Should I let this section 8 tenant extort me?

[tevake]

Fred, perhaps you should take a breath and center your self before you make major decisions about your future that could cost you big.
Don't miss understand what I'm saying. You do need to deal with this situation with the tenant and your partner. But not rashly out of the frustration of the moment.
There are some good suggestions above to think about. And to help form a plan to deal with the immediate issue. Once those steps are in place, then you will be able to deal with the next step.

This does sound tough to work through, and needing a clear mind to make the best of.
Damn, these people that take such advantage of the help they get do burn me up!

All the best, Richard

[GDSOB]

I have been there myself and know the type. You lost the minute she moved in and will never collect a cent from her no matter how right you are. Eviction is at least $300 plus at least another month of lost rent. Write the check and move on. Your partner needs to man up and pay the bill if you are doing the dirty work. Or give them his home adderss and tell them they can pick up the deposit there.

Problem with the section 8 system: last one to give a s&$t loses!

[speeder]

As much as it sucks to let such horrible people "win" in any sense, you need to cut your losses and move on. And they are not really winning. People like this never win in life, even if they win the lottery. Their punishment is having to go through life as themselves.

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by RWebb

that makes it hard for the rich people to get maid service, hugh

Big problem in Santa Barbara County. The police and fire can't afford to live there. So the County adjusted their schedules so that they stay at the stations more days, many live in Kern County. Are you advocating that we should further subsidize the hired help so us rich people can get our toilets cleaned? My maid commutes from a cheaper area of the city I live in. I leave a bag of empty beer cans on the driveway for her hubby who recycles them. He cleans our HOA waterfall. Both have a green card and WC insurance (I checked).

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

1. Their lease is up, in 3 days.
2. the utilities are not paid
3. the place is in shambles.

You need to find out the law for where you are - state, maybe county & city too.

You may need to hire an atty.

re [3] - are you saying they damaged the property? if so, do you have a rough estimate of the damages in $$?

re [2] does the written lease require them to pay the utilities?

if the utility co. cuts them off, that is an additional incentive to move; extra $$ to reconnect comes out of their deposit

anyone can move by walking away - it costs nothing

do not communicate with them except in writing; no phone calls - if they call you, say "write me a letter" and hang up

call the Sheriff and ask about "forcible entry and detainer" - it is how you have to get rid of unwanted tenants in Orygun & the sheriff does it

it sounds like you have a partnership with the guy you call a partner but I can't figure out the terms of it

[aigel]

I used to live in the South. Rough neighbohood. Landlord guy had a similar problem. He asked one of the guys on the street that was sick of the tenants too, for a "favor". When nobody was home, the neighbor backed up his truck to the electrical panel, put a big fat rope around it and floored it. Ripped out the entire electric panel - no more power, sorry. Landlord went: u-oh, sorry about the vandalism, terrible neighborhood, probably tried to go after the copper wiring, getting estimates for getting it fixed, please be patient (in 90degree 90 percent humidity ...)

After it was vacant, the landlord sold the place for a fixer.

G

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by GDSOB

I have been there myself and know the type. You lost the minute she moved in and will never collect a cent from her no matter how right you are. ...

Though I will not deal with Sec 8, I too have had a couple of bad tenants who "slipped through the cracks" (MY fault) and moved in...the amount of damage (on freshly renovated houses with lots of my own sweat) in just a few months can be astonishing . I can afford to let my houses sit empty (and I do) before I'll put up with nonsense. I don't do longterm leases anymore either (they protect no one but the renter)...month-to-month from the git-go just in case I get another "bad apple". I now have "golden tenants" and life is good. Good luck Fred!....you don't have to "get out of the biz"...just take a deep breath and readjust the sails! I do not want to be a LL either...sometimes it just happens

[cairns]

I never rented to Section 8 but had a few bad ones. Who is paying the utilities, you or them? When I had bad ones I would cut off their water (all you need is a key from any hardware store). If the electricity bill comes to you you can tell the utility to shut it off.

At last resort I could go to small claims court and have them served with an eviction notice. It took a month and in Maryland they could come to court the next month with the rent money and stay- but only until the lease was up. Didn't need a lawyer for that and it worked but it did take time. As Webb says communicate with them only in writing- they're living for those confrontations and you're at a considerable disadvantage.

Good luck!

[greglepore]

Once the lease is up they are no longer tenants but trespassers. Turn off the utilities if they are yours.

On the other hand, they can do lots more than $800 in damage when moving and you'll not have any luck collecting a dime. Figure out a way to pay them once they're gone, and then welch.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by widebody911

Section 8 subsidizes *****ty slumlords.

