Just when I thought I’d seen it all as a landlord…

[Abiy Tedla]

I got the strangest update from our property manager about a tenant who signed a one-year lease back in February. Out of the blue, the tenant messaged the PM saying she’s moving out in a couple of days due to a break-in that left her too scared to stay.

Here’s the catch: she was already late on her last rent payment and hadn’t been responding to any messages from the PM—until now. The PM sent a tech out to investigate, and we found no signs of forced entry. The unit also appeared completely empty.

I’ve asked the PM to move forward with an inspection and get the unit listed ASAP while we follow up on the unpaid rent and the apparent lack of evidence for the break-in.

What would you do in this situation? Has anyone dealt with something similar?

[Adam Bartomeo]

If someone robbed your house and you went to your lender and said "Hey, I am not following through with my commitment to pay you", they would put you into foreclosure. We would do the same thing if a tenant said that. Whether the break in happened or didn't is inconsequential. We would hold their feet to the fire.

If the unit is empty, they aren't paying rent, and have notified you that they have moved out then we would move forward with getting ready for the next tenant due to abandonment.