long term tenant won't sign new lease

long term tenant won't sign new lease

Beaver Falls, PA · Member since 2014 · 11 posts · 9 votes

I have a tenant who has been in a house for almost 2 years.  She has always paid the rent on time and for the most part has been good with the exception perhaps of not being quite as tidy as I'd like but mostly good.

For some reason she will not sign the new lease which has no rental increase and essentially the same terms.  I have written notes, left voice mails, text but no reply.  I had spoken to her about this several weeks prior to the giving her the new lease and she seemed fine with renewing.

I am in PA so we are now on a month to month lease by state law which is not the worst scenario.  However, I do not like the tenant "making the rules or running my business".  On the filp side she has never been late and I am still collecting.  Of course I let this slide and then it could start a trend.

Should I send a her a notice to sign or move ( I have all my tenants sign a waiver of right to quit, therefore no notice needed to evict ).  Or keep collecting since she pays every month and is otherwise hassle free. 

Thanks, it's a bit of a dilemma in that a paying tenant who causes no problems is generally a good tenant and I'd like to keep them but I also like my rules/systems.

LBM real estate investor

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Residential Real Estate Broker · Washington, DC · Member since 2014 · 27 posts · 16 votes
12y

I don't understand the need for cornering a good tenant and forcing her hand.  What is "won" by doing that?  To turn a good tenant into a longer-term, uncooperative one?

I side with @Colleen and say a simple, honest, open conversation about HER life situation to find out what's up.  Don't escalate in a situation that does not require it.  (And try to keep perceived slights of rudeness and emotions out of the equation, they will not help resolve this.)

To date there has been $0 lost from this situation.  Your tenant, with two good years of regular, on-time payments, has earned a right to be treated more kindly than given an all-or-nothing ultimatum.  

Good tenants are gems, keep them safe and happy for as long as you can.

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  • Hanford, CA · Member since 2013 · 5k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    Leo, while I value Joe Gore perspective on many topics he and I seem to disagree often over my lease. The $300 is very normal both in single family properties and apartments.  I have added this not to gauge the tenant but to offer 1) a reason for them to sigma new lease 2) an incentive for me to have to deal with an month to month lease. If that is what is desired from the consumer. A month to month is more headache and risk because my areas  have definite rental seasons. Therefore I offer this option in order to provide a service but pass on the added risk.

  • Investor · Middletown, NJ · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    Some tenants pay no attention to attempts to communicate unless it comes from a lawyer. I've had a few like that. Tenants with phones that were disconnected, that didn't answer email, texts or letters from me, but when that return address is from an attorney, you'll hear from them the same day - and they're angry! Whatever they were trying to avoid could have been simply resolved with a discussion, but some prefer to ignore a problem thinking it will simply go away, like that persistent landlord. Nope!

  • Chris K.Pro Member
    Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 655 votes
    12y
    Originally posted by @Leo M.:

     But my point is that since she was planning on moving I just needed to know so I could get ready to rent it again.  So had I not forced her hand I am not sure she was going to tell me until the last minute. 

    I wonder if she was really planning on moving or decided to move after you pressured her to ...

    I think your idea of "if they don't want to sign another lease it's a red flag" is flawed logic. What would be her motivation to resign another year lease if, as you put it, nothing changed? I'm out of contract with both my cell phone and cable provider yet I have no intention of leaving either of them. 

  • Real Estate Investor · Randolph, MA · Member since 2014 · 28 posts · 2 votes
    12y
    A month to month lease actually gives you the opportunity to terminate your contract. A lease is usually a contract for the tenant. If you have month to month usually you have more options to terminate when you want to run your business.
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