Rental Property Investor · Mobile, AL · Member since 2018 · 54 posts · 19 votes
So I have a cottage I was looking to lease and ended up putting two guys in it who are friends. Guy #1 moves in and shows his dad from out of town where he‘ll be living who is in town for Labor Day weekend and to clean out a storage so he can get back out of town. Guy #2 hasn’t completely moved in, helping his mother move out of her place. Guy #1 texts me at 3:11am saying “my dad broke into the cottage, bathroom window is demolished”. Holiday weekend, no contractors are available to replace the window. I mean this thing is fubar. Guy #2 paid first months rent and security deposit, guy #1 has no money vested into this yet. They both signed the lease and understand that all damages are to be paid for by security deposit. Not only all that, guy #1 father destroyed the neighbors mailbox as well and they had the cops out there to files charges and whatnot. Should I just evict these guys? Been there four days, ruined my bathroom, messed up the neighbors yard and have made me look like a complete *** to the neighbors. Would you already evict or fix everything and forget?
Security deposit is for move out issues. Make them pay for damages today and file warrant against the intruder. Did you require regrets insurance? I'd start eviction today and find a tenant without the drama that these guys will have. You probably need to revisit your tenant screening process as well.
@Joseph Gambino you can't foresee everything, including crazy family members whether the renters are family, friends or not. So don't feel so bad, it sucks that its right out of the gates but it happens. It's definitely a lessoned learned because its going to be more difficult to evict your friends, however the damage is already done with the neighbors, so I would say, do your best to mend those fences by having your friends as well as yourself apologize and offer to pay for repairs. As far as evicting them goes, if they really are your friends, maybe they will be on their best behavior now, and be great tenants. Never know, either way, it is what it is, learn and move on, there will plenty more "interesting" days in the your landlording career!
@Joseph Gambino you can't foresee everything, including crazy family members whether the renters are family, friends or not. So don't feel so bad, it sucks that its right out of the gates but it happens. It's definitely a lessoned learned because its going to be more difficult to evict your friends, however the damage is already done with the neighbors, so I would say, do your best to mend those fences by having your friends as well as yourself apologize and offer to pay for repairs. As far as evicting them goes, if they really are your friends, maybe they will be on their best behavior now, and be great tenants. Never know, either way, it is what it is, learn and move on, there will plenty more "interesting" days in the your landlording career!
Bruce
They aren't the OP's friends, they are friends with each other. OP said that earlier. I think if son pays for damages, let it go...maybe get the trespass warrant against jerk of a father. As the uber-responsible child of a (now deceased) alcoholic, it pains me to see people assuming the son will automatically be bad news.
The lease and state law may dictate some of these answers. Agree with John C., short leash for new tenants is usually a good plan. While many parts of this scenario are more than unfortunate, you don't want to give yourself problems by not enforcing a lease. Neighbors can be very understanding as long as there is communication from property owner.
@Bob B. I agree what the heck are you using the security deposit for this. He needs to pay out of pocket. I NEVER let my tenants use their security deposit as a prepaid bank for damages along the way. You need it for the end of the lease in Full!!!
Of course it depends on what the lease says, but not sure how you can evict him for having a **** father. Especially tenant #2 who hasn't even moved in yet. If a stranger broke in and did all the exact same damage, would you evict? Not legally, you wouldn't. They passed screening. No reason to believe this is going to become the standard.
@Joseph Gambino IMO, I am not sure I would use the security deposit for this repair. I would calmly talk to the tenant and explain this behaviour is unacceptable and tell him he needs to make restitution. You could offer to work with him on a payment schedule to pay for the repairs. The security deposit should be held for damages or lost rent. If you use it now, you'll have nothing left.
@Nancy Pults I agree. My father was a very demeaning abusive alcoholic so I kinda feel for the guy. He didn’t do anything wrong except shownhis dad where the place was earlier in the day before any of this happened. The guy is nothing like his dad, just wants to go to work and be himself. Very minimalistic guy.
@Joseph Gambino as others have already said, don't rent to friends or family. You have a business to run and friending any tenant will only lead to problems. You can treat them nice and be respectful but being their friends will either cost you money, friendships or both.
Window is repaired, tenant filed charges against his father, tenant paid for repair. Everything is settled, explained in detail and resolved. Guy#1 is very apologetic for what unfolded.
