https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 06:36:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-814702 Wed, 29 May 2013 08:24:52 +0000 Anagram 814702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: But...any time they pay late, you can give them a notice that if they don't pay immediately, you can give them the notice to evict and go from there.</p> <p>I totally get you on the tenant stress with a baby coming! I'm only 8 months, but my husband has reallllly been pressing me to get me rental house shizz under control. We had a deal that they pay me a set amount (which equals my mortgage, plus an extra $100), and I pay all the bills. I take a small loss that way, but it's a tax write-off and I'm only investing $100-$200 a month to get my equity built up for me.</p> <p>Except THEN suddenly my renters started (apparently) running the AC/heater 24/7, and there was a water leak they didn't tell me about until a month of it leaking, which resulted in a couple months of super high utility bills---so then I was feeling screwed.</p> <p>So we just renegotiated a lower rent for them, and now they have to move all the bills to their name. That way, if they choose to run the AC/heater constantly, they pay the bill. And I'm still taking a loss, but at least it's the same amount every month and we'll always know the projected expense.</p> <p>Sometimes renting in general is a PITA. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-813456 Tue, 28 May 2013 14:15:16 +0000 2PeasinaPod 813456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: Ahhh...that's a huge bummer. I'm thinking that unless you have a clause in your agreement that says you can break it with xxx days notice, you're stuck until January unless they don't pay. If you do have that clause (we put 60 days notice in ours that the landlord or tenant can break the lease without any incident), give them the notice and get them the hey out of there!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-813406 Tue, 28 May 2013 13:58:17 +0000 Boheme 813406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: Their lease isn't up til January, unfortunately. They just keep saying they might have to break it because they are having problems affording their rent.</p> <p>@LindsayInNY: Thank you! I will post to your wall! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-812753 Tue, 28 May 2013 10:40:31 +0000 2PeasinaPod 812753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If the lease is up in June, then get them out. You don't need them to enter into another year of a lease and then them not pay and having to really research how to evict them. Give them the notice that you will not be renewing their lease (landlords can do this too if the terms of the lease are up) and inform them that you'll be keeping the security deposit and send them an itemized list of how much everything will cost to repair to prove why you need the entire deposit (this is required within 30 days of the lease ending in my state) and get it back on the market with someone else. You don't need to deal with this crap! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-812697 Tue, 28 May 2013 10:23:39 +0000 LindsayInNY 812697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What state is the rental house in? If you want to gold post on my wall, I might be able to point you in the direction of some landlord/tenant sites. I might also know an attorney, depending on where you are, if necessary! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-812628 Tue, 28 May 2013 10:00:30 +0000 JamieLee 812628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh! I feel you on this. We have a really nice living room/bedroom/bathroom space in our basement that we've rented out the last few years. We've had wonderful tenants and the money has really helped with the mortgage. This year however, we've had the tenants from hell. They never pay rent on time, they have damaged our property, the space is a disgusting mess, they are disrespectful, and they keep strange hours and are very loud. The last straw was when we came home to an empty house with a fire roaring in the burn barrel outside (we live in a rural area) during a burn ban! That night, we let them know they had to be out in thirty days and gave them written notice. Luckily, our lease agreement is a month to month arrangement, but since then they have repeatedly threatened to take us to court or file complaints about us because I'm apparently mean and there was a leaky pipe that DH fixed as soon as they told us about it. We've got about three more weeks till the move out date and I'm really worried they won't be out. Then we would have to file an official thirty day eviction notice with the courts and it would be another month of them being here. I'm also really worried about the condition they'll leave the space in. I'm 28 weeks pregnant now and will not be a happy camper if I have to scrub the basement when I'm 31 weeks! We've definitely learned some lessons from this experience and learned that in Michigan, the law really favors the tenant. We will definitely be taking a break from the landlord game after this!</p> <p>My best advice is to really do your research on the laws in your state. I've learned a lot about how month to month leases differ from other leases and how that will kind of help us out. Best of luck and I hope you're able to find good tenants next time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811400 Mon, 27 May 2013 16:01:12 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 811400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram is exactly right. Make sure you are up on the laws in your state. This is so important. Our last renters really tried to pull some shenanigans in that regard. We had 2 weeks to get the security deposit back to them but we were still assessing the (major) damages. They waited until the last possible day (when they knew we wouldn't have the ability to send them a check on time) and then pulled out all the rental law so that they could get their entire security deposit back without damages. Totally shady. They also stole the lawnmower and garden equipment.</p> <p>Luckily, I had scoured the rental law and found we were covered under a clause that stipulated about having to get bids for damages. </p> <p>Do you have a good property manager? In our (other) state, we were required to have one and it really helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811394 Mon, 27 May 2013 15:55:49 +0000 Boheme 811394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Not a Debbie downer post at all! That is super helpful to know so that we do it correctly if it comes to that. I'm hoping they'll get their shiz together but I'm not holding my breath. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811385 Mon, 27 May 2013 15:49:36 +0000 tororojo 811385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, that sucks! It would be nice to get them out if they can't pay. But turning it over does cost something, especially if they trash it, so you hate to make them mad...I have no wisdom. But good luck! And no matter what happens, at least you'll have a cute baby to squeeze! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811329 Mon, 27 May 2013 14:57:57 +0000 Anagram 811329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: not to be a debbie downer on this thread, but make sure you know your state's laws about eviction notices (if you go that route), and make sure you word the 30 days' eviction notice exactly right.