All Forum Posts by: Shar Day

Did you ask for closing help from the seller in your offer?

Hi all, I find myself in a similar situation. My tenant's 9-5 is in construction & apartment complex management. He is offering to replace the counter-top from Formica to Granite, and he would cover the cost and labor. I am looking around for a document I can use as a form of agreement. I can come up with one, but also want to make sure am not leaving anything out. Am looking for it to cover things as: who covers the cost, how long it would take, a list of items that would be replaced, inspecting it afterwards, item stays after they leave, cost can not be substituted for their rent etc. Thanks all in advance.

This is for those dealing with Section 8 in Prince Georges County in MD.

Does anyone know what the county expects from the applicants?

I have heard things like requiring the applicant to be drug-free, not a felon, hold a job etc.

have you run into any applicants without a job?

Thank you everyone for the advice, I will surely make sure i tighten my rules for the next tenant.

in such a situation I would prefer older tenants. Sense of stability etc. it's not typical for a tenant wanting to pay a full year ahead and also make modifications. I would want to know where the money is coming from. Would the money still be there in year 2 or 3. 

Ok where do I start, I would try to make this long story short by giving highlights and follow it up with my question.

• First time out of the parents house and rented with me
• HOA sent letters concerned that there might be illegal activities going on, confronted them, they denied any wrong doing.
• one of them was a smoker. I specifically asked, any smokers during the application process and they(3 of them) said NO.
• I inspected the unit every 3 months just to make sure things are on the up and up, most cases yeah. replace damaged blinds and replace light bulbs (not doing that again, they called because a light bulb was out after that. they are not kids mid-upper 20's with kids)
• The unit had 3 water leaks in the span of 3 month (grey pipes <sigh>. I have a post about this in another forum. look for grey pipes) 
• It was coming to the end of their lease and informed them that I would not be renewing the lease because I would like to replace all the water line in the unit by taking out the recalled pipes.
• rent has always late (7-10 days)
• water company always send a courtesy bill letting me know what the water bill balance is. balances was carried from quarter to quarter.
• Before they left, they asked for their security deposit (1 months rent) so they can use it as a deposit at the new place, i declined because it was meant for damages etc when they moved out.
• Gave them 6 weeks to find a place, the main lease holder moved out 3 weeks into the 6 weeks without informing me. i sent numerous notices for the main lease holder to let me know 5 days before vacating so we can do a walk thru, never did.
• On day 5 of their last month, I asked for the rent, and was told they would pay when they move because they do not know when they would be leaving. I figured there is nothing much I could do, i cant evict them (court paper work etc), they are on their way out. on day 5 they said they are sure they wont be there any longer than day 19, when day 19 came around that was when I found out the main lease hold left on day 12, leaving the other 2 there. Informed them the clock is still ticking until I get the keys. so the other 2 left on day 22. I was there that morning to collect the keys, and they still left  bunch of junk which i had to toss out after numerous notices for them to pick them up.
• at this point i had no choice to use their security deposit to cover that months rent, and am sure that was their intention, not paying and using the deposit as rent. So I prorated for the 22 days + damages = deposit + approx $160. Now they owe me about $160. Not sure am going to see that, I am willing to write that off.
• Now they left a hefty water bill of about $700 and light bill (amount unknown, company will not disclose since it not my bill owner, but I was told it's HUGE, I figured between 700-1000. did a i little guessing game untilI was in the ball park). Every time I visited the electric furnace is constantly on high, even when they go to work (LOL). thats another story. they swapped out my 7 programmable thermostat for a non-programmable one...go figure. was told it was too complicated.
• electric bill are individual bill and water bill (although in the tenants name) is still tied to the property because it's a city service. 
• Now am stuck with the water bill. I do not mind paying it because my next tenant would need to turn the water on in their name, and can't do so with a previous balance.
• How can i collect on this, either thru wage garnishment or have a collection company do the dirty work of collecting. 
• BTW, when they were signing the lease they also agreed and signed a letter on my intent to report their paying habit either good or bad to a service called  tenantverification.com, hoping they would want a good record by paying on time and not leaving any bad debt behind.
• I live in Maryland
• SO HOW CAN I COLLECT?

Is this a young renter or older person? If this a younger person, what kind of job do they do.

with fair usage from the tenant I would go about 3-4 for paint and carpet cleaning. Hopefully they are not treating your unit like an apartment rather than a home to be proud of. 

 Awesome I would surely give them a call and mention the referral from you.

Thanks