Annapolis, MD · Member since 2016 · 46 posts · 3 votes
My husband owns a house that his sister is renting from us in Baltimore city. She let a friend of hers and his family live in a basement and they paid her rent up until December. It is clear they will not be paying rent again. Can we go through normal eviction if we don’t have a lease? They have made some noise about moving out of state with a family member. I’m inclined to send them a note demanding fair market rent for the last six months and then filing failure to pay paperwork if they haven’t complied in five days. We could use an eviction company, we have before, but If they really are considering moving out of state, I would like to offer them the money we would pay an eviction company for moving fees if they leave by 1 June. Like a cash for keys deal. Does that sound reasonable? I know it will take two months to evict them and until then we are putting up yet another family member. So time is if the essence to me! Thank you.
@Erin Malone unfortunately, if time is of the essence, your best bet may be to offer cash for keys. Make sure you have the keys before giving them the money though. Also, the sister needs to go at the same time, so if you need to make the same offer to get her out, I would do so. Think about it. She collected rent money from them and that money never made its way to you. And now YOU have to pay to get them out. That’s pretty foul. In my opinion, I think you and your husband should stop renting to family. They are clearly taking advantage of you. Best of luck!
Your issue is not with the family in the basement but with your husband's sister; she let them live there. You need to have a serious conversation with her. She is the one that needs to get them out or you need to evict her (and they would be part of that eviction). You need to speak to an attorney at some point but I would first speak to the sister. The sister can give them money to leave (which you can give her). This is the easiest way but really the sister needs to handle it. Lastly, does the lease say anything about people not on the lease living there etc. This needs to be checked since there might be another route.
@Erin Malone unfortunately, if time is of the essence, your best bet may be to offer cash for keys. Make sure you have the keys before giving them the money though. Also, the sister needs to go at the same time, so if you need to make the same offer to get her out, I would do so. Think about it. She collected rent money from them and that money never made its way to you. And now YOU have to pay to get them out. That’s pretty foul. In my opinion, I think you and your husband should stop renting to family. They are clearly taking advantage of you. Best of luck!
Annapolis, MD · Member since 2016 · 46 posts · 3 votes
6y
@Erin Malone. Thank you everyone for your advice! It is helpful especially unlawful detainer! I am planning to cash for keys at this point. I just want them out.