I will pay you to go away!

Was moving from my house to live in downstairs apartment of my wife's elderly grandparents to save money and to help them out with property. Tried selling house from November to February (worst time to do so...). Had no offers so I had brilliant idea to rent it out. So, eagerly wanting to find tenants I held an open house and this couple with 3 kids walked through, said they loved the place and had cash on hand to give deposit and first months rent that day. I still had them fill out application and did what I thought was a thorough background check using a suggested website (thanks a lot google). All looked good and so I gladly took the cash. They wanted to move in asap so I busted my butt to pack and move out that weekend. They end up moving in 2 weeks early. Do they pay for those 2 weeks?, no. They are late with the first rent payment... oh great, good start. Following month, they are a few days late with payment... noticing a pattern already. Oh and he can't get a job because he was arrested on drug felony 8 years ago.. Then a few weeks ago they want me to sign this paper saying that there younger sister (who's only 18) is moving in so they can put power in here name. After many lies about the situation I decide not to sign paper, then all hell brakes loose. They only paid 1/3 of the rent on time and I still haven't seen the rest after 2 weeks being due. They call up screaming at my wife who had been managing the property. Upset because we want to do a walk through of the place and collect back rent. Then couldn't get in touch with them in any way... I needed them out!! So was all ready to start eviction process. Call lawyer, he wants $1k. Town wants $100. Court fees? Lost rent?... Option B, my wife reads about doing a "cash for keys" contract. I am paying them $2,000 cash to move out. As crazy as it sounds and as hard as it is to hand them money it is the only way to get them out fast and without damaging my house. He told my neighbor friend before all this that he would flood the place if I evicted them... real piece of work, both of them. So they have until July 1 to get out. They get half now and half when I inspect the place after they have moved out. I guess I'm not cut out to be a landlord, but then again after this lesson I feel like I have earned my degree in picking and dealing with bad tenants... It can only get better right? Not sure if I will re-list or re-rent. The extra money is nice... if you can get it.

I think I would offer 1/4 up front and the rest after the inspection. If their previous land lord gave a good reference, he must have been trying to get them out of his/her place. Most leases I have seen give the land lord the right to inspect their property as needed. Sometimes the lease requires notice, but not always. It might be dependent on your state and if it is land lord friendly or renter friendly. Sorry you are going through this.

I have known many people who rent out property they own and it's always one horror story after another.

Sorry you have to go through this. I have had many oportunties over the years to buy or flip rental properties but I always declined. Growing up my dad had a few properties and it was always one headache after another. His experiences always kept me from doing.

oh yes, they showed up early to sign the agreement and take my money. SCUM Perhaps its best to relist and be done with it. Odds are not in my favor or any landlords favor I imagine. The "lady" is about to add to her litter tomorrow, I'm sure that would look good in court, me kicking them with a newborn. I would be the bad guy... They make me sick to my stomach.

I have rental properties, with both good and bad experiences. You really need to treat it as a business (as it is). Over ten years ago we wanted to make major improvements on a 3-plex. So it meant three families had to move, we were very accommodating. One family moved into a smaller apartment we had. Another family bought their own home and we helped them move. Six months later third family was refusing to move and quit paying (because we started demo on the other two units). Depending on your state rental laws it can be a nightmare. We ended up paying three months rent on their new place and moving them! In the end it was all part of the construction cost and lesson in renting property.

Very good renters do exist!

I would call child services to have their kids removed, then deal with the parents.

Maybe you should start asking for more up front. When I moved into my place I needed to provide first and last months rent, plus a security deposit. All told I needed over $3000 just to move in.

Increase the rent requirements when moving in, run credit and background checks, real background checks, not just a google search, get non-family references.

That should help mitigate some of the scumbaggery out there.

It could have been way worse. You could have rented to this guy.

Carter: Landlords say Newark man refuses to pay rent, trashes apartments, then ties them up in court | NJ.com

Originally Posted by JustInTime

Maybe you should start asking for more up front. When I moved into my place I needed to provide first and last months rent, plus a security deposit. All told I needed over $3000 just to move in.

Increase the rent requirements when moving in, run credit and background checks, real background checks, not just a google search, get non-family references.

That should help mitigate some of the scumbaggery out there.

Unfortunately, some states limit your to collecting the first month, last month and security deposit (can't be more than 1 months rent).

A landowner needs to know! The term "Squatters Rights", has no legal definition, that doesn't mean a squatter can't take possession of a piece of property. Here in California once a tenant pays 30 days of rent, the property owner has to fallow all of the proper legal means of eviction, easier said than done. In many states unoccupied property, can be occupied until titled owner reoccupies that property. The Pilgrims were really just squatters, we called them "Colonies" and "Settlers".

The concept of squatting has been around for hundreds of years and more occurring in recent years. I'm not in favor of squatters, but property owners should also be aware of the laws!

A squatter can even legally obtain the property, through the practice of "ADVERSE POSSESSION". How does a squatter live in, stay for the long run, and eventually own the property being seized. To qualify for adverse possession the squatters occupation of the land must be:

1. Continuous: Must have daily uninterrupted control of the land, usually for a certain number of years.
2. Hostile: The trespasser must occupy the land in opposition to the owner’s true rights.
3. Open and notorious: Must possess the land openly for all to see.
4. Actual: Must actually possess the land.
5. Exclusive: Sole physical occupancy.

A different shade of "GRAY", THE WORLD OF LAWYERS AND THIEVES!