</p> <p>I rent my house in Texas (and live in another state) and I have a friend that does the same. She recently had to evict her tenants because they kept paying late and were causing other problems for her, and she sent a 30 days eviction notice, and the tenants did not move out (also did not pay). So she had to pay for a lawyer and take them to court, where the judge sided with the tenants (even though they hadn't paid~~~~!!!) just because she didn't word the eviction notice correctly for Texas rental law. So then she had to retain a second lawyer, reissue an eviction notice, go back to court (after either a 30 day or 60 day waiting period in which the tenants paid nothing and she lost money--I can't remember, but that's the standard for an eviction appeal in Texas), and then finally she got them evicted.</p> <p>It's been a nightmare and it really terrified me because I also rent my house. I haven't had any problems yet (knowck on wood), but I'm now considering paying a property management company just in case of future problems (because they would know how to do everything correctly). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811284 Mon, 27 May 2013 14:12:53 +0000 tysonja 811284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>agreed with mr.bee and others.....</p> <p>it will probably be some work to get the place ready for new renters, but at least you can look forward to a year/years of stress free rentals in the near future! </p> <p>i'm sorry you have to deal with this! but for sure if they are not able to make rent (more than once), then they should find somewhere cheaper to live. it will be better for their stress levels, too! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811210 Mon, 27 May 2013 13:14:40 +0000 mrbee 811210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would agree to break it and take a month's rent outbid security deposit. Better to deal with it now vs later! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811205 Mon, 27 May 2013 13:11:01 +0000 googly-eyes 811205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no advice but just wanted to chime in with good thoughts, prayers, and support. It sucks that they are making this time hard for you! I rent myself so I mostly see that sde of it but I've also worked for a landlord and I get that it's a lot of stress and risk. Hope you can find a new better tenant or they shape up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811201 Mon, 27 May 2013 13:07:47 +0000 pinkcupcake 811201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How upsetting. sorry you have to deal with this!! I would def check w/ landlord/tenant laws in the state before making any decisions. Typically, the residential LL-tenant acts afford quite a bit of protection for residential tenants and you don't want to risk any problems later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811157 Mon, 27 May 2013 12:10:13 +0000 Boheme 811157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: I think we're going to hang on to it until we can comfortably afford letting it sit vacant while its on the market. We would LOVE to be rid of it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811156 Mon, 27 May 2013 12:09:27 +0000 Espion 811156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, make sure you know the renter/landlord laws for your state. (Easily google-able.) There are FAR more protections for renters than there are for the landlords. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811153 Mon, 27 May 2013 12:07:38 +0000 Espion 811153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're trying to sell our house and our previous renter was such an enormous PITA that we offered to let her break her lease without penalty. Unfortunately she was all bark and no bite and backed down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811151 Mon, 27 May 2013 12:06:13 +0000 sarac 811151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Evict them immediately. You don't need that! Especially if you an easily rent it back out. I have a rental, and I'd never permit that from tenants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811145 Mon, 27 May 2013 12:02:23 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 811145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you offer for them to make bi-weekly payments will that help? My brother was late with his rent and struggling to pay, so his landlord asked that he pay half the rent each time he was paid (he is paid twice monthly) and it was a lot more manageable for him, and better for the landlord since she always got paid on time when he started paying twice a month.</p> <p>Otherwise, I'd say if they can't pay, they should leave and you should keep their deposit.... do you think you'd sell or do you want to keep the house as an investment? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811141 Mon, 27 May 2013 12:00:03 +0000 Smurfette 811141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If they can't pay then kick them out. Yeah it sucks but you have bills to pay and can't let them live there for free when someone else can pay the rent.</p> <p>I am sorry!! We are renting our condo and break even too. No way we could afford two mortgages and day care. So far our renter has been great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811110 Mon, 27 May 2013 11:41:16 +0000 Boheme 811110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Yes, strictly business! We don't know them. We are considering letting them out provided we keep their deposit to cover a month to get it cleaned and (hopefully) re-rented. I don't think they want to move, but this is too much. </p> <p>We have been really, really lucky to have great renters in the last 4 years we've been renting it out, so this is new territory for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811105 Mon, 27 May 2013 11:38:16 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 811105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm. Strictly business, right? If they can't pay the rent per lease and on time, let them break lease without penalty or evict. Sounds like right now you simply cannot afford to make concessions with the rent payment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811104 Mon, 27 May 2013 11:37:41 +0000 pui 811104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow what annoying timing. When it rains it poors, eh?</p> <p>I'd try and have a talk with them and suggest that they find another place to live if they do not think they can pay the rent. Even if you can't get someone else in there quickly and have to dip in to savings, I still think it's a better option than them potentially not paying enough rent for months and months while you are stuck with them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-renters-are-a-pita#post-811087 Mon, 27 May 2013 11:32:45 +0000 Boheme 811087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A couple of months ago our renters told us they were having trouble making the rent payment and said they may have to break the lease. Now they are asking us to lower the payment, which we can't do because we barely break even. We have no idea if they plan on staying past June, but we do know their June payment will late. </p> <p>I'm about to go on maternity leave (unpaid), baby is due any day, and my stress level is skyrocketing every time DH gets an email from them. There is no way we can pay two mortgages while I'm out on unpaid leave. They say if the husband starts making more commission they'll be fine, but we have no idea when that will be. Should we cut bait and just tell them they should maybe look for a new place to live? The house is in another state, but it rents fairly easily. I can't handle this every single month! But then again... I don't really want to prep it to re-rent with a newborn. So frustrating. </p>