All Forum Posts by: Tom C

Mark,

Just do a search here and you will find plenty of information.

HUD has been offering this program for a long time. Since the new prez came into office, city are dreaming of a new round of funding from the gov. to take care of these homes.

It's nothing new, just cities are maybe going to start taking advantage of the program. Just what we need, organizations coming along putting people in homes that they can't afford again.

Calvin,

Sounds like you are being shook down. I have a hard time believing that the EPA can just walk on your property and take samples without a warrant or a complaint of some sort. You need to find an attorney who is familar with fighting the EPA.

I've already warned my housing inspector, who is also a landlord. If pushed we all will start doing land contracts. Which is nothing more then a way around the dwelling inspection.

Check the breed, make sure it's not considered a vicious dog, check with your insurance company make sure it's ok. Get a large deposit and add a monthly huge pet fee. I rehab my homes now to be pet friendly. Meaning, I do not put in carpet or refinish the wood floors. I market to pet owners and I am one the few in my area that does. This allows me to charge more in rents and my last experience, I found out that a 5 yr old boy peeing the bed over and over again can ruin carpet and hardwood worse then any pet can.

There is a nice market for landlords who allow pets. You just have prep your lease and your home for it.

Ditto.. Also, every new tenant gets the disclosure form with their lease agreement.

Mike,

It sounds like a typical situation where the parents took your accusations against the daughter personally. In my experience, I have seen many times when the parents are more concerned about their reputation as the parent of the dirt bag, then the well being of their kid. I am not defending these people, but most likely they didn't want to be known around the community has the failed parents of a druggie daughter and this is why they wanted to know if you really had any solid evidence.

Now at this point you left them the opportunity to save face and deny it when their friends ask them about it. Also you should be prepared for them to trash you in their circle, making you out to be either crazy or a bad landlord. You got lucky and she left without a fight. Hopefully you will get just as lucky and the parents will go away too. I wouldn't want to get into a pissing match with these people, simply because it sounds like they are willing to defend their reputation and as you know, your evidence; now; is little to none.

I have had to actually throw the drugs that I found on their kids on the table in front of the parents to shock them into reality.

If you have to go septic for a building of that size, you are looking at a major job. Ohio has enacted by way of the EPA some of the strictest septic regulations around the country. We have been battling them for 5 years on the new septic regulations. Before I would even consider making an offer, I would get a licensed septic guy out there to give you an estimate and there will be yearly expenses on that new septic system too. The old days of putting it in and letting go untouched are over. It now has to be monitored yearly by a license person.

Sorry.. Can't help you out on that one.

What county in Ohio? I have an excellent agent you can use.