An old couple in difficulty and cannot pay rent, what could I do?

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An old couple in difficulty and cannot pay rent, what could I do?

Jo Zhou
San Diego, CA · Member since 2016 · 40 posts · 11 votes

Hi, everybody, could you give me some advises for my situation?

I have an older couple (in their mid 70s, they are in the wheel chairs), they have been paying the rent on time for 5 years. Lately, they have been late for rent because they were running out of money. They have secured loans from some veteran credit union to pay the last 5 months rents. Their lease will end by March 31, 2018. At first, they said they would move to live with their children, then they said they would move to a mobile home, yesterday, they were crying to my property manager, they want to stay 2 more days until some government facility would take them. They are donating all their belongings to the salvation army. Of course, we allow them stay free for 2 days. However, I wonder if they have no place to go, what would we do? Evict them? We don't want to through them on the street, they are really nice and decent people. What else would we do to help them? We cannot provide the free rent too long because we have a mortgage to pay also.

Does anybody have similar situation? What will it end up? I have property manager to handle this sad situation, but she will ask us what we want to do eventually. So what will be our bottom line? Not hurting the tenants, not hurting us too?

Thank you.

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Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
8y

this being pro landlord site you pretty much know what folks are going to recommend.. 

and of course you have your own debts.

Its a tough one.. I know if it was me I would let them live there rent free for 3 to 6 months to get their situation handled..  I would consider it one of my charitable givings for that year.. 

Although in a humerous note I fell for the one in Indiana two years ago my PM calls  tenant cant afford rent and heat and they have a baby etc etc.. record colds.. so sure thing no problem give them 3 months free then pay it over the remaining months.. kind of like utls do.. well you know what happened they lived 3 months free and bolted out on the rest of their lease.. thats my style of landlording i go backwards.

its these very situations that i was horrible at ... I could never make the tough decision until I figured out the folks were simply freddy freeloaders then I would do whats necessary.

all the thoughts above for help should be explored.. and depending what state an eviction could drag on for sometime if these folks want to go to court.. Judge may give them extra leniency.

But do what your heart tells you to do.. if they are good people and being honest .. do unto others.

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  • Jacob Villalobos
    Whittier , CA · Member since 2013 · 176 posts · 96 votes
    8y

    Evict

    Everyone has a story...

    Evict ASAP

    0Reply
  • Dave Skow
    Lender · Seattle, WA · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 899 votes
    8y

    ask them to research /  help them research programs like this one .......

    https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/sdhcd/rental-assistance.html

    1Reply
  • Axel MeierhoeferPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Escondido, CA · Member since 2017 · 679 posts · 550 votes
    8y

    There are actually charitable organizations that pay the bills for people in need. They have to demonstrate the need, you as the landlord have to sign for it and its not a long term solution but it would remove immediate eviction

    1Reply
  • Account Closed
    Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Michaela G.:

    You're in California, which is very pro-tenant. How long would an eviction take? 

    Media is also very pro tenant, so, maybe you, as the landlord, could find some journalists that write a lot about tenants and tell them about this situation. Let them know that you can't let them stay for free because you'll have your mortgage to pay, but that feel bad about them and would love to be able to help them. 

    So, if that goes out on the news, I bet someone would start a go fund me page and people will feel sorry and start donating $ 5 or 10 and that might add up to enough for several months rent. 

    If you're the one initiating the contact with the media, that might give them an interesting angle to highlight, that is normally not done. 

    I second this idea if you are really interested in stepping up and helping out. People in the country are very generous, you just need to get the story out. Like Jay said, make it a charitable venture for the year (your time and effort) - absolutely nothing wrong with that and you would get kudos in my book. These folks are in wheelchairs, so its not like they can just zip around and get life done - they could use a helping hand. If they don't have family in CA, I might suggest they move somewhere cheaper to live. Pretty sure SS pays the same no matter where you live and $2300 a month could pretty much cover rent and everything else in plenty of places. There are plenty of warm places that don't break the bank. Maybe the fund-raising could go to relocation. Good luck and don't be ashamed you have a big heart and respect your elders. Ill just bet you can conquer both goals if you put a bit into it.

    1Reply
  • Maggie H.
    Ontario, CA · Member since 2017 · 49 posts · 13 votes
    8y
    If they are senior citizens and are wheelchair-bound Medi-Cal will pay for care for them to stay in a skilled nursing facility all-expenses-paid. Medicare will pay for the first three weeks and then Medi-Cal will cover continued stay after that. You should have them contact their insurance company and they can work out the arrangements for them or if they have a case manager that can help them look up skilled nursing facility near them. You can call your local hospital and ask for a case manager to help you if need be they can look up the insurance info.
    0Reply
  • Amy A.
    Portland, ME · Member since 2012 · 616 posts · 550 votes
    8y

    The eviction process is a long one, so you might as well get the ball rolling even if you never intend to actually evict.  They should be receiving social security, disability, military pension... fixed incomes.  I don't understand why paying rent is suddenly a problem if you haven't raised the rent.

