All Forum Posts by: Jeff Castro

Jeff Castro has started 15 posts and replied 59 times.

Originally posted by @Dan DiFilippo:

@Jeff Castro why didn't your property manager do something about this?

no property manager :(

I was just breaking even on the property and no cash flow to cover PM unfortunately.

1 Vote

Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

@Jeff Castro even if she was running a hospice, it doesn't change your situation versus if she was living there. Please take this as constructive feedback. This situation is the result of mistakes you made. Learn from them so it doesn't happen again:

1. Don't accept illegitimate employment sources. Zelle and Venmo are not sources of employment verification. Either she has a W2 job you can verify salary with her employer or she has a business and you need verify her income on two years worth of taxes. If she has under the table income, it doesn't count. All it proves is she is a dishonest person, which means she will have no problem being dishonest with you.

2. Never sign two year leases on new tenants. One year should be your standard or even month-to-month if you see risk in the person you are approving. I have had several people break lease terms over the years and they were always the ones who said "I will be there for years". Lease terms protect tenants, not landlords. With a one year term, you can just not renew or increase rent if the tenant is trouble.

3. Do regular inspections. For a new tenant it is good to do one three or six months into the relationship. After that annual is probably fine. Some people do them as often as quarterly. If you did the inspection and observed something that lead you to believe other people were living there, you could issue a notice to cure. Basically she has to fix the lease violation or move out. My lease also prohibits running a business in my property. Most likely a hospice would need licensing, so you could have reported her to the state. That could help with getting her out of the property.

At this point, take photographs of all the damage. If there are pill bottles or other evidence of a hospice, take photographs. Some of this may help if you have to take her to court to get money. Odds are good she is gone and you will never see a dime. Had you screened better and found a person with a W2, odds are better you could track them down and get a judgement / payment. Don't stress too much. Learn your lesson and move on. I have made worse mistakes.

This is great advice and great points! Thank you. Yeah, this time I'm screening more thorough and asking for personal references. Definitely not going to make that mistake again.

1 Vote

@Todd Pultz makes total sense. definitely not trying to get emotions involved. The thing that is making this personal for us is that this was our first primary residence.. so maybe that has some some sentiments to that.

0 Votes

@Nathan G. Yup I totally see the value in a quality property manager.

1 Vote

@Theresa Harris I’m curious. If I did the inspection while she was “living” at the house and found out all of this. Could I evict for just suspicion that she is running this or do I actually have to have evidence?

1 Vote

@Michael Noto when I checked her employment it was all done through Venmo or Zelle. So basically under the table. But she does get business from a hospice. Do you think I can go after the hospice??

1 Vote

@Bjorn Ahlblad agree with you on the inspection. We didn’t inspect once on this tenant. Probably a big mistake

1 Vote

@Theresa Harris

Thanks. Yeah was thinking the same. Wish something can be done about using the house to run a hospice business. Complete fraud on the contract sheesh

0 Votes

Renter said it would be her family living in the house. She signed a 2 year lease. On the contract clearly states no sub-lease.

She terminated her lease early at only 9 months out of the 2 year lease.

The house was a mess. The carpet ruined from dog urine. Holes everywhere. Also has poop all over the walls. I can't tell if from human or dog.. either way disgusting.

We then noticed wheel chair marks on the carpets, doors, etc. There are also toilet seats that have handles which are meant for elderly folk. (the lady that was supposed to be living there was mid 30's).

We also started receiving packages of boxes and boxes and boxes of medicine. I mean enough to supply a small clinic.

We also saw leftover paperwork in the drawers for someone addressed to a person whose name i didn't recognize at this address.

So in conclusion.. we've got proof that this lady was running a hospice home health at our house! I'm not even sure if she was living there herself or having hospice patients there full time.

Question for the smart folks at BP --- what can I do? Can I go after her for breaking lease? Subleasing and running an authorized business in my house? Someone help.. I've spent a few thousand on repairs and multiple carpet cleans.

7 Votes

I have a house in California that I'm renting out. It was a primary but had to move out of state for work.

Loan balance is $450K and estimated value of the house is $530K. I don't have the 20% equity to qualify for a HELOC or home equity..

How can I tap into this equity so I can put it as a down payment on another home?

0 Votes

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All Forum Posts by: Jeff Castro

Jeff Castro has started 15 posts and replied 59 times.

Post: Renter lied about living in the house - anything I can do?

Post: Renter lied about living in the house - anything I can do?

Post: Renter lied about living in the house - anything I can do?

Post: Renter lied about living in the house - anything I can do?

Post: Renter lied about living in the house - anything I can do?

Post: Renter lied about living in the house - anything I can do?

Post: Renter lied about living in the house - anything I can do?

Post: Renter lied about living in the house - anything I can do?

Post: Renter lied about living in the house - anything I can do?

Post: is there such thing as private money loan on home equity?