All Forum Posts by: Angie Russell

Hi Brian,

I think their reason is important (even though they may lie about it). Like if they are unhappy with the condition of the home, I may let them out. It's not typical that everything is paid upfront the way they did (people usually pay day of move-in). Since it is a month to month, I would probably take the rest of November's rent then return the rest. I don't know if it's worth the battle. If they just applied and were approved a few days ago. I may just allow them to back out completely and return all funds. 

FYI, in the future, I do not recommend letting tenants drop off or allow anything in the home before the first day of their lease starts. Simply to avoid liability.

Good luck, Angie.

Vetting your pm company along with continuous communication is so important. Good luck! 

@Costin I. Well that was thorough. Great feedback.

 Understood.

@Andrew Postell @Samuel Coronado I have been a PM for 10 years. I definitely have written policies and qualifications in place but all the companies I have worked for, nothing in writing makes this an automatic "no". Every landlord should get proof of employment / funds. I am not saying accept, I am asking is this a real reason to say no? In my experience I have learned that you have to be very careful. Procedures and policies (and laws for that matter) are written for a reason. I know my guidelines are thorough, I completely follow them and come to a conclusion. I am not a detective. In this case if I were to accept, I would certainly ask if anyone else will be residing in the home and very nicely let them know if anyone else is living there without being added on, it will automatically be a violation of the lease. I would add this in more casually. I would certainly be questioning it in the back of my head but not sure it would be an automatic no as you don't know what his issue is. Maybe he has kids near this home is and he doesn't have full custody??? You just don't know. 

 Such a shame. As big as they are, you would think they could get this right.

 "the bug". Umm, if that's not minimizing, I don't know what is.

Wow, this is interesting to know. I have heard people complaining about this recently but no one who has gone directly to the screening companies. No one wants to do the extra work but for now, I have been looking people up myself in the counties where their addresses are. It certainly sucks but better to be safe than sorry.

Patricia has a lot of valid points and I am sure she is just tyring to be informative as I think there's some info. Missing. I have managed properties professionally for 10 years. 

1. That is not necessarily true. You can typically evict for other lease violations beyond not paying rent so rent has nothing to do with it except if you do end up filing. Make sure no one pays rent while in eviction or it will avoid or delay things. In Florida, you need to give notices in writing before you just file eviction. I don't know Georgia law but I would guess it's something similar.

2. Yes, a deposit is typically for damages and for non paid rent. Most things come down to how your lease is constructed but lawfully, yes you can. Just be careful how you charge it on the final account statement. Like you can't charge him rent from November 15th - December 15th then have someone else move in on December 1st and charge them rent for the same time period. So on the final account statement call it something else.

3. You can certainly try and call the police but if she has already established residency buy getting mail there, having her license with that address... they will consider her a resident and tell you it's a civil matter. Then you need to file eviction against the tenant and all others occupied.

4. You are responsible to give the last known address. It's not your fault if he doesn't check the mail. 

If you don't mind me asking. Is this worth it? You said he hadn't violated the lease in any other ways. If the worse he's doing is letting the sister live there, is it not worth it to try and get the two on the lease? I know he already knows he has to but isn't following the lease properly but there is a MILLION worse things that they could be doing. I'm not saying let it go, I am just saying maybe just add her. Good luck.