    Also, it sounds like they and their dog are destroying the place through neglect.  I just got back an apartment where the dog was never let out.  The odor was incredible.  I don't know how people can live that way.  Their quality of life must be suffering and the eviction notice might be the impetus to get their family to take the situation seriously and help them.

    0Reply
  • Jennifer Jacobus
    Real Estate Professional · Albany, OR · Member since 2017 · 18 posts · 6 votes
    8y
    I have absolutely no answer to this- but can I just say how happy it makes me to know that there are people in the world like you—- who are willing to feel the empathy for their despair and consider their hardship. I am learning a lot by peoples responses to this thread. Such a hard part of this business.
    2Reply
  • Jonathan Boyd
    Flipper/Rehabber · Springdale, AR · Member since 2016 · 79 posts · 41 votes
    8y
    So much good info on this thread! No real wrong answers, but what resonated with me was what several said about separating business from personal. Your business should not suffer for this. If you personally want to pay out of your pocket, by all means, do it! We are, after all, humans, not heartless landlords (hopefully.) I recently had a similar situation where guy lived there for 6 years, recently got for real sick, lost job, etc. Hardline came: boom. Gone. Friends and family out of the woodwork came and helped moved and even houses him. Good luck.
    1Reply
  • Ben Sosa
    Brooklyn, NY · Member since 2018 · 39 posts · 18 votes
    8y
    Call their Children’s to pick them up!
    0Reply
  • Steven Morris
    Dayton, OH · Member since 2018 · 21 posts · 6 votes
    8y

    Depending on the state there are elderly rental assistance programs, like this one in Connecticut. I would see what options you have. Also, they probably have kids that can assist.

    http://nlihc.org/rental-programs/catalog/elderly-rental-assistance-program

    Also if they were more tech savy they could do a go fund me, and target other vets that could help. Sounds like theyre completely out of money though. Government assistance programs are what needs to happen, you can help and suggest but if theyre not figuring the problem out for themselves then you have to put them in a situation where they have to figure it out. Theyre grown adults.

    0Reply
  • Giora Sela
    Wilmington, NC · Member since 2017 · 31 posts · 23 votes
    8y
    Why could they pay rent a year ago but not now? Seniors live on a fixed income and the only valid reason would be medical expenses which they can always avoid paying the 20% Medicare doesn’t pay and leave it for collection. If rent is too high then they should be able to afford living where other poor seniors in the area live with just social security income. Ask to see detailed bank statements from the last 12 months, I promise you will find out quickly where the money is going
    0Reply
  • William Butler
    mahopac, NY · Member since 2017 · 8 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    this might be  a bit of a wild solution, but contact local tv cable news.  how many times do we here of evil slum lord screwing over his tennants and tv news comes in to save the day. well what a turn around,  you call cable news and tell them the story and if they could cover it as a human interest story and puts you in a great light, and hopefully help will pour in from viewers or maybe even the news chanel can help some how.  i hope you let them stay till they find something. 

    0Reply
  • Dale T.
    Investor · Greeley, CO · Member since 2012 · 42 posts · 8 votes
    8y

    Why are you making this YOUR moral dilemma?   Is their family helping them?  If not, shouldn't they?  Are the Tenants mentally impaired?  Is this their problem or YOUR problem?  I am all for charity and donate regularly however I know I cannot save the world.   It is your property, manage it as you see fit.   You either let them stay on their terms or evict.  Don't wring your hands trying to make a decision.  Make a decision and stand behind it.  

    1Reply
  • Paul Stout
    Mobile Home Park Investor / Licensed Indiana Real Estate Broker · Chicago Area, IL · Member since 2015 · 262 posts · 135 votes
    8y

    @Jo Zhou forgive me if I am repeating someone's thoughts but I do not have time to read each comment.  As you can imagine and as most people on this site agree, we landlords hear every excuse in the book and most are heart wrenching whether they are true or not (mostly they are not FYI).  That being said, every time I made a decision with my heart and not my brain I regretted it.  Tenants are rarely in the position they say they are in, especially for the reasons they say.  Now, maybe these folks are great folks and are in real need.  The fact remains that they are not, can not be your responsibility unless you are prepared to make all of your tenants your responsibility in the same exact manner.  Your thanks for letting someone in this position live free for two days or two weeks will be a big fat lawsuit from the next tenant that wants the exact same treatment and you say no.  Sometimes the world is a dark place.  You have to take care of yourself, your family, and your business.  If you want to help them, do not give them anything that you can't give every tenant.  That doesn't mean you cannot make an anonymous donation to them labeled "to pay your rent from a caring neighbor."  There are many ways to help people, letting them stay in your apartment for free is not the right way.  That may also be a good way to find out if they are truly in the position they say.  Wouldn't it be interesting if they did't pay the rent with that money?

    0Reply
  • Rachel H.
    San Antonio, TX · Member since 2009 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Jo Zhou Sounds like their story is changing. Maybe to save face with family? In any case, it's not your job to find them a place to live. Most people will do what they have to do if given a deadline. You just need to set yours. Good luck! 

    0Reply
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