On Feb 1, 9:14*am, "Robert Green" wrote:
We've been thinking of renting our current home rather than selling in this
down market while we rent in some of the places we're thinking of retiring
to. *Unfortunately, movies like "Pacific Heights" where a bad tenant who
knows all the tricks of staying in a place without paying rent, haunt us.

Yesterday I saw a 'People's Court' episode where a deadbeat had managed to
stay, rent-free, in a Section 8 rental for three years by using a loophole
that says a tenant can't be evicted from Section 8 housing if there are code
violations. *Every time he was about to get evicted, he just broke something
to forestall the eviction process, eventually plugging all the sinks with
rags and flooding the place.

How can you drive a bad tenant out from a rental in such situations? *How do
you prevent them from completely trashing the place on their way out? *I
know that tenants should be checked out thoroughly beforehand, but even so,
people can have no record of evil behavior but still turn evil. *While I'd
probably NOT rent to any Section 8 tenants, I could easily see someone
losing their job or some other such tragedy and so decide they wanted to
live in my house rent-free for as long as they could get away with it.

I'll entertain all solutions, even extra-legal ones (as long as I can
implement them without getting caught!).

--
Bobby G.

As a code enforcement officer, I suggest to owners that the
rental contract identify them (the owner or representative) as
the responsible party for the replacement of the HVAC filter.
And that they be very clear about that and the other elements
of the contract at rental time.
On a certain day of the month, at a specific time, the filter will
be changed by the owner. (15th of the month, at 7PM).
Tenants can be there if they want. And even though checking
the smoke detector function is a tenant responsibility, I suggest
doing that at the same time as the filter, and being very obvious
about the monthly documentation.
Satisfies Landlord-Tenant law, and puts the owner/representative
in the unit for a condition awareness once a month.
And if a prospective tenant balks at the very idea of you doing it
instead of them (I have seen incredibly dirty filters), you can count
that you may have just dodged that one.
Also, be very wary of people that are ready/willing/having to
move in months of bad weather.
And even if you don't live there, you are still a neighbor. Several
owners in my assignment area have a small sign, like twice the
size of a business card, on the storm door facing out. That says
"If anyone sees problems with grass, trash, or vehicles at this
property, call Property Manager at........." If a neighbor knows
that the owner is able to be contacted instead of trying to ignore
all issues but collecting the rent, my agency is less likely to be
getting the complaint.

Just suggesting.















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