All Forum Posts by: Robert Carl

@Jose Perez You may not need a lawyer yet. You can go to rent court. They provide you with all the steps to do an eviction. There are even court agents that file and do it. I file mine online with a court agent company it cost me only $54 for rent court and $57 for eviction filing.

Just make sure you keep good records. Than you probably be alright. Being a small time landlord you have to get on top of these things immediately to succeed.

I feel your pain I have tenants that owe me too. Let me know how it goes.

@Jose Perez undefined

@Michaela G. undefined Baltimore City has high water bills a little higher. $110 every 3 months min. I don't know it seem like cities only stick it to people that they know will pay the bill. Vagrants seem to get away. Property vacant or squatter they do nothing as soon as you purchace violations and notices.

If you are in a good neighborhood the neighbors will usually keep a good eye out and call police. Bars for windows on lower floors that look good are sold a Lowes. These bars have nice design and easy to install. Install door and door jam Enforcers. The best advice leave nothing of value and double lock up everything. Then you can sleep.

In bad neighborhoods consider yourself on your own. Police show little to no effort and neighbors will not help and often times are the crimnals or know the crimnals.

Secure everything in bad neighborhoods. Im in Baltimore and every house I have has been broken into at least twice. Police showed little to no help with the break ins. The best break in results were the ones where nothing was stolen because we left nothing of value in the house. Just had a tow dolley stolen.

I been trying and have found so far its not worth it. Its hard to find companies that do it. Unlike how you can easily find rent court agents or eviction services. I was using Allied National Debt Colletion Service that was A+ rated by BBB. They were a waste of time and money. I guessing you have to have some money potential to make progress. Only apartment and townhouse complexes seem to be the only ones that are collecting. Im guessing because they have money to spend on attorneys.

@Jennifer H. it's not that bad. Calm down. The worst part is over from your statement. If there is no rot and termite damage as you stated the window and sill is still good you just have to stop the leak. You stated that the leaking isn't coming from the top. Thats good if this is a top floor window that means most likely it is not the roof.

Simply the window doesn't need to be replaced. The window needs to be recaulked. Have the old caulk removed completely and cleaned. Then have the window caulked with silicone.

Inform me of your update.

Was using a Allied National Debt Collection for owed rent on evicted tenants. This company has an A+ BBB rating. This is when consumer reviews are better than a BBB rating. The company never contacted me personally only by email. The bigger problem is that they did not keep in contact with the local attorney that they were using. There was schedule updates that were not done until I sent an email concerning the updates. They didn't know for months that the attorney that was handling the case had left. When I asked about their avg. time of collection from once a judgement was recieved they decided to drop the case and let the Attorney office handle directly.

All information that they requested I sent. Very disappointed. Anyone with a better collection agency please let me know.

Thank you

Im rehabbing a house and trying to find out what the slope needs to be the bathroom on drain.

-Mainly a bathroom that I am relocating approx. 12 feet away from main drain pipe. Mainly concerned about the toliet drain. I know I will have to make a vent pipe because the drain/vent is more than 3 feet away.

Thanks

@Bill S.

@Nicole Williamson

I have a servic where they can pay over the phone or by internet. So I have both areas covered. Tenants can mail, pay online, or by phone.

Nicole I will be changing my filing rent court papers though. By the way tenants dont tell excuses about rent because they are inform from the begining that court papers are filed regardless of the reason. My leases state that rent is due on the first. Tenants are informed that we allow a grace period until the 5th. Grace period revoked for violations and past due amounts

I meant to reply. You should not worry because this is an unforseen incident. The landlord is responsbile for providing a functioning safe property not providing personal security.

I encourage you to ask all you can to a lawyer to learn all the ways to protect yourself in the worst circumstances.

@Ned Carey might have to get tougher with more background standards. Glad Im not the only one.

@Nicole A. I do not have an extended grace period. I allow tenants to mail payments as long as they are post marked by the 5th. I use the post mark for further evidence for rent court. It keeps the tenant from arguing about late payments and charges. It also helps in court with the judge.