All Forum Posts by: Richard Campbell Jr

Tell The Husband and Wife that the wife either needs to submit an application and sign on the lease or you will have them evicted. If you do not want her to sign on to the lease because of over-crowding, I would mention the exact reasoning of over-crowding when you explain the reason for having to evicted. Give them a set date that she has to be out. If you believe she is still living there at that time, put an eviction notice on their door and follow-up with an eviction. Document every time that the wife was there as a "guest" so you can try to prove that she is living there instead of visiting. If you are going to evict them, I would get in contact with an attorney too, because I believe it may be a difficult battle to win in court.

Full disclosure - I have never had this problem, so use my suggestion with a grain of salt, but I would try this approach if it were me.

@Gail K., thank you for your reply. It was very helpful. Thanks to everyone's replies, I decided that I will continue on with the eviction. Thank you!

I am working on evicting my tenant and we are almost completed. The constable is coming Monday to actually evict her from the residence. She texted me yesterday stating that she now has a job and she wanted to discuss payment options. She is very nice, but procrastinates on everything and is nearly impossible to get in contact with. I asked her if she can pay me all debts before the constable comes on Monday and I am currently waiting on her reply.

Should I work with the tenant or just continue on with the eviction. I am leaning towards having her evicted and just wanted to know other peoples thoughts.

Option 1: Ask an independent real estate agent what the ARV is and ask them how they calculated it.

Option 2: Since you have no comps, go off the numbers and the numbers alone. Assume that your ARV is correct. What will your NOI and your cash on cash will be? Are those numbers comparable to what others are getting in your area? If you are comfortable with those numbers, then go for it.

@Rick S.... Thanks! Now I know.

@Thomas S., I thought you had to give the applicant a reason for rejecting if you are checking there credit score. Do I only have to provide a rejection statement if there credit does not meet my standards? Thanks.

1. Once the phone screen is complete, I will have an idea if they are "acceptable" tenants or not. I also answer all their questions. If they don't meet my standards, I tell them they probably won't qualify, but I still show them the house if interested (I do that so I don't seem as if I am discriminating in any way.) Once I show them the property, I ask if they are interested and if they are, then I give them the application and tell them I will not process the application until the application the fee is paid. I will give anyone interested the application even if I know they won't pass/apply so I do not seem as if I am discriminating. The reason there is a fee is because the website I use to screen charges me.

2. Inform them that there is an application process and it needs to be followed. If they are unable to apply via your provided application, then you cannot rent them the apartment.

3. I don't know the answer so I did a quick search. Here it is:

While asking applicants to provide documentation of their citizenship status during the screening process, and rejecting those who can not provide such documentation, does not violate the federal Fair Housing Act, you may not selectively ask for immigration information—that is, you must ask all prospective tenants, not just those you suspect to be in the country illegally. Reference: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-screen-...

4. From how I understand it, you can say no as long as you do not discriminate. Not being able to afford the house is not discriminating, not renting to them because they are handicap and you fear that if they lose their job, it will be difficult for them to find a new job is discriminating. There is a fine line.

4. So, you can say no, you just can't say no because you are discriminating. If they fail standards, such as criminal activity or bad eviction history, you do not have to rent to them.

5. Correct.

6. I charge them a fee because the tenant screening website charges me. Also, make sure you put a statement in your application that states you will check their credit.

Hope that helps.

Great, thanks @Kim Bayless, how much is your monthly rent? Considering rent for my properties is around $500-$700, I don't think I can charge that much, but I am starting to think a fee of $100-$200 is more appropriate.

Yes, the rents of the two duplex properties I own are in the $500-$700 price range for each unit. I also get the impression that people have no problem paying the extra $25/month for their pets. I wonder if I should be charging more.

Thanks for the response. I was looking for information on how other people handle pets and charges/deposits related to pets. I listed what I charge and I was hoping other people could list their charges as well.

Thanks for bringing up the necessary corrections needed. Additional Rent. $25/month for most pets and dogs under 25 lbs. $50/month for dogs over 25 lbs on a case by case basis.

I will probably start charging a non-refundable fee then. Thanks!

Yes, I think that is interesting as well about the security deposit. I feel that it is just one more thing I have to keep track of, but what can I do.