State Specific Question About: NEW YORK (NY)

i just won a judgement against my tenant in court... i got my back rent... they are now moving in july, however they are bitter that i took them to court and are now tryng to make my life difficult... all of my maintenance has been current and now they are complaining of other issues in the apartment all of the sudden(they are nitpicking in order not pay rent)...(these are senior citizens).. they also want their security deposit given back to them with interest... i live in new york

have been called a bad landlord meanwhile they had not paid their rent in 5 months and had been very nice to them..so i had no choice but to take them to court

how does a landlord deal with these types of ungrateful bitter tenants?????

sorry if my message was not clear

i took them to court for non payment.... however they paid me before the deadline (marshall eviction)

at the court hearing they agreed to move out by the end of july(signed by judge)

since i took them to court they are bitter and now are just looking to make my life miserable

they are demanding their security deposit with interest

(i know that they dont get this because its a 3 fam dwelling)

however they already owe me half month rent for this month

they are now looking not to pay rent for any apartment issues)

i just want thenm out and take my losses.... just a few more weeks

dont answer tenant calls????

how does a veteran landlord deal with tenants that do not appreciate what their landlord has done for them in the past ???

how can a landlord win the mental game with these milking tenants????? (you are right.... bad karma will follow them when they move out)

thanks for your help

feel better already

Sent whatever you want to say by mail. Include your move out letter of what you expect for them to do and how they can get their deposit back. (not that they will but let them think it's a possibility. ) or you could "offer them money to move. But be sure and withhold what they owe

you when you tally it up.

“how does a veteran landlord deal with tenants that do not appreciate what their landlord has done for them in the past ???

how can a landlord win the mental game with these milking tenants?????”

Hello Carmen. I am a complete newbie (haven’t even rented our fist home yet) who has made many mistakes, but I have spent 100s of hours reading the answers of veteran landlords here on this board.

I am learning from their responses that tenants will not appreciate what you have done for them in the past or even in the present.

I understand how hurtful this whole situation must be for you since you did your best for them and they just stomped all over your kindness and called you a mean name to boot. Even though they absolutely brought going to court on themselves, they still don’t care.

Scroll down to my post called “Update O.H. Blunder” and read what Brad 20,000 says (he’s a veteran landlord)- much of that applies to your current situation.

May I suggest that you try and emotionally distance yourself from this so you don’t loose any more sleep? Try not to think of it as a mental game. The manager of our Wal-Mart can’t take personally every bounced check his store has to try and collect on or he would go crazy.

A pastor explained it this way- If I’m angry at a person it’s like me drinking poison and expecting the other person to get sick.

5 years from now likely you will have forgotten all about this (even though I know it’s devastating right now) and you will be 5 years closer to your goals. Just keep you eye on the prize.

All the best Carmen! Renne

Renne,

Welcome to you and your sound advise.....

I can completely agree with Renne (above poster) that you will completely forget about these people in 3-4 years, if not before. I haven't had a problem tenant in a few years now and I can barely remember anything about them. I have to stop and think to recall her name.

If you are taking things personally, you need to learn about boundaries. There is a good book people on here have mentioned. Basically, even if you are a great person, you need to put boundaries between yourself and the renters. Don't go too far out of your way for them and don't expect them to get out of their way for you at all.

The book Baltimore LL mentioned is Boundaries by Dr. Cloud and Dr. Townsend. Their books (they have several)are excellent at helping us realize that we have control over ourselves and our reaction to others behavior. We don't always have to say yes to things and "No." is a complete sentence. I would consider it a must read for all aspiring landlords.

They are not going to pay you the rent. They are going to use up the security. Voicemail is most likely your best bet for your sanity. Also, don't yes them on the phone, some folks record phone calls. Oh, wait, I already do that.

If they manage to leave july 1, that is fantastic but I have doubts about that.

The stipulation that they signed doesn't hold that much weight. They can easily go back to court and say, I've haven't found a place to move to and need more time. AND they will get it.

Just don't get in their way as they make their way out the door. If they don't give you the keys or something in writing that they moved, I would go small claims court for back rent. But they may be judgement proof (only income from SSI).

1. If they have not paid June in full, start the eviction process immediately. You can have two (or more) evictions going on at the same time.

2. If they don't pay July, start the eviction porcess as soon as you can. You can have three (or more) evictions going on at the same time.

3. Deal with maintenance issues as if these were fully paid-up tenants. Repair or replace as you feel is appropriate, as if there were no eviction issues.

4. Do not expect gratitude. It sounds as if you do. And that is foolish.

5. Tell them that the SD will be handled in accordance with state and local law. Do not explain the law to them, do not discuss it with them. Simply say "the Security Deposit will be dealt with pursuant to the applicable law."

Look at your rental as an investment. Don't get emotional. who cares what they think or say? Know your law, your policy and keep all communication to a very bare minimum. Do not engage them. Do not tell them anything they don't need to know. If they are late, start the process over again. If there is a maintenance issue, then call a fix it guy, give them proper notice and be done with it. Scrape in the wall, scuffs in the floor, etc- I will handle non health and safety issues on my own schedule. Fridge not working, lights not working- Joe fix it will be there on Wen at 2:00pm.

thank you all for the overwhelming responses by you veteran ll......

they still owe me half month rent for june and are to be out by july 31....

would you believe that at one point that they will withhold rent because "i havent swept the hallway in 2 weeks"... when i get there, the hallways are cleaner than my own!!!!

cant wait to get them out!!!!

they are mad that i took them to court and i won!!!

they are now looking for something else in the apartment to put on me so that they dont have to pay rent!!!

they are senior citizens

they should move on and enjoy their golden yeas instead of being miserable deadbeats!!!

I agree with Ken ... START EVICTION - who's in charge - the bank does let you slide with any payments - I believe they will not pay a dime and will move as court ordered end July ...therefore as they have NOT PAID June start the eviction - all costs to file should come out of deposit as HOPEFULLY written in your lease - I include postage etc. Send all notices certified mail - regular mail and I copy a bright pink paper one that I have hand delivered to door - to no there envelope is taped to entrance door.

I as so use phrases that I will report to all three credit reporting etc.

and in your case I would say I have taken you to to court before this is not an idle threat and look forward to the judge's ruling on your non-payment so I can proceed to the full extent of the legal process.