take into account that eviction may be difficult these days. If Section 8 terminates her voucher, she may be allowed to stay in your property, for who knows how long, without paying rent, given the current ban on evictions. Not at all fair, nor constitutional IMHO, but possible non the less.

If I in were in your situation, I would ask her to not let him move back in, inform her it's in violation of the lease, and jeopordizes (sp) her Section 8 voucher, and thus the roof over her kids head. I hope that helps and good luck.

PS I dont know what I would do if he moves back in, you are in a tough place. Many Section 8 tenants are great renters, and over the years you will find that this is not a big problem if you learn to screen better... Inspect where they live before moving in and look in master closet for mens clothing... 

Good luck

Mike Smith