All Forum Posts by: Theresa Harris

If they don't sign the lease and vacate, then that is the best scenario.  Find your own tenants at market value.

Go and do an inspection to see if things are or are not working (I'm assuming the appliances came with the house and aren't the tenants). Even if they don't move, you need to get things in working order.  Buy a good used fridge and stove or buy a new one.

You said the lease ended April 2025 and given that you'd just bought it 6 months earlier, presumably he had the right of first refusal and didn't exercise it then.  If you had wanted to move into the unit, then he'd have had to leave when his lease was up.  So he had the opportunity with the person he signed the lease with and didn't/couldn't buy it. Good luck.

Quote from @Ken M.:

Quote from @Jules Aton:

Quote from @Ken M.:

Quote from @Jules Aton:

Quote from @Eric Blair:

@Ken M. 100% truth! I'm a former cop that used to police in a mostly black city. And not just a mostly black city but I policed in the black side of town. It was poverty stricken. Here's what I learned. They weren't poor because they were black. They were poor because they were taught to be poor. Poverty is viscious cycle. Poverty also breeds crimes. 

But it's more than spiritual. It's political as well. People who give you free money own you. The government (very long story short) forced both mom and dad into 40 hour work weeks. Then they took over your child's education with public schools. Then they made it illegal to not send your kid to school. From 5 years old kids are in a build 40 hours a week being taught how to be another brick in the wall. They're taught how to think. They are taught useless crap. They are never taught about things that matter like budgeting, taxes, retirement, investments, business etc. 

Then the government fattens our kids up with junk food, corrupts their minds with junk TV. Next thing you know you're an adult who is conditioned to the 40 hour work week. You don't know or care about retirement because the government gives you handouts. You vote for the politicians offering your benefits. In the end, you're a controlled asset. Politicians continue to make policies that inflate your dollar and decrease your effort, but they make money

The best way to break free of the cycle is to remove your kids from the government sanctioned brainwash known as public schools. Home school your kids and teach them how to think

 You lost me at "Then the government fattens our kids up with junk food, corrupts their minds with junk TV." 

He's talking about EBT (free food for poor people. With EBT they can buy pop, skittles, beer, whatever, with their EBT card - it once was called Food Stamps). With Food Stamps you could not buy junk food and beer.

Before that, poor people could visit a state run facility where they could pick up cheese,  milk, eggs, flour, bread, meat, peanut butter, potatoes, fruit, produce etc that the government bought as excess products. This was done to stabilize prices. To keep food prices high for the producers, so they would be consistent in their production. The government gave that actual food away to poor people.

At the time, if too much meat was on the market, farmers would shoot a portion of their cows and bury them to limit supply to keep prices high. Seemed good at the time to just buy up the excess and give it to poor people. 


Now, 

I drive by a "drive in" (think "Fast Food") restaurant that has a "Hiring" sign in one window and an "EBT accepted here" next to it.

If you don't get the irony right away, you've been brain washed. What it should say:

"Jobs Available"
"Work First",
"Get Paid",
"Then Eat"

Man needs to work. It's built into us. And it keeps us out of trouble. (Usually) :-)

I understand the reference and don't believe in free food that is not basic and healthy but I also know my kids didn't eat anything I didn't give them to put in their mouths until they had their own money. Nor did they watch things on TV that I didn't approve of unless they snuck one over on me in rare instances. Attitudes about employment, diet and lifestyle choices are often dependent on cultural norms and there is plenty I'm willing to blame the govt for but what my kids ate or watched aren't two of them.  

Point well taken. A momma in control. Only mommas and bears are worthy of fearing. :-)

However, the rest of society living in government housing, doesn't necessarily practice those standards. I worked in two government projects, one black, the other white across town. There was no difference between them when it came to letting children wander the streets. Guns were used in the black neighborhood, guns were used in the white neighborhood. Drugs and alcohol were readily available in the black neighborhood, Drugs and alcohol were readily available in the white neighborhood.

What was missing in both neighborhoods was fathers who took responsibility.

If you live in a government project, bless you madam, you are doing wonderful work if you are involved in your kid's lives. 

If you aren't living in government housing, get a life and perspective. You can't possibly know what goes on and what the attitude is. 

 It comes down to changing mindsets and education-and I don't mean going to college or university, but how to handle money, budgeting, etc.  People are a product of their environment.

Don't worry about reminding her about $20.  Tell her again what the rent is and either accept $10 less (which actually nets you $10 more because you don't give her the $20 discount (I'd never do that) or keep reminding her.  I'd go with the former and when her lease is up either increase it an extra $10 over what you planned to increase it or tell her you aren't renewing it because she's failed to pay her rent in full every month.

You are running a business, not there to be their friend or parent. Yes if a tenant lets you know in advance, rent will be a day or two late for a good reason once and a while, fine; but otherwise...stick to the lease.

If you want to invest in something that is stable-put it in a term deposit, high yield savings account or something similar.

Either say no (I would) or push back.  Some of the requests are reasonable, others aren't.  They sound like they are going to be a pain, so I'd just say no.

Call the security deposit a non-refundable deposit that will become their security deposit upon possession

for entry-clarify -what the tenant requested is not unreasonable.  Just clarify no notice may be provided in case of emergency access.

for pet-do a clean up fine

17.3(a) is a hell no on your lease-why would you state you can remove them by force?

17.1 (c) lease violation, illegal activities is reasonable.

carpet cleaning by a professional is a pretty standard request.

for notices-both need to be in writing.

Keep the deposit.  The buyer should have read the conditions and would have had to sign off on them to remove them (eg financing and inspection)...at least that is how it works where I am.

The fact that the buyer's agent never said there was a problem is not good.  Your agent should have also followed up a day or two before closing to make sure paperwork was sent where it needed to go.

 I wonder if that is due to changes in the fee structure?  Still many buyers are not first time buyers, so they are often selling their primary residence and therefore they can potentially make money by helping the buyer sell their existing home.

Start by telling him, if he doesn't stop with the threats, you will get a restraining order and then start eviction proceedings.  I'd also start recording the interactions you have with him that are in public spaces and do not go there alone-that way you have a witness.

Did you give them a time limit?  I'd ask for 48 hours and get the non-refundable deposit with the signed lease.  The deposit will become the security deposit once they move in, but if they don't move in, then you keep it.