Here We Go Again......

[Brandyn Dietman]

I had (have) a problematic tenant, who was late and trying to pull lines to get rent paid half now half when I have it type of deal. I took everyone's advice and said no, served her a 5 day notice, and from then on for the last two months, she has paid cash and about 1.5 weeks early which is awesome I thought she learned her lesson.. Today she left October's rent under my door, and I haven't written the rent receipt yet. But, she just sent a text asking for $60 of it back because she realized she didn't have what she thought she had in her savings.... Here we go again. My first inclination is to say "here's your $60, pay by the 1st or I'm serving your eviction notice since I've already served a 5 day notice". But then that's an angry tenant. My second inclination is to say "I already deposited the money into my account and you've paid your rent (people all said last time to make sure they pay you first) but then run the risk of her not paying early or maybe on time next month. I'm sorry for all the same type of questions, but I've never dealt with someone like this before, and obviously would love to get her on the right track. And if I choose the eviction route, I'm close to winter and who knows who I'll find to move in then.. Thanks! Brandyn Milwaukee, Wisconsin

[Evan Thomas]

It honestly might be worth sitting down with your tenant for a few minutes to talk to her about some of this stuff. Sounds like she's having trouble holding on to her money paycheck to paycheck, so she's short when she gets the paycheck closest to the first of the month. You can give the $60 back to her, tell her her rent is due by check on the first, and ask her if there's a way that you can help her in her current situation (without being a know-it-all). Maybe she needs to hear how you transfer some money to your savings account right after you get paid so you have a backup, or any general budgeting you do that is simple and sweet. The few minutes it will take to have a conversation might pay itself off if she realizes you're on her side, and it will probably lessen the chance that she becomes a bad tenant.