tenant behind on his rent (by tonia [CT]) Apr 13, 2018 10:56 AM
tenant behind on his rent (by DJ [VA]) Apr 13, 2018 11:23 AM
tenant behind on his rent (by myob [GA]) Apr 13, 2018 11:26 AM
tenant behind on his rent (by myob [GA]) Apr 13, 2018 11:30 AM
tenant behind on his rent (by tonia [CT]) Apr 13, 2018 1:09 PM
tenant behind on his rent (by tonia [CT]) Apr 13, 2018 1:09 PM
tenant behind on his rent (by S i d [MO]) Apr 13, 2018 1:23 PM
tenant behind on his rent (by Robert,OntarioCan [ON]) Apr 13, 2018 1:24 PM
tenant behind on his rent (by LisaFL [FL]) Apr 13, 2018 2:09 PM
tenant behind on his rent (by Vee [OH]) Apr 13, 2018 2:32 PM
tenant behind on his rent (by Tom [FL]) Apr 13, 2018 6:23 PM
tenant behind on his rent (by RathdrumGal [ID]) Apr 14, 2018 7:08 AM
tenant behind on his rent (by LisaFL [FL]) Apr 14, 2018 9:07 AM
tenant behind on his rent (by myob [GA]) Apr 14, 2018 11:04 AM
tenant behind on his rent (by cjo'h [CT]) Apr 14, 2018 11:30 AM
tenant behind on his rent (by Tonia [CT]) Apr 14, 2018 6:18 PM
tenant behind on his rent (by Johnny B. [MA]) Apr 14, 2018 6:48 PM
tenant behind on his rent (by Robert J [CA]) Apr 14, 2018 9:10 PM
tenant behind on his rent (by myob [GA]) Apr 15, 2018 7:03 AM
tenant behind on his rent (by tonia [CT]) Posted on: Apr 13, 2018 10:56 AM Message:
Hello fellow landlords:
I have a tenant that moved in Oct. 2017. A small family of (3), two supposed to be working adults and 1 small child. They have failed to pay rent on time since they moved in. They did catch up in late winter (after I issued an NTQ), but now falling behind again.
I have been trying to work with them, because they seem like a nice young family but seem to have financial problems. They did pay partial rent in April ($500) and I am trying to get an update on when to expect balance ($450).
Should I just start the eviction process? CT is very tenant friendly so my thought is to try and work things out but this is getting tiresome.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
--68.15.xx.xxx |
tenant behind on his rent (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: Apr 13, 2018 11:23 AM Message:
Yes, you definitely should - right now! They will never catch up, and you need them out while you still have hope to find a good tenant during the summer months.
If they truly can afford the rent, the problem could be that they perceive you as a pushover. Since they seemed to respond well to an official notice, why not do that again?
I'm curious about how you screened them, since this has been a problem right from the beginning. --68.10.xxx.xxx |
tenant behind on his rent (by myob [GA]) Posted on: Apr 13, 2018 11:26 AM Message:
your working with them is one one. Yes there wiping there feet on you.
Give them the drop dead date. Your payment must be received no later than April 13, 2018 including the late days included in this notice. Sould payment not be made we will have no choice but to start the dispossessary process at which time you will be responsible for all fee ect..
No payment? file on 14th. Remember you accepted some of April so don't list the whole month. Rent balance is 450.00. When May comes around AMEND your case to include Mays rent. Make sure you send the amendment not only to the court but to the tenants. You will have to sign an affidavit so stipulating.
DO NOT take any more partial payment or you'll have to start all over. --99.103.xxx.xxx |
tenant behind on his rent (by myob [GA]) Posted on: Apr 13, 2018 11:30 AM Message:
DJ I don't like the DEMAND although I understand it. When this goes to court you want the stance that you worked your butt of to make it work-- don't be the bad guy. Your not showing push over to judge-- who cares what the tenant thinks at this point? --99.103.xxx.xxx |
tenant behind on his rent (by tonia [CT]) Posted on: Apr 13, 2018 1:09 PM Message:
DJ, the screening process was based primarily on income. The applicants showed proof of income (2 unmarried working adults at $28K per year each), supporting one child about 1 year old. They were just starting out (mid to late 20's) so did not have much of a rental history. I did not check credit because the area is more working class / lower income finding applicants with good credit would be tougher so I base it on income / job status. They have been late, and always seem to catch up. Now that is spring months, I am not tolerating it as much because as you say the summer months (Putnam is a tourist town). Myob, thanks for the advice. I sent a text and will mail a letter stating these dates. If I don't receive by next week (I will give until 17th for the drop dead date). Thanks a bunch!
