Tenant move out and loser son went back for more

Tenant move out and loser son went back for more

Bjorn AhlbladPro Member
Investor · Shelton, WA · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 6k+ votes


A tenant in one of my duplexes moved out under the cover of darkness late June. She was an inherited tenant when I bought the place in 2015. Always paid rent but had a dark side. Son with serious anger issues who had smoked in the unit etc. 

He went back into the unit on July 4th and set off fireworks outside and inside, had a noisy party, vandalized extensively, got arrested by the police, and made the local news. Alcohol and drugs involved too of course.

This property is managed by a PM who filled me in on all this gore and how the carpets are worn out, will need complete paint and so on. This morning I called my insurance agent, he was most cooperative, he called the local police to get a case number and said this is by now a famous incident!

So, the long and the short of it is that yes, bad stuff can happen to you as a LL; but this is what I have chosen to do. Much of the cost of renovating the unit will be borne by me, and a fair amount will be now covered by insurance; the carpets have burn marks, the walls have got large brown areas, doors have been kicked in, there will be lost rent due to re-hab. All is not lost, turns out I am well covered by insurance and I even get to raise the rent!

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Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 9k+ votes
8y
Sounds like a crappy property manager to me .
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  • Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 930 votes
    8y

    After all this, make sure you file a lawsuit against the previous tenant and occupants to recover the rest of the damages.

  • Bjorn AhlbladPro Member
    OP
    Investor · Shelton, WA · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    8y

    Thank you @Ray Harrell I will make sure that is included.

  • Investor · Edwardsville, IL · Member since 2015 · 432 posts · 481 votes
    8y
    More than likely the insurance company will bring a suit against the tenant. When the insurance company gives you a check there will be a piece of paper you have to sign that says the insurance company gets paid first and then anything left over is yours. Sounds like the type of loser that has nothing to sue for and never will.
  • Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 9k+ votes
    8y
    Sounds like a crappy property manager to me .
  • Rental Property Investor · Edison, NJ · Member since 2016 · 753 posts · 565 votes
    8y
    I hope that you have changed the locks and secured your property to prevent anyone else with a key to return.
  • Investor · Arlington, VA · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 491 votes
    8y

    Ah, the hard knocks of Landloarding.  Thanks for sharing the darker side of the RE game.  It's not all roses and sunshine.  But man, is a great way to build wealth over the long term!  Keep your head up and keep at it!

  • Real Estate Broker · Northeast PA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    8y

    @Amy Beth good advice, however locks only keep honest people honest.  The kind of perp @Bjorn Ahlblad is describing will not be held back by locks and certainly doesn't need a key to gain entry.  

    Usually the only thing keeping the door closed, regardless of how fancy the lock, is about 3/8" of wood on the door jamb.  We all need to beef up the security in our rentals, but remember, if someone wants to get in badly enough, they will find a way.

  • Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2016 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    8y

    lots of irony in getting arrested on independence day...

    sorry you had to deal with this fool

  • Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 930 votes
    8y

    @Amy Beth, I thought the same thing about changing locks, but Bjorn mentioned that the doors were kicked in. The perp should also be arrested for breaking and entering, criminal trespass, vandalism.

  • Bjorn AhlbladPro Member
    OP
    Investor · Shelton, WA · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    8y
    Thanks so much for the support and positive messages; great community here!  This duplex is in a better area and a good neighborhood. It is a 3 bd 3 bath unit, rents for 1400 a month. So definitely not a war zone by any means! Low life’s can be in any economic sector it seems. Turns out the son is a juvenile-my wife got a message on her phone from the County Prosecuters office- juvenile division. My wife is at a yoga retreat in Bali and wondered why she would be getting a call like this!  That is almost comical-there is no peace anywhere when you are a landlord I guess.
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