All Forum Posts by: Jake Burgduff

Update:  The landlord asked me for the names of the people who are staying and their email addresses, which I gave to him.  He stated that only 5 people could live in the house (now there are 6).  He also put a stop to the tattooing.  All the drama caused one tenant (in the master bdrm paying $1250 a month) to decide to move out at the end of the month, and now I am in a tough spot because I can't move anyone in in his spot.  I think it's time to get outta here!  Thanks for your advice all.  I've learned a lot from this situation.  

@Rhonda E. - The roomate hasn't signed the actual lease that I signed, though he may have in the past since he lived next door for 8+ years.  I am getting a copy of the lease tomorrow so that I can take a better look at what it says about the things he's doing.  I do know CA law says if you're doing something illegal you can give a 3 day notice but the landlord isn't on board with that.  And to answer your other question, obviously I should've thought about that before I did things, but at that time there wasn't a problem.... Obviously now I realize... 

@Bob E.   I think I will look for another place that if I can't find a way out of this situation.  I happen to really love the place i'm at and finding a good deal on a 6 bedroom place isn't easy in Hollywood, but it's worth a look.  

@Curtis Bidwell Thanks!  I think you're all right it's not investing.  It is some income thorugh real estate though and a start for me.  And yes $8K in deposit.  I have around 25K more to work with if I want to get another house, but i'm not so sure that would be enough to get a house around here in Hollywood.  If I move out of the house i'm in, i'll get the deposit back minus any damage, etc.  just like any lease.  

@Richard W. I think that's an angle i'll try also, just not exactly sure what could or would happen as a result.  Time for a couple phone calls.

About a year ago I took over a lease on a 5 bdr house in hollywood.  I put about $8K into the deposit and turned the dining room into a room and am now making $700 month in income from this situation in addition to not having to pay rent of my own. Shady yes, but I feel like it's a great start to my investing.  Now i've got a problem with a tenant.  

The tenant is running a tattoo studio in the main area of the house and is very vindictive towards the other roomates, causing the roomates to mostly stay in their rooms.  In addition to this, he is a mechanic and consistently has car parts and junk laying around that he refuses to clean on his own.  

As a result of all this, I gave him a 30 day notice that he needs to leave, which he immediately took to the landlord, who said it's not valid and that i'm essentially stuck with this guy. He then began stealing from me, starting with an $1100 item of mine.   At this point I've also sat him down and tried asking him to leave, cleanup, move the tattoo stuff, etc. which he will not do.  He did, however, return my item by saying I should "look around again" which I did, and magically my item returned.  

Although I am the sole person who has signed the lease, the landlord asks that as roomates change that I keep him notified of their names and phone numbers, which I do. The landlord claims there is really nothing he can do about getting this guy out, and the landlord likes this guy because he has rented him from him for 10+ years.  

So basically I have a lease, it's grey whether this guy does or doesn't, and I can't seem to kick him out or get him to leave.  I really don't want to leave myself because I think this is a great start to my investing, so what should I do?  Please help me!