Landlording ain't always fun... (photos of the FIRE included)

General Landlording & Rental Properties
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Landlording ain't always fun... (photos of the FIRE included)

Brandon TurnerPro Member
Investor · Maui, HI · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 3k+ votes

So, this post is NOT meant to scare you, newbies. But... this is gonna freak you out :) 

This tenant is in the process of being evicted. To make matters worse, he lit his kitchen on fire; accidentally, supposedly. Anyway... this is what I'm dealing with these days. This is the rental I've had the longest. Same tenant for 8 years, suddenly stopped paying and turned into satan. 

Below are the "Before" and "After" photos. You'll know which is which...

#ThisIsWhyWeScreenTenants #ThisIsWhyWeHaveInsurance 

I'll be writing a LONG post on this when it's all resolved. In the meantime... enjoy! 

And here's today's photoshoot: 

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Carlos Enriquez
Santa Rosa, CA · Member since 2015 · 191 posts · 75 votes
11y

It would be such a coincidence if that guy's car caught fire "accidentally" of course, from a faulty carburetor on a hot engine.

Glad you have insurance!

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  • Jeff HamelPro Member
    Investor/Firefighter · Milton, WA · Member since 2014 · 45 posts · 20 votes
    11y

    Wow @Brandon Turner

    Sorry to see this.  At least he will have to move out due to it being uninhabitable.  Another chapter in the book of land lording right. Great lead in though for a question we have been asking.  Do you require renters insurance from your tenants?  We are looking into doing this.  Wondering about your thoughts? 

    Good Luck!

    1Reply
  • Radhika M.
    Investor · San Jose, CA · Member since 2014 · 167 posts · 146 votes
    11y

    @Brandon Turner So sorry you have to deal with this. Hope the eviction goes through and insurance covers everything. 

    0Reply
  • Justin Ouchley
    Investor · West Monroe, LA · Member since 2015 · 15 posts · 9 votes
    11y
    Let us know how the claim works out. Tough break.
    0Reply
  • Elizabeth Colegrove
    Hanford, CA · Member since 2013 · 5k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    :( Sorry you are dealing with this! Well at least you get a free rehab! 

    Look forward to seeing the entire post!

    0Reply
  • Carlos Enriquez
    Santa Rosa, CA · Member since 2015 · 191 posts · 75 votes
    11y

    It would be such a coincidence if that guy's car caught fire "accidentally" of course, from a faulty carburetor on a hot engine.

    Glad you have insurance!

    5Reply
  • Linda WeygantPro Member
    Investor and CPA · Arvada, CO · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    11y

    wow.  Major suckage.  Let us know how it all turns out.

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  • Joel OwensBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    11y

    Brandon I remember years ago you had another tenant start a fire on a porch or something you posted. It was a 2 plex or 4 plex etc.

    You seem to get a bunch of crazy tenants. Those pics that looks like a stud, gut job there.

    Insurance might pay the claim but how are you absorbing the monthly rental losses you will be incurring while the repairs are happening? Unless of course you paid cash and owe nothing on this property. Maybe the lender because of this situation if you have a loan will put the immediate payments on the back end of the loan.       

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  • Chris K.Pro Member
    Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 655 votes
    11y

    Ridiculous. Hopefully he gets hit with some criminal charges.

    0Reply
  • Chin P.
    SILVER SPRING, MD - Maryland · Member since 2015 · 77 posts · 43 votes
    11y

    @Brandon Turner

    So sorry that you're experiencing this.  Is this is one of those judgement proof tenants where it's not worth going after?  

    0Reply
  • Alden Atienza
    Real Estate Professional · Caloocan, Metro Manila · Member since 2015 · 9 posts · 2 votes
    11y

    Whoa! that's a lot of damage, good thing you have insurance. It's scary to think that a tenant of 8 years will suddenly go on a rampage like that. Not that I'm accusing him or anything. The fire was supposedly an accident, No, I'm referring to the sudden halt in rent payments. 8 years is definitely a long time and just when you thought you can trust a person hell's kitchen breaks loose that even Gordon Ramsey can't explain what the hell happened. Anyway I'm sorry for what happened. Again it's great you have insurance and let us know what will happen. I believe an investigation should takes place and certain property damage settlements to be reviewed. I just hope the tenant gets what he deserves. Goodluck

    0Reply
  • Miranda Opiela
    Real Estate Agent · Manassas, VA · Member since 2015 · 1 post · 0 votes
    11y

    So sorry to hear!  Nice looking place though (pre-fire of course!).  Upside: Sounds like maybe you can try out some new decor options.

