All Forum Posts by: Sharon Steenbergen

Thank you everyone for your kind feedback. I've decided to keep the deposit. If she wants to sue me thats on her dime. If anything I'll tell the judge she didn't pay, lets see if she goes through the hassle.

@Lydia R. From what I understand is this - I can not attach it to their credit as a homeowner.
***** someone correct me if I am wrong*********

If you want to attach things to their credit the credit bureau needs to come to your home/office and see how your store and file Creditor information. (Must be locked up and secure). I heard it was a huge painful process.

Property Management can do this.

Also, your idea is fantastic lol. If only.

@Ola Dantis I would love to see that template!! Thank you for your input!

@Caleb Heimsoth I did the best I could vetting her. She had strong references, spoke to her previous landlord, her boss and checked her credit. She was an industrial design specialist that grossed 7k a month. I mean.....

My lease does state all that good stuff.

1. DAMAGES: If this Lease terminates because of a default of the Tenant, the Tenant must pay to the Landlord the remainder of the rent due under the lease, until the unit is occupied by a new tenant paying equal or greater rental amount. If the unit is occupied by a tenant paying less than the monthly rental amount paid by the undersigned tenant, said undersigned tenant shall be liable for the difference in rental payment due each month until the date at which the lease signed by the undersigned tenant would have expired. The undersigned tenant shall also be liable for any costs incurred by Landlord in re-renting the unit. The Landlord may take advantage of any other remedy which is authorized by law, and may combine any and all available remedies in order to make sure that the Landlord is fully compensated for the Tenant's Default.

1. ATTORNEY FEES: In the event that Landlord must take any action in relation to a breach of this Lease Agreement, whether it be for non-payment of rent or any other breach of the Lease Agreement, Tenant shall be liable for all costs and attorney fees incurred for such action, subject to applicable state law. This provision shall also apply to any subsequent agreements related to this tenancy, such as an agreement for judgment, or any subsequent related civil actions related to this tenancy.

Even with all of this in the lease, I was advised to not bother pursuing her and be happy that she vacated on her own. 

Thank you @Kyle J. for finding all that information! It is incredibly confusing for me, because I have Property Management telling me I can't keep it - and others in the area who are telling me the same thing. Then, seeing information online saying that I can!

I tried consulting with an attorney in the beginning to serve my Notice to Quit's and they wanted to charge me a $3500.00 retainer just for the notices and first court date. I will try to consult with another on this matter.

Thank you for your input Lien! Like I said its not the lost money, its the principle. & I'm sure you know in MA it is an expensive lesson! lol. I think the biggest lesson I learned here is always hire Property Management.

Property Management told me I can not keep it because it can only be used for "damages". This is my first rodeo with bad tenants I'm looking for any type of feed back

Property Management told me I can not keep it because it can only be used for "damages". This is my first rodeo with bad tenants I'm looking for any type of feed back.

Hi everyone!

Just wanted some opinions on my current situation. I have a multi -unit home just outside of Boston ( SUPER TENANT FRIENDLY STATE). I live pretty close to the home and thought hey, I can handle this house, its in the next city over. WRONG !!!!! 

Long story short, I rented out one of the Units back in June, and I had nightmare tenants from the start. They paid late the second month, made every excuse in the book. Paid late again the third month, I had to serve a Notice to QUIT both months. Now, in September they didn't pay at all! I literally could not deal with them and ending up hiring Property Management. They reserved another notice to quit, and they vacated on their own. Thankfully. The girl had a wicked attitude and demanded her security deposit back. Which obviously I have to return because it can only be used for damages.

Anyway, its obvious I got stuck with what they call "professional tenants". I'm tired of people getting away with not paying and the landlord having to eat the cost. Property management advised me that its not worth going to court over. Its not the lost rent that irritates me, it is the principle, that they do this to other land lords and ultimately get away with it. Should I sue them in small claims court, or is it really not worth pursuing? Thoughts?

@Robert Smith

Yes you should roll your $100K into a self directed account to do something "real estatey" lol. I have a self directed account that I rolled my state pension into after quitting my W2 job. Best decision I have ever made! I recently used the IRA to put a downpayment on my latest rehab. So it definitely has its benefits. If you are looking to private lend - you can in most cases lend out 100% of the funds in the account at a great interest rate paid back to YOU.

 Messaging you now!