Hoarder Tenant given 75 day notice won't leave - Evict?

Hoarder Tenant given 75 day notice won't leave - Evict?

Real Estate Investor · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2014 · 10 posts · 2 votes

First post! Been following these forums for months but I finally have my own reason to post for some advice:

I have a tenant that's a hoarder and only paying ~$399 a month for an apartment in an area that's going for over $800 (We inherited the tenant from prior owner). I sent a letter in the mail that gave her 75 day notice that her monthly lease would not be renewed (lease only required 60 days) and that she had to surrender the premises after 75 days. I know she got the letter because she asked an agent of mine to confirm that "non-renewal" meant she had to leave. Then she emails me a message 3 days before her expected move-out date saying she didn't find an apartment, and that she wants to stay another 2 months. I replied with a proposal of a 2 month lease at >$800 a month but she refused, then stopped responding and sent her normal rent check for $399 along. I really tried being nice by giving plenty of notice and offered to help her find a place on craigslist, but no response.

What should I do? State is PA.

1. Is there a danger in cashing her $399 check or should I grab every dime I can get? Priority is to get her out asap, but no reason to leave cash on the table.

2. Is eviction the way to go? Could the hoarder thing make it difficult/different? I never brought that up in any communication except here, to be honest I need her out of there anyways so I can rehab it and rent it at fair market value. It's also a multifamily 12 unit so she poses a risk to my other tenants, and their safety is my priority over cash.

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Greg H.Pro Member
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Broker/Flipper · Austin, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
11y

@Emilio E.

You have received several responses from well meaning people who do not live or are familiar with the laws in your area.  Evictions laws are state and sometimes even county or city specific.  Steve gave you a local contact and some state specific information

Personally, I would not make any reference to this being a "hoarder" situation at all as your tenants lease was up for renewal and she declined to renew under the revised terms and now needs to be removed for failing to vacate during the term given by the landlord

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  • Linda WeygantPro Member
    Investor and CPA · Arvada, CO · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    11y

    @Emilio E. - while I agree with others that you are risking just having to start the eviction process in 53 days, I think your reasoning is sound for putting it off.  I think maintaining open lines of communication with the tenant and family will help the situation tremendously.

    You're taking a gamble, but it's one I would probably take too.

  • Real Estate Investor · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2014 · 10 posts · 2 votes
    11y

    Forgot to update this post with results! 

    Turns out the social engineering turned out to be the best possible outcome. She broke her initial move out promise (no surprise) but once I got the family involved it was smooth sailing. She paid rent up until the last day AND her family helped her cleanup the place so we didn't have to pay haul a thing (1800gotjunk gave me an estimate of $3k). Added benefit is she is off to a fresh start and her family is now aware of her condition.

    I know it was a gamble, but just wanted to show that sometimes it does make sense to sit down and have a conversation before calling the lawyers. I'm convinced her move-out would have taken longer and would have been more costly through the courts.

  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2015 · 298 posts · 261 votes
    11y

    Congrats. That is good to hear. At least she can get some help with her condition from family and you get your unit back now that you have time to rehab it.

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