    0Reply
  • Wells Lange
    Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2015 · 125 posts · 50 votes
    11y
    Sorry to hear man, best of luck dealing with it..
    0Reply
  • Azeez K.
    Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2013 · 646 posts · 392 votes
    11y

    Hi @Brandon Turner

    This sucks big time. Hopefully, you will get this resolved quickly and before you know it you will be posting after pictures on this thread. Good Luck and woosah things could always be worse. 

    Best Wishes

    0Reply
  • Steve Vaughan
    Rental Property Investor · East Wenatchee, WA · Member since 2014 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
    11y

    @Brandon Turner- oh that's awful!  You had it done so nicely, too!

    Sorry to see this and I feel you.  Great hashtags, btw!  "Screen"  "Insurance"

    Please update us - hopefully with a shot of this guy's new digs behind bars!

    0Reply
  • Josh Tilton
    Westminster, CO · Member since 2015 · 5 posts · 1 vote
    11y

    This is terrible. Looks like something right out of Breaking Bad. Sorry Brandon!

    0Reply
  • Brie SchmidtBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    11y

    Oh man!  I am SO sorry to hear this happened to you!

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  • James Wise
    Real Estate Broker · Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH · Member since 2013 · 30k+ posts · 20k+ votes
    11y

    Bummer, at least it will make for a great blog.

    I wonder if there ever been a study in which the frequency of rental houses vs. Owner occupied houses catching on fire was compared.  I assume insurance companies analyze this data all the time. It would be cool to see it. Any know of it being published anywhere?

     I imagine there is a huge difference between the two.

    1Reply
  • Ericka Parrott
    Residential Real Estate Agent · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2009 · 381 posts · 134 votes
    11y

    Sorry to see your having to go though this and it looks like the tenant has lost everything.

    This loss of use or business interrupted can be a claim you can file along with your property fire damage. Check with your agent and add a policy for the future. If this ever happens again and I hope it won't. You want to be reimbursed for the lost rents and property damage. 

    Have you thought about how you will improve the property since you have to complete renovations anyway?

    0Reply
  • Luka Milicevic
    Real Estate Agent · Nashville, TN · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    11y

    This has inspired me to review my insurance coverage. 

    I do know I made sure I have 12 months of rent coverage in case something like this happens. It helps a ton in situations like these.

    I sure hope everything works out.

    2Reply
  • Pat L.
    Rental Property Investor · Upstate, NY · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    11y

    I feel for you... although I must admit there have been inhabitable homes we got @ tax lien auctions we wished went up in flames only so we could rebuild them.

    But your damages are far worse & are going to be a lot more time consuming than anything we have ever seen. Unfortunately Insurance premiums always get inflated by such claims. 

    Good luck..

    0Reply
  • Jason BottPro Member
    Insurance Agent · Nationwide · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    @James Wise you are right on the $ in regards to increased claims on rentals versus owner occupied.  That is the main reason insurance carrier freak out when you transition you personal home to a rental.

    I'll see if any of my insurance carriers have the specific data.  If I find it, I'll post it.

    3Reply
  • Jason BottPro Member
    Insurance Agent · Nationwide · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    @Brandon Turnersorry to see this.  Very nice place, you obviously took pride in it.

    Retaliatory claims are more common that people think.  I personally see about 1 per year just my client base.  Most of the time it is not a fire, but a slip and fall where the claim is coincidently the exact amount of past due rent.

    Largest retaliatory claim my clients have had was $380,000.  Owner repeatedly stated tot he client "You can't smoke crack in the hallways.  You need to go inside your apartment".  Obviously larger issues were present:)  Night of the eviction date there was a mysterious fire in the basement.

    1Reply
  • Johnny Rodriguez
    Investor · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2015 · 26 posts · 8 votes
    11y

    Wow @Brandon Turner, Sorry for the trouble.   Thanks for sharing.  A good reminder for me to check all my insurance coverage.  I know on the two policy's I have, I remember seeing loss of Rent.  I guess this would cover me if it happen to one of my rentals?  

    0Reply
  • John Thedford
    Real Estate Broker · Naples, FL · Member since 2013 · 9k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    11y

    Wow.....hope it works out OK. What chapter in the book "How To Make Millions In 30 Days With Real Estate" is this covered in?

    1Reply
  • Alexander A.
    Investor · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2015 · 143 posts · 82 votes
    11y

    @Brandon Turner

    Sorry to hear about this bro! Hopefully this wont happy to me anytime soon but im sure its inevitable. Just part of the game of owning rental properties.   Is there anything you could have done to prevent this?  

    Oh and it was great to finally meet you at FinCon!  

    0Reply
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