All Forum Posts by: Missy H.

@Oscar TurnerHas your attorney reviewed the leases of all of the tenants.  If their lease reads that the deposit is to be used for repairs and is payable to the tenant after they have moved and that the deposit cannot be used towards rent, then the landlord who keeps their deposit for rent would be doing so in violation of their own lease agreement. 

Have your attorney review all of the leases.

I do not specifically plan my leases to end at the same time.  Then again, I don't force my tenants to stay.  If they leave early and want to break the lease, as long as they give me notice, I will let them out of the lease and re-rent the unit.  

My tenants have been long term although one is leaving in a few days.  If I had several ending their lease at the same time, I would be hard pressed to do a quick turn around on all of the units to get them rent ready.   

Hi @Ana Marie B.

@Account Closedhas made a great point about the listing.  If the listing does not mention pets, then you can negotiate a pet rent or adjust with a pet deposit.  I have seen some people charge a non-refundable pet deposit, but I don't think that is the fair thing to do.  I rent to people with pets and I charge a pet deposit equal to half a month's rent that is refundable providing I do not have to deduct for repairs.  

If people are going to allow their pets to damage a home, they are probably careless themselves and won't take care of your property with or without a pet.  

You may want to meet the pets to see how they are treated and their disposition.  This may give you some insight on how responsible the owners may be.

Good luck

@Alicia C.You may also want to check with the local police department to see what is the real story on the house arrest.  

@Douglas SnookThanks.  Great advice.

Now I am thinking that I should go up on Friday the 26th to take pics before they move out.  They have always been great tenants but why tempt fate.  And I can always have that discussion with her to confirm the move out date.  Thanks @Brian Turnbough

@Sarnen Steinbarth@Brian Turnbough

Thank you for you input.  I will let her stay until the 3rd, if necessary.  It just so happens that my days off  from my day job are Friday/Saturday, so I will go up to the house (2.5 hours away) on Friday the 4th.  If she is still there, i will request pro-rated rent payment and file a 3-day.

Thanks again

I used a company called OJ's Wood Working when I had to rebuild my house after Sandy.  The owner is Jamal James.  You can find him on Angie's List.  Not sure if he is licensed in the Bronx. 

@Sarnen Steinbarth@Karen P.

Thank you both so much for your response.

Short story a bit longer is that I had originally spoken to the tenant because I wanted to renew her lease.  She had been there for 5 years.  I had never raised her rent until this time, I was raising $25.

It was during this discussion that she told me that she was moving.  I actually wrote a quick note on the last page of the lease agreement about her indication to move out on February 20th which I had her sign.  I did not think to write in a per day charge.

She has been a great tenant all this time and I do not have another tenant lined up yet.  Maybe I am just being petty.  

I will not be offended if you agree and tell me to just let her stay the extra three days.

Thanks again for your response....and so quickly too.

@Marcus FogleI think this sounds like a great investment for you, especially if you are house hacking and living rent free.  You should run the numbers using both units as a rental and see if it makes sense to you.  Also, increase the vacancies and repair percentages to 10%.  That may be a bit more realistic.  I took a quick look on Craigslist and all of the apartments that I saw in your zip code were above the $600 mark.  You may be able to get more that the $600 you are indicating.  Of course, I know nothing about South Carolina.  

Hopefully, there is not anything that I overlooked.  Good luck.