Investor · Paramus, NJ · Member since 2015 · 35 posts · 8 votes
Last week I closed on a two family house that I purchased directly from the owner, she gave me a good deal with the condition that she would stay in the first floor apartment and pay a reduce rent. The issue is with the second floor tenant, they've been there for 5 years and never had a rent increase. The previous owner has mobility problems and hasn't been to the apartment since she rented it 5 years ago. When I did the inspection prior to closing I found out that the dog they have does its business in one of the bedrooms. There was fresh pee on the hardwood floors and stains from what appeared years of pee. I looked at their lease which ends in six months, and the lease states "No pets". My question is, how can I remove these tenants from my property? They're destroying the apartment and paying about $600 less then market value for it. TIA..
The damage is already done. Since their lease is almost up I would wait and give notice to non renew. Give them plenty of advance notice. No point in wasting your efforts on a eviction in my opinion. Either way you definatly do not want to keep these tenants.
I assume you made plans to reno their apartment before you purchased the building and included the cost of that when buying.
I would also make plans to move the previous owners rent to market ASAP or get rid of her as well. Keeping her was a poor business decision that has devalued your investment. You need to figure out how to now fix that mistake.
If you have not already done so you need to study/learn all your state landlord tenant regulations....NOW
Rental Property Investor · Philomath, OR · Member since 2016 · 21 posts · 10 votes
8y
Hi Harold. I'm not familiar with the tenant laws in NJ. In my state I would document, non renew, and then fix up once the tenants are out. Tenants in my state are always given the benefit of the doubt. Honestly, a savvy tenant would suddenly turn their dog into a therapy animal and you would be stuck with it anyway.
You are likely to be money ahead just riding it out rather than fighting and paying attorneys. A wise property owner once said, "Tenant problems are always temporary" - that phrase sticks with me when dealing with these issues.
Investor · Paramus, NJ · Member since 2015 · 35 posts · 8 votes
8y
@Bill Crow I did read it, read it twice. Here in NJ I have to give "good cause" for non renewal. (ie. owner is occupying unit for at least six months). The Eviction law states that the landlord "cannot refuse to renew lease". NJ is a liberal State, the laws protect the tenants more then they protect the owners.