All Forum Posts by: Tim Miller

The best thing is the tenants are asking and not just saying, we bought a house and have a good life. I will say their opening offer sounds fair. 3 months notice, forfeit 1.5 months deposit. I would accept this offer but add, I need another 1/2 months rent for early termination fee.

Let say you agree to this deal, they give you notice in Sept. 3 month would take Oct, Nov & Dec. Now you have security deposit plus the extra 1/2 month rent. You're covered up to March 2024 just as the rental season is picking up.

We'll work with a good tenant that ask for something in advance. It's up to you to decide how you want to handle this issue. Good Luck!

For us, section 8 means it's harder to find that good tenant. But our main issue with this program is the Terms and Conditions that you must agree to. That's where the train comes off the tracks. List of "Never going to happen" below.

Here are a few of the Terms you must agree to: #3 & 4 alone stops us.

Here are just a few items in the Housing Assistance Payments Contract that keeps us from accepting section 8

1. The owner must give the PHA any information on rents charged by owner for other unit.

2. PHA shall not be obligated to pay any late payment if HUD determines that late payment by PHA is beyond the PHA's control.

3. HUD shall have full & free access to contract unit, premises, & all accounts & other records of the owner that are relevant to HAP Contract.

4. The owner must grant such access to computerized or other electronic records & to any computers, facilities & must provide any information or assistance needed to access the records.

5. PHA failure to pay the owner is not a violation of the lease. The owner may not terminate the tenancy for nonpayment.

6. Must give 90 days notice to vacate

As you can see there are a number of reason not to take section 8. We will not allow them full access to any of our computers, smart phones, office and so on.

Are you locked into a contract? If no, just cancel the service and if a tenant wants it, they can call and setup their own service.

@Angie Thorn You sound a little like me, not wanting to just give up without a fight. I would at the very lease talk to a lawyer. Maybe a written letter from one might help to change things.

Just thought of something you never mention. There has to be an appeal process for this. See if that might yield better results.

This is just me being me, if all else failed. I'd make the property my permanent resident. Then it would be considered owner occupied and I would start STR that way. Just double check the local ordinance for STR when it's owner occupied. Good Luck!

You have no control over your rent with section 8. You have to submit a request for a rent increase and see if they approve it. But first, you'd have to find out who your contact person would be in the local office and hope they are on the game. Good luck.

It wouldn't surprise me, I know our bank wanted this on a duplex we bought. We used State Farm and they were able to attach a builder rider onto the policy. So once the work was completed, it basically fell off. Start calling around to different insurance companies and see what they have to offer. Good luck!

We are thinking about providing this in one of our 4 unit duplex. We would offer it to each tenant as 1gig internet for $50 more a month on rent. The service would only cost us $100 so we'd make a $100 profit.

The setup cost would be about $2,000 because we would use Netgear Orbi Mesh system. You get an app to control everything, so any internet issue you just go to the app to resolve.

Since you're just starting out, you can bake the cost of this into the rent and offer it as a perk. They'll love it. Good Luck.

No you don't have to accept the first qualified application that come along. We tell everyone that applies that our processing time can be 1 to 5 business days. This gives us the room to look through all the application that come in and select the best.

The Great Dane doesn't bother me at all. I'd just charge a $400 non-refundable pet fee and $35 a month pet rent.

Just double check your state, county an local laws. As long as they don't require you to take the first qualified application, you're good to go.

@Lorien Rollins $200 non-refundable fee sounds reasonable and the $20 per pet is very reasonable. I was looking at a few other rentals in your area, one is charging $300 1st pet $500 for two pets. I think your in great shape with your pet fee and rent. Good luck.

First off, H-E-L-L NO! Do not waste any more money on these tenants. Tell them that the systems is working properly for a 3,000 sq ft house. Period and end of story. Mr. & Mrs tenant, if you do like it, please provide your 60 day notice and I'll only require 1 months early termination fee. If you do not like that, than you will have to accept the current house AS IS until the lease ends. Have a good day!

It's really that simple. Good luck.