Violent tenants - Handle this situation?

Question

How do you handle an out of control, Egotistical Tenant?

Can I evict off this basis?

Wesley W. · Answer

@Charlie Moore only so much as I can choose when to cut ties.  With a term lease, the tenant has all the control.  i.e.  if they break the lease and leave early, at least in my area, the judge would scoff at me trying to collect any money for the remainder of the term.

The M2M also provides you with subtle leverage since the tenant knows they can be asked to leave at any time.  Good tenants love the flexibility a M2M lease offers them (job change, personal situation), but the bad tenants don't like being able to dig in like a tick for the term, at least in my experience.

Wesley W. · Answer

Probably not.  This is why many of us offer only M2M leases.  If the tenant is not civil and respectful, as I to them, they get a notice of termination.

Theresa Harris · Answer

No they sign the rental agreement and the only difference is it has no end date.  It remains in place until one of the parties (you or the tenant) give notice.

Account Closed · Answer

Month to Month baby!!!

Each state has their own laws, so the first thing you need to do is become familiar with yours.

But in general, I simply do not see the benefit to the landlord with a long-term lease in most cases. I ditto what Wesley said, good tenants see the benefit of the MTM, while the bad ones want to be able to dig in.

Month to Month solves soooo many issues.

#1 - If a person must leave, why try to stop them??? And, if they must leave, a piece of paper will not stop them. The only nice part about a long-term lease is a landlord can try to collect rent after they leave while re-renting the place, but you can't just sit around, you have to make a reasonable effort to re-rent it. Also, it is one thing to get a judgement, and another to actually collect. I avoid all that nonsense by simply allowing people to leave if and when they want to. The thing is, most people don't want to leave in less than a year anyways!!! Offer a nice place at a fair price, with good management and presto - you have long-term tenants most of the time.

#2 - If I want to get rid of someone, all I need is 30 days notice. I don't need a reason either (in my state, some states require a reason). If they have a long-term lease, I could be stuck with an undesirable tenant for 11 more months - argh. Can't evict someone for being a jerk, but you can decide to not renew their lease at the end of term.

#3 - The laws for eviction in my state differ between MTM and 12 month. I could have someone out in less than 30 days with a MTM. With a 12 month, they could stretch that out to 3 months if they know how to game the system, and you better believe they know how to do that. Three months lost rent, three months of property damage - no thank you.

#4 - I can change lease terms every month if I want to (I don't, but I could).

#5 - If I sell, MTM is more desirable for a buyer or, I can make the property vacant easily.

I would be open to signing a long-term lease AFTER the tenant proves to me they are worthy of one!!! But, that will never happen, because good tenants want a month to month too.

Colleen F. · Answer

It is hard to give more then a general answer with your description.  If they are violent, call the police.  If they are demanding , set limits.   An option with a difficult unhappy tenant is to offer them a limited time to get out of a lease without penalty. Make this a signed document with a set offer period and a date they must be out and present as if you are doing them a favor.  I have had tenants that think the world revolved around them but I try to not make that my problem.

Charlie Moore · Answer

@Wesley W.

Do they have to resign the lease every 30 days or am I confused?

Charlie Moore · Answer

@Wesley W.

Does the month to month provide you protection vs the 12 months?

Violent tenants - Handle this situation?

Most Popular Reply