Tenant is a drunk and hasn’t paid rent

[Mitchell Frisby]

Hi everybody,

I am in OH and have a duplex. My tenants came with the duplex when I bought it. The upstairs tenants are past due on the rent this month and are past the grace period in the lease. I went there today to collect rent from one of my tenants who told me she would be available, but I was met by the other tenant who told me she’s taken off because she started using drugs like meth. He’s a drunk who I’ve had some problems with already and he also doesn’t work (no income I know of). The other tenant who is gone was the one with a job. He also told me he changed the locks on the door so she couldn’t come back, and if I try to evict him he will drag it out and wreck the place.

I’m trying to find the best solution to solve this problem. I would prefer a solution that results with these tenants being gone and the place not being destroyed. I was thinking I could try something like putting the 3 day notice up and telling him if he actually leaves I would refund his security deposit (given the place isn’t destroyed). My biggest concern is if I put the 3 day notice up and he leaves and the place is empty and then the other tenant who was on the lease and left bc she started using meth comes back and says she didn’t move out that could leave me in a vulnerable position.

I know I could evict them, but if there’s a potential easier less time consuming method that won’t result in my place trashed that’s always preferable.

Thank you if you made it this far! I’m open ears to any tips or feedback on my situation.

-Mitchell

[James Wise]

Originally posted by @Mitchell Frisby:

Hi everybody,

I am in OH and have a duplex. My tenants came with the duplex when I bought it. The upstairs tenants are past due on the rent this month and are past the grace period in the lease. I went there today to collect rent from one of my tenants who told me she would be available, but I was met by the other tenant who told me she’s taken off because she started using drugs like meth. He’s a drunk who I’ve had some problems with already and he also doesn’t work (no income I know of). The other tenant who is gone was the one with a job. He also told me he changed the locks on the door so she couldn’t come back, and if I try to evict him he will drag it out and wreck the place.

I’m trying to find the best solution to solve this problem. I would prefer a solution that results with these tenants being gone and the place not being destroyed. I was thinking I could try something like putting the 3 day notice up and telling him if he actually leaves I would refund his security deposit (given the place isn’t destroyed). My biggest concern is if I put the 3 day notice up and he leaves and the place is empty and then the other tenant who was on the lease and left bc she started using meth comes back and says she didn’t move out that could leave me in a vulnerable position.

I know I could evict them, but if there’s a potential easier less time consuming method that won’t result in my place trashed that’s always preferable.

Thank you if you made it this far! I’m open ears to any tips or feedback on my situation.

-Mitchell

 Tenant hasn't paid rent - Evict them immediately. Nothing else is relevant.