All Forum Posts by: George P.

Thank you for the input.

I don't know if I want to put up with this for another (almost) 8 months.

Who knows what this might escalate to, and I might lose my good tenants over this. There are 7 other tenants in the building. 

Seems risky to wait it out.

Hello,

I have two properties totaling 6 apartments and started in June of 2013.

I have a problem tenant that I would like to remove from my property but they pay in full and on time. Lets call her "Jane".

The other tenants in the building have complained on multiple occasions about excessive noise coming from "Jane's" apartment but last night (1 a.m.)  they actually called the cops on "Jane".

After reaching out to "Jane" about this, I was told (unapologetically) that the cops weren't actually there because of her, but that her sister and her husband are visiting for a week, and they are the ones that got into a domestic dispute. 

I called the police department and was told that since no one was arrested, they can't release any information but I know that a gentleman was escorted from the premises. 

"Jane" says that this gentleman is her sister's husband and that he will be now staying in a hotel for the remainder of her sister's visit.

"Jane's" boyfriend also spends a lot of time at the apartment and I suspect that he has actually moved in at this point. He even said so to one of my other tenants when they asked him "who are you?".

So, to summarize:

Very loud and disruptive tenant (domestic disputes in nature).
Potentially has one to multiple people not on the lease living there now.
Defensive and unapologetic behavior when I speak to her.
Pays on time.

I have a lease with her that ends June 30th.

The lease mentions Household Size and that any adults, or otherwise, living there apart from the tenant can only be allowed to live there by the written consent of the landlord. I'm guessing it is hard to prove that they are not actual guests though...

The lease also mentions the right to Peaceful Enjoyment of the other tenants. I'm guessing this would be my only ground for termination here?

I have read the sticky about evicting a tenant, but it seems to be mostly information on how to evict a non-paying tenant. 

I am thinking of giving "Jane" an ultimatum when I meet her tomorrow. I am thinking of a cash for keys agreement. If that doesn't work, I am thinking of reaching out to a lawyer to get the eviction process started.

Do I have any ground for termination based on the information I provided here?
My lease specifically mentions the right to terminate the lease based on non-compliance that includes the right to peaceful enjoyment (as well as permitting unauthorized persons to live in the apartment).

Please, any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

P.S. In Upstate New York.

P.S.S I have not evicted a tenant before.

Hey, thanks for all of the responses and advice.

I allow my tenants to have 3 different checks as long as they are sent together in a single envelope. My tenants are usually grad/post grad students or young professionals just out of college (its a college town), so it makes it easier on them since they don't have joint finances. It has worked very well so far.

The tenant got into contact with me and apologized a bunch of times and told me that this has never happened before etc etc (which i want to believe because of the excellent credit).

I asked that they give me a cashier's check or cash tomorrow. 

Let's see how that goes.

Hey BP,

So like the title says, I screwed up!
Okay, story time.

I rented my place to three tenants that met each other online. I did a background and credit check on all of them and it looked good.

I requested a cashier's check or cash for the first month's rent / security deposit due at the signing. Two of the tenants had a cashier's check and one brought a personal check. 

The person with the check noted the reason for the check and not a money order was that they were a little short this month due to the double rent payment (their current place plus my apartment). They asked that I cash this check in a week's time so that they can get paid first. 

I gave them the benefit of the doubt (mistake) and agreed. The check bounced.

The move-in date is tomorrow and they haven't moved in yet.
Now, I would like to think it was an honest mistake and everything will be resolved but I have contacted the tenant and they haven't reached back out to me (granted its only been 7 hours).

What are my options here?
Can I prevent them from moving in at this point unless a payment is presented?

Thank you!

PS.  The tenant reached out to me two days ago asking me if their check has cleared. My bank account showed a credit for the check's amount so I said that 'it looks like it did'. The day after, my bank recorded it as a bounced check.

Hello,

I have a two unit property and trying to fill a vacancy in one of the two apartments.
The one unit is currently rented by three college girls in their early twenties.
A man (45), has shown interest in the apartment. He is divorced with two kids.

I am afraid that the current tenants might feel uncomfortable with an older man in the house since there are common areas that are shared (like the laundry room in the basement). The property is an old colonial house and not an apartment building, so interactions between tenants are more frequent.

Can I refuse him the apartment based on this? Is it discrimination? Am I thinking too much about this?