Evicted my Fave Tenant !

I had a tenant move into a unit 6 months ago. He has been late EVERY month. As my late fees begin at 5 PM on the first, he has paid me HUNDREDS in late fees. I filed for eviction a few months ago, but he paid up. This guy was very profitable. He was the best! :)

Different story this month. On the 9th I found out that his check bounced. I immediately posted a 3-day notice, I sent him an e-mail, and left him a voicemail. He ignored all. So late in the month...

His court date was today. (I use an eviction lawyer). 5 minutes before his trial, he leaves me a voicemail saying that he wants to settle! I didn't respond, and I checked the court's website and saw that the FED was granted.

I was tempted to get the back rent, late fees, have him pay the legal costs,and stay until then end of next month, but I figured that it's better just to get him gone, as tempting as thr other scenario was. Next month would be the same, except that I would have required cash, and then would have given him a notice to quit on October 1st. It would have been ugly because he would be late again, and would be aware of the notice to quit. He'd stretch it out.

If he had settled when we first spoke, I would have kicked him out at the end of next month, anyway, so this isn't too bad. I now have to pay the legal costs, get the sheriff, and then turn him over to collections.

Fun!

I found out that he was also evicted in January, but my credit agency missed it!

Would you have

--70.57.x.xxx

Evicted my Fave Tenant ! (by Susan [OH]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2008 2:12 PM
Message:

Yes, I would have (but I like to agree with you!) --24.29.xxx.xxx

Evicted my Fave Tenant ! (by Susan [OH]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2008 2:14 PM
Message:

I would have been very tempted to take ALL the fees (including the atty's) in CASH...but you and I both know that it is only a matter of time until he would be getting the boot. --24.29.xxx.xxx

Evicted my Fave Tenant ! (by Don [CO]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2008 2:15 PM
Message:

Sorry - I cut the text somehow. Anyway, I was wondering if you would have stopped the eviction and thrown him out next month, or made it happen today. --70.57.x.xxx

Evicted my Fave Tenant ! (by sid [MO]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2008 2:22 PM
Message:

It's LLs call here, since it's getting to be a bad time of the year to find someone who will pay period. I hate late-payers, but as you mention, they can be profitable. The problem is who knows what else is screwed up about them? Most honorable people pay their bills one way or the other. And housing is/should be priority #1. You'll die from exposure to the elements long before hunger or even thirst kills you, depending on your climate.

I'm thinking that I will adjust my late fees pretty soon. Now I just start charging $5 per day after 5pm on the 4th. That's my little grace period that is supposed to keep tenants from whining "oh, I mailed it on the 29th..." You guessed it. Now to them rent is really due on the 4th they think, so if they mail it on the 3rd and it gets to me on the 5th they get all snitty: "I'm just ONE day late". No, FOUR days late. So I'm thinking one of two things: 1) start charging $5/day on after 5PM on the 2nd or 2) charge $20 fee after 5PM on the fourth and $5/day after that. Maybe that will create more of a sense of urgency. Maybe it will create more whining. I only have one regular "late payer" now. --204.80.xxx.xx

Evicted my Fave Tenant ! (by Don [CO]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2008 2:27 PM
Message:

I charge $50 if rent is received after 5 PM on the first of the month, and $25 per day for each day after. --70.57.x.xxx

Evicted my Fave Tenant ! (by Liz [NV]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2008 2:52 PM
Message:

OK, tenants mind is thinking if I am a day or two late it's $10 bucks . Big deal. If I bounce a check it's $34, if I don't have gas , can't get to work, if I pay rent on time I can't go party this weekend, but I can pay it 2 days late....you know what they would do. You need to hit it where it hurts in the pocketbook. Find out what is legal and charge that. I charge 10% of the rent after 5pm on the first day. $25 every day after. They are rarely ever late. Liz --75.14.xxx.xxx

Evicted my Fave Tenant ! (by Solidoak [WA]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2008 2:57 PM
Message:

I used to charge 15 they laugh, then 65 still late, now 10% of the rent. --67.183.xxx.xxx

Evicted my Fave Tenant ! (by Don [CO]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2008 2:58 PM
Message:

You don't understand, I WANT them to be a little late! I have made over $10,000 in the past few years on late fees. Why would I want my tenants to pay on time??? --70.57.x.xxx

Evicted my Fave Tenant ! (by Susan [OH]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2008 3:29 PM
Message:

Well, you still have time to contact him if that's what you want to do. --24.29.xxx.xxx

Evicted my Fave Tenant ! (by Alex [IL]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2008 3:30 PM
Message:

Wow... $50 the first day... hmmmmmmmmm

I could see where you would be ok if they were late! Me, I would rather have it all in my hand rather than worry about if I will get it at all... --209.254.xxx.xx

Evicted my Fave Tenant ! (by Steve [FL]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2008 4:14 PM
Message:

Just me, but I want the rent on time. I understand late fees but to me the drama ain't worth the hassle. He would have been gone from my scope months ago. --24.99.xxx.xxx

Evicted my Fave Tenant ! (by Sean [CA]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2008 5:28 PM
Message:

I agree with Steve.. Chasing rent is not fun so I rent to qualified tenants that don't pay late. I also charge market rent so don't need late fees to cover my bottom line.

Sean --76.105.xx.x

Evicted my Fave Tenant ! (by Don [CO]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2008 5:29 PM
Message:

I charge market rent, and the late fees are gravy. --70.57.x.xxx

Evicted my Fave Tenant ! (by Andrew, Canada [ON]) Posted on: Sep 22, 2008 6:16 PM
Message:

You guys are LUCKY

in toronto we cant charge late fees. --74.12.x.xxx

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Evicted my Fave Tenant !

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