I also just want to add in when guy#1 was moving out of his last unit, was suppose to be out on the 2nd. After his dad broke into my rental he then proceeded to go over the his sons place that he was still moving out of and destroyed that place as well. Just a nightmare of a father.
@Joseph Gambino, ok I re-read the OP and now see that. I still stand by my recommendation not to friend your tenants, they will start asking for favors, then extensions on due dates. If you have developed a friendship with them, then you would be losing a friendship or money or both. Just sayin...
@Joseph Gambino Have to say, one of the best ”what landlords deal with” stories I’ve read on here yet. What horrid luck for you. (But worse luck to have a dad like that.)
My first tenants in my first rental and the guy worked nights--first week had a bit of an uproar as an unknown drunk was found sleeping on the side porch across the street and the cops were called. I was mortified but the female tenant apparently took it in stride. That is the only “disturbing” thing in the 10 years with that property. Wish you the same luck.
@Ted Klein yes I completely agree and understand. I was a really good friend to my child hood friends and growing up doing that eventually got taken advantage of so I learned my lesson with being good to people for no reason when I was young.
@Marian Smith yeah it’s a little crazy to say. I felt like I was in a pickle because you know neither tanant did anything. So they really aren’t in the wrong. Like someone else stated if it was a complete stranger I couldn’t evict them but then you know the repair would have been on me completely but it happened to be guy #1 dad and he paid for the repairs and his dad is gone and even if he does come back he is being sought after by law enforcement so, who knows. **** happens.
@Marian Smith yeah it’s horrible luck to want to do good and someone screwing it all for you. It kinda put me in a pickle as well because neither tenant actually did anything wrong, like someone stated before, if it would have been a complete stranger I would have been out of pocket for repairs but it ended up being his father and he paid for the repairs so, it’s resolved. His father is gone and even if he comes back he’s being sought after by law enforcement anyways for breaking and entering.
I wouldn't use the deposit to fix the window. I'd send guy #1 the bill and make it very clear he's to pay it within 45 days. If he's a responsible adult he will pay the bill. If not, I wouldn't want him in my rental.
@Joseph Gambino
Honestly I think a great approach would be to just sit down with these guys. You may need to gauge where they are at on this situation. Look, if they are incredibly sorry and embarrassed about the whole thing and willing to pay for damages, walk the extra mile to make things right and you feel good about that, give them another shot. BUT let them know there is no chances for this kind of offense and the money from the damages is not a security deposit. It needs to come additionally.
If they do not have the integrity to make things right, they will not be good tenants and chances are problems may arise in the future. If this is the case, it's time to evict your tenants.
Last note-Always talk to your lawyer.😊👌
I disagree with most. Welcome to landlording. When my very first tenant moved in he texted at all hours that my contractor stole his tub of books, he also claimed there were roaches and if I didn’t get them out he’d have to move; he said he doesn’t do roaches. The property was vacant for over a year before I bought it, I assure you, it had no roaches prior to move in day. What a fun welcome to landlording first (ever) night of calls... I told him he was nuts in a nice way, that there is no way my contractor took his tub of books. I hired a roach exterminator. He complained for a week or two, even once, long after; bug guys are cheap compared to his rent, no biggie.
@Karen Rittenhouse obviously, but as stated before if it was a stranger that neither guy knew who broke into the house, would I still evict them? Probably not, because neither one of them physically did anything to the property. How can I kick out two guys who did nothing? He showed his dad where he was staying, they cleaned out their shared storage unit, disputed about a item, dad waits til he went to work and then breaks in to get said item..
Sorry guy, you’re being evicted for showing your dad where you were goIng to be living. He didn’t plan on his dad doing any of that. I’m not trying to defend anyone I just think it’d be a bad practice to evict two guys who did nothing.
@Joseph Gambino
Hi Joseph! First off, wow what a way to start the new lease off right?! Anyway, this reply has more to do with finding the right contractors. You should call a few glass companies and/or window companies. Most glass companies have a 24 hour service. I work for one, and I am on call basically 24/7. Though sometimes we don’t get calls for months. Even on the holiday weekend, someone would be available to come out. It may be double time they charge, but I’d say it’s up to you whether you board up the window, or have your tenants do it(which I don’t recommend) or have a company do it. Anyway I hope this helps somebody!
People are nuts. The tenant has admitted it was a family member. This makes the tenant responsible. It does not stop you from pressing charges. I would make the tenant pay and press charges. You need to get in front of the drama. Sounds like drug addict behavior.