OK, my tenant moved out without any warning...

OK, my tenant moved out without any warning...

Investor · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 465 votes

I have several properties being rented and have been having pretty good luck...but last few months have been nothing but headaches.

Anyways this is a NEW case.

This condo I have a tenant, single guy. He was living there when I bought the property, I inherited the existing lease, and when the lease was up I presented a new, much tighter and professional lease. That lease runs till Jan 2014.

Tenant has been responsible, cordial, not trouble maker, I hardly ever hear from him except twice with plumbing issues and I sent a plumber to addressed them.

So imagine my surprise when the guy who I mail the HOA fee to every month, who is also a realtor, emailed me today saying he was sorry to see my tenant moving out, and would love to help me rent it...MOVED OUT? Five months left on the lease? No warning, no messages, no email, absolutely nothing.

I thought this must have been a mistake, may be he was moving some furniture in or out? I called - his number no longer in service. I emailed, no reply. I went to the property and sure enough, he's out, the property is vacant, except for some trash and a refrigerator with some left overs - thanks a lot!

I can't mail him as his address is the one that's been vacated.

He didn't leave his keys either. Sucks that the mail box key he had the only copy.

He signed the standard residential lease for apartment or unit in multi-family rental housing form by Florida Realtors...and yes he also signed an Early Termination Fee / Liquidated Damages Addendum where he agree to pay $1900 (2 months rent) as liquidated damages or an early termination fee if I elect to terminate the rental agreement and the landlord waives the right to seek additional rent beyond the month in which the landlord retake possession.

I am going to keep trying to locate/contact him.

Any advice as to what to do now? Do I clean out his trash and start prep on the place to rent or I wait a few days just in case?

Who moves out without a word?

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Investor · Milford, CT · Member since 2012 · 592 posts · 285 votes
13y

Be lucky that they left willingly and that you didn't have to go through eviction proceedings. Clean up the place and put it back on the rental market and move on. Write off the month or so you lost rent and keep the wheels moving as this is just another cost of doing business.

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  • FL · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 357 votes
    13y

    @Sam Leon,

    Concerning the problem with the Mail still being Delivered.

    Do NOT open any Mail, addressed to someone else.

    Write on each letter, the words "moved, not here, etc.

    At the bottom of each letter, cross out the "bar code."

    Either take the Mail to the Post Office, of if you can find the Letter Carrier, give the mail to that person.

    You could try calling the Post Office, and ask to speak to the Letter Carrier, that delivers to the house. If the Letter Carrier is not available, ask for the Carrier Supervisor, and let them know that he is not at that address anymore/

    Raymond

  • Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    13y

    @Sam Leon - sewer is often one of those government provided utilities; I almost expect to see sewer liens in distressed situations. Code issues stay with the house, so new owner gets to deal with those too. HOA is another item that will frequently be a lien. So you have seen these things stick with the house before, and they will probably do so in the future too ...

    As for the bills being forwarded to the one who owes the money for them - that is up to the creditor to track down their former customer. As @Raymond B. mentions, the letter carrier is the one who ultimately will recognize that the letters should be returned without you needing to constantly cross out the delivery address. Sometimes the same person delivers most days- but then sick days and vacation days mean that a replacement will be on duty, and the unwanted mail might be left at your rental. That is when you go to the post office like Raymond said, but be sure you go to the post office that actually handles your delivery - many post offices no longer handle delivery, they are just there for sales customer service (things like PO boxes and packages and selling postage).

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