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
Sorry to say but it will probably happen again. Cut your losses ASAP. Remember Never be a desperate Landlord it will lose you more money in the long run. Sacrifice a few more weeks or Even a few months to find solid renters that will be with you for years to come. Always get First months Last months and security deposit it will weed out a ton of bed tenants. Jay Morris
I'm not sure why people are saying to evict them after you said he pressed charges on his father and paid for the repair. It's obvious the guy has a strained relationship with his father and his father did something out of his son's control. The father obviously has some issues and I can only imagine what kind of childhood this kid probably had because of it.
I would give the tenant a choice. Vacant within a certain amount of time or fix everything and provide a considerable damage deposit with the stipulation that eviction shall occur should anything similar to this behavior (as determined solely by you) ever happen again.
Forcing eviction on someone puts your property at serious risk of retaliatory damage. Who knows, maybe the tenant wants to make amends and is willing to do whatever it takes to stay. Maybe they become your best tenant as a result of this mishap?
Regardless, by giving the tenant the option to leave or stay, you will reduce the risk of damage. People who willingly leave a home behave very different from people forced onto the street. Keep that in mind. Good luck