Long term tenant turning into probem tenant

[Bily Elliott]

Long story short I paid cash for a small SFR in early 2009 and had a guy move in right away. He was not a friend but someone I had known for several years. We just had handshake terms, he paid rent, took care of things and we agreed that there would be no rent increase for a long time if he didn't bug me all the time by fixing small things. Fast forward to last November, he had lost his long term job about the middle of last year but kept paying on time (he had only paid late once in the previous 5+ years and that was only by a week). The last few months he has been a week or so late. He has not paid this months rent and hasn't responded to my texts over the last few days. Is anyone familiar with Oklahoma laws, I am going to call him and try to visit with him this weekend to see if we can get something worked out. Knowing the guy, I don't THINK I will have to evict him, but I also am concerned that if he cant pay me, he cant come up with first, last and security deposits to move somewhere else.

[Randy E.]

Originally posted by @Bily Elliott:

Knowing the guy, I don't THINK I will have to evict him, 

You may not have to evict, but you're probably going to have to do more than just hope he moves out because you remind him he's late on the rent.  You're going to have to get a little forceful in your delivery to him -- not angry or argumentative, just forceful.  State very clearly that if he can't pay by the end of the month that you expect he will move out by the end of the month.  You may have to say it two or three times in a few minutes time for it to sink in.

That approach usually works for me.  I've been managing property for many years and I've only had to go through the legal eviction process two times.  You run into the occasional hardhead every once in a while who wants to explain why he/she thinks they can hold on another month, but most people understand.  The problem is when people are broke and have no where else to live, they try to hold out for as long as they can.  It's your job as a landlord to let him know he can no longer hold out at your property.