--68.15.xx.xxx |
tenant behind on his rent (by tonia [CT]) Posted on: Apr 13, 2018 1:09 PM Message:
DJ, the screening process was based primarily on income. The applicants showed proof of income (2 unmarried working adults at $28K per year each), supporting one child about 1 year old. They were just starting out (mid to late 20's) so did not have much of a rental history. I did not check credit because the area is more working class / lower income finding applicants with good credit would be tougher so I base it on income / job status. They have been late, and always seem to catch up. Now that is spring months, I am not tolerating it as much because as you say the summer months (Putnam is a tourist town). Myob, thanks for the advice. I sent a text and will mail a letter stating these dates. If I don't receive by next week (I will give until 17th for the drop dead date). Thanks a bunch!
--68.15.xx.xxx |
tenant behind on his rent (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Apr 13, 2018 1:23 PM Message:
tonia, welcome to Mr LL! Come back, post and read often!
Here you will find tough love...we look out for each other, and we've heard your story 1000 times.
No, we never "work with" tenants. That is land lord-slang for being a wimp. They knew the deal. Why are their financial troubles your problem? They aren't. They have tons of money and are doing fine. In fact, I would bet their car payments added together are more than your rent, but because the car dealer doesn't tolerate late payments and would repo the cars...guess who gets paid? Right... no the land lord who will "work with them."
The joke is I can't work with tenants because I'm too busy working for myself.
17 days is a lot of lost rent. Consider finding out what your state's minimum grace period is and stick with that. My state has no grace period. I file papers on day 7. Pro land lord managers in my town file on day 5, but I'm a nice guy (wink!).
The more they fall behind, the more you train them that this is okay behavior. It is not okay. Post notice on their front door this evening on bright orange paper: "Pay everything owed or I need keys in 72 hours from date/time of posting."
See what happens. If they pay, they stay. If not, bye bye.
Screening MUST include more than just income, as you now know. Criminal background, eviction report, credit report (verify identity and catch unlisted addresses), social media. Many of us also do a 2-minute visit to wherever they are living now before signing final papers: even if it's mom 'n dad's house. You need to see (and smell) where they live now, because that's what your house will look like in 4-6 weeks after move-in.
Time to step up the game! Be fair, but firm. --173.17.xx.xx |
tenant behind on his rent (by Robert,OntarioCan [ON]) Posted on: Apr 13, 2018 1:24 PM Message:
Reluctance to run thorough credit checks on all adult applicants can cause considerable amount of arrears of rent, damages, legal costs along with the frustration of evicting. You always know to know what you are getting into instead of handing the keys through the gates of hell. Some people are in the never ending process of the eviction merry go round where every three to four months they are getting evicting then trashing out then moving on. Consider going into Google then joining a landlords association where you can learn from the school of hard knocks or learn the process of becoming a professional rental housing provider. One time head them off at the pass like in the western where had a man in his thirties held up in mothers basement with his girl friend where he said he would not allow a credit check on his girl friend. Guess they are going to be living in mothers basement a very long time before the credit problems clear. Now you need mitigate amount of arrears by starting the eviction process as arrears will probably continue to grow where a hearing date is set up then there are two choices for the tenants. Pay up or get evicted. A landlords association will help you through the process. --147.194.xxx.xxx |
tenant behind on his rent (by LisaFL [FL]) Posted on: Apr 13, 2018 2:09 PM Message:
I have had a couple of these. I finally stopped being stubborn and went with Brad's method of payday payments although I opted for paying bimonthly.
Once I switched three of them to twinge a month debits I've had no more issues. Worth considering if you desire to "work with them".
That being said for rent amount of $950 and income of $28,000 a year their income is too low (2.4 times the monthly rent amount). I require 3.5 times and in exceptional cases will go as low as 3x but never below. --75.89.xx.xxx |
tenant behind on his rent (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: Apr 13, 2018 2:32 PM Message:
I am gonna play a little with ya here, so he/she asked if you could work with him - right? Well go to work and ask his/your boss if he can get a raise to help pay his family expenses, in fact give up your raise so he can get one without burdening the company payroll expenses, see how great that idea is, you -might- get paid... Pretty bad idea ain't it? Smoke Em Out... --76.188.xxx.xx |
tenant behind on his rent (by Tom [FL]) Posted on: Apr 13, 2018 6:23 PM Message:
Tonia of CT, I think by now you should realize that your screening process failed. Credit Checks are extremely important and going by the tenant has a job will be a problem in the future as you know. You have been trained by the tenant to chase rent on a monthly basis.
