Looks like I may have my first "no pay, no stay" move out tomorrow. The guy just moved in a week ago. Apparently didn't calculate & save rent money that is due before his next paycheck. If I let him slide, then everyone would want to.

Zero Tolerance

I would really rather do something else after work, but I feel I need to make an example.

No one can fault you for not allowing a tenant to owe rent money. But you need to think of this from a management point of view.

Didn't you collect rent owing for February before giving the keys? Didn't you screen the tenant before renting to determine if he has enough money to pay rent? What was his financial record before he applied to your offering?

Do you rent to a class of people that will constantly cause you these problems? Is that a good business?

DJ, I wouldn't feel too bad about it. This can happen to anyone. We just had a tenant complain about the rent being too high a month after movein. He had lived at another of our rentals, left on decent terms and reapplied. We might have listened to his rent pricing complaints, except we know that his options at that price are limited and we got 2 calls right after he moved in- one from a furniture rental and another from a car bling place verifying rental history.

As another Rooming House Turns,

I just changed to no last week rent paid up front as part of my effort to get roomers to move in. He was the first to move in since then. I emphasized no pay, no stay at move-in. Had been approved before, but never had enough move-in money. His ongoing income is enough. He had just been paid about $700, gave me $275 to move in, then just spent it all in 1 week, apparently. $130/wk rent

Probably a different guy. I do a nationwide criminal (& credit) check. Don't take any violent or drug offenders - or those with a judgement from a landlord a couple months ago.