10.24.14 - The Young and the Restless: the continuing saga

Our exasperating tenant is young, I’m getting very restless.

We've had some progress this week, but I’m not sure we are any closer to my desired outcome.

The latest developments:

• We served a new 3 day pay or quit. We mutually agreed to move forward with eviction unless we could get at least $300 in partial rent money.
• Bruce called our lawyer, determined it would likely take $800 and two weeks to evict, and got a tentative appointment.
• We discussed offering a cash for keys option, but tenant seems to get more confused with more options, and clearly has no place to go. Social services and shelters have turned her down.
• Grandma, the co-signer, died.
• Tenant claims to have $600 in hand, but is indecisive how to spend it. We assume she is wanting to keep some or all to secure a new home. [Or maybe it’s going to meth.] She still seems to be stuck in inertia.
• During the 3 day period, tenant offered to pay $100. Bruce wanted to take it, I said to stay firm to our agreement. He told her it would take $200 to stop the eviction proceedings.
• Tenant paid $200 the next day, nullifying our second 3 day. 10 days rent for us.
• Tenant is clearly packing. At the beginning of the week she planned to move out (when?). later in the week she was asking what it would take to stay. I’ve been begging Bruce to just get her out, but he stated that if she gets an approved roommate, all October & November rent by Nov 1, and decides by 10/28 that he’d create a new agreement. No!!!!!

And so we wait.

As we have been all month.

We plan to start marketing it next week, but in the meantime I’ve been putting out some feelers. We have a Facebook page called FOR RENT (COWLITZ COUNTY) where an eclectic group of people seeking and offering housing post, and all their equally eclectic friends chime in. It seems to be a group of dreamers and other people stuck in inertia. Plenty of pitbulls, unrealistic expectations, and low rent budgets. We’ve not yet gotten a viable tenant from the group, but others in our local real estate club frequently do. If nothing else it is free entertainment.

Four people I sent private messages to:

• Can anyone tell me which private landlord would help me look for a small two bedroom and one bath house or duplex? And is willing to talk to me about payments on deposit? Thanks
• ISO; 2-3 bedroom Apartment, duplex or townhouse. (possibly house)
  Can afford about $750 a month.
  Good rental history, monthly income exceeds the 3times amount necessary. We both have steady income. Just Myself, boyfriend & son. NO PETS or SMOKING.
  Ready to move out first week of November
• Looking for somewhere that is $700 or less that accepts bad credit and possibly pets?
• Need a two bedroom house from a private renter have six days too move with two yr old both have reliable steady income and good personal references need a miracle in our lives at this point

Three of the four responded. One has cats so we declined, one doesn't have the drive or ability to meet us to pick up an application, and one has our application in hand. Stay tuned for next weeks’ episode!