You need to attend the Mrlandlord.com National Convention in May 24, 25, 26, 2018. At this point you have no good excuses not to attend the convention. Most likely you have a weak lease BUT before the lease you need to screen properly. AND then make certain your lease is the strongest it can be. MrLandlord has two great leases one by Brad20K and the other by Jeffrey. You will find both leases by clicking on books.
Evict this tenant and stop the problem. You ARE NOT a charity. Nice tenants don't help you to pay your monthly financial obligations. And chasing rents is not your responsibility the tenant can not manage their money.
--99.56.xx.xx |
tenant behind on his rent (by RathdrumGal [ID]) Posted on: Apr 14, 2018 7:08 AM Message:
Tonia -- please do not feel too beat on by the LLs on this board. We have all "been there, done that". LLs that survive and thrive in this business learn within the first year to set firm limits and stick with them.
The more experience you have in LLing, the easier it will be for you to be kind, but businesslike with tenants. The discussion that I would have with your tents would go along the lines of "You have been late each month since you rented this house. You clearly are having a hard time affording this rental. How will you afford this house when your rent goes up by $XX this October?(set the expectation of a rent raise) The best thing for you do would be to get current on your rent and plan on being out by June 1st. Leave the house clean and undamaged and you will be getting your SD back. This way you avoid an eviction on your record".
As I read it, BOTH adults are working making nearly 60K a year in combined income. They should be able to afford $950 a month in rent, but they have set their priorities elsewhere. Tonia -- you are being played. Time to end the game. --98.146.xxx.xxx |
tenant behind on his rent (by LisaFL [FL]) Posted on: Apr 14, 2018 9:07 AM Message:
You are right Rathdrumgal. I didn't notice it was 28k each! They need to go. No excuse for not paying the rent. --75.89.xx.xxx |
tenant behind on his rent (by myob [GA]) Posted on: Apr 14, 2018 11:04 AM Message:
Toni CT keep in mind when doing anything that may need litigation yo must give a chance to "CURE". That's any violation of the rent contract. --99.103.xxx.xxx |
tenant behind on his rent (by cjo'h [CT]) Posted on: Apr 14, 2018 11:30 AM Message:
Tonia,how are you.Years ago We built a garage in your town when O'Neill was Governor.Could chuck a rock into Mass. and one into Rhode Island from where we worked.Nice .I'm in New Haven. Their income is more than adequate to pay the rent,but no one taught them how to manage money.Thats the problem with the Education system in America and most other countries ,Of course,who's to teach it,the teachers are just as bad,they don't know either.In 60 years ,beside income ,I always had a Credit check on each applicant,they pay for it.$35 per each.Has never let me down yet......Sid ,here in Connecticut we do have a ten day grace period,which is stupid,except when we have to pay a mortgage,then I always took advantage of it.......charlie......................................................................... --174.199.x.xxx |
tenant behind on his rent (by Tonia [CT]) Posted on: Apr 14, 2018 6:18 PM Message:
Thanks all for input; I am not new to LL (11 years now...3 properties in 3 states. I spoke with tenants and they made a promise to pay by 17th including late fee (I am still sending late notice). Charlie yes its a great location off rt. 395. Thanks again! --208.54.xx.xxx |
tenant behind on his rent (by Johnny B. [MA]) Posted on: Apr 14, 2018 6:48 PM Message:
Running the credit check is not just important for the score, but will also tell you their financial liabilities. Perhaps if you had run the credit check you would have seen they have significant car loans, credit card debt, etc. and then you would have been better prepared to determine if their salary was adequate to pay your rent plus their other liabilities. --24.147.xx.xxx |
tenant behind on his rent (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Apr 14, 2018 9:10 PM Message:
I've learned it's better to choose better applicants that can pay even if they loose a job due to savings, education and different job skills/training.
--47.156.xx.xx |
tenant behind on his rent (by myob [GA]) Posted on: Apr 15, 2018 7:03 AM Message:
Tonia I would still send drop dead letter- as you say. When the date comes around and STILL no money file the court paperwork. Let tenant know your doing it. Of course it will be the "BUT WHY" i told you i'm paying. Answer is well you didn't by the time required -- but if you do we will remove the dispo with the court. I have to move forward on this. THEN do it and shut up. until they pay whats owed in full. --99.103.xxx.xxx |
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