It subsidizes crappy tenants

Originally Posted by widebody911

I'm a liberal, but after my experiences with Section 8 neighbors over the past few years, I despise the program.

There's a duplex across the street from me. The guy bought at the peak, probably could not have paid more if he tried, but he just couldn't get the damn thing rented, and it was vacant for months. Eventually he went section 8, and there has been a string of crappy tenants, each one worse than the last. Every time, they would leave the place trashed, and he would b**tch about how bad it was and how much work he had to do, yada yada yada. He finally bailed out late last year, and I'm sure he took a bath on it. I'm don't know if it is still Section 8 or not. The new renters moved in over the past couple of weeks; so far, so good, but the last few months with the place vacant has been like heaven.

Fred - it sounds like you have a crappy biz partner.

See, it does subsidize crappy tenants

Meet them at the bus station and pay them off. Will be the best $800 you ever spent

[fastfredracing]

Cooler heads prevail, The threats have stopped, and I have had a civil conversation with her last night. I am meeting her at the turnpike exit on Friday morning. She is supposed to be in a U haul rental with all her stuff packed in it. My useless partner does not have the balls to meet them , so I have to. He will be at the house, making sure they are gone, and locking down the place.
I have negotiated it down to half her sec deposit, so I get my life back for $400.00. A deal at twice the price in my book. No U haul full of stuff, and no check. Once they exit the unit, they will not get back in. Friday morning, the place gets boarded up, all utilities cut, and my partner and I are going to have a good long sit down. Thanks for your advice , I really hope it plays out this way, and there is no more grief.

[motion]

I hope you have your bases covered, legally. You can't disconnect utilities while the tenant still has a legal right to reside in your property. Do that and you're staring down the barrel of a lawsuit. Amazingly bad advice in this thread!

[techweenie]

My ex girlfriend rented her house in Mount Washington (gentrifying neighborhood in Los Angeles) to a nice lady I've known for years. Divorced from a very high level auto industry exec. Educated and sophisticated lady with a couple kids... well, she trashed the house. Punched holes in the wall, ran bootleg electrical wires, piled garden waste up against the house in the back yard. My ex- was 2000 miles away and the person she designated to 'watch' the house was charmed by this 'nice woman.'

So my ex- moves back, the lady moves out, and there's 5-figures in damage left behind. The tenant sues for her deposit because she "left the house in better condition than when she moved in."

You can't always tell about tenants.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

No U haul full of stuff, and no check.

they're gonna want cash. Get a receipt.

[fastfredracing]

Thanks motion, I am well aware of the laws , and about cutting utilities. This will happen after their lease is up, and she has surrendered the keys /property to me, when I give her the check. Last thing I want to do , is trip up, and give them any reason to mess with me anymore. I think all her texts were to try to incite me to make a racail slur back at her, or to make me trip up and say something incriminating of anger. While it was hard, I kept my senses about me , and made no replies out of anger, or spite. I had to erase a few before I hit the send button.
Friday morning, No keys, no u haul full of stuff, .....no check, and I guess then, I am in it for the long haul. I am pretty sure they are leaving.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by nostatic

they're gonna want cash. Get a receipt.

And by "receipt", he means a release. Something in writing that releases you completely from any claims from them for more $$, be it security deposit or otherwise. Do you have a lawyer client at your auto shop that could help you with that for 5 min. on the phone? They will sign anything on the side of the road to get their $400.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by motion

I hope you have your bases covered, legally. You can't disconnect utilities while the tenant still has a legal right to reside in your property. Do that and you're staring down the barrel of a lawsuit. Amazingly bad advice in this thread!

Yep, this is not the place to come for conflict resolution advice unless you already have a clue and can parse the good advice from the asinine responses. Some of the posts, while well-meaning I assume, could land you behind bars and/or living in a homeless shelter yourself.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Cooler heads prevail, ... I have negotiated it down to half her sec deposit, so I get my life back for $400.00. A deal at twice the price in my book. No U haul full of stuff, and no check. Once they exit the unit, they will not get back in. Friday morning, the place gets boarded up, all utilities cut, and my partner and I are going to have a good long sit down. Thanks for your advice , I really hope it plays out this way, and there is no more grief.

Sounds like an excellent solution...kudos!

Originally Posted by motion

I hope you have your bases covered, legally. You can't disconnect utilities while the tenant still has a legal right to reside in your property. Do that and you're staring down the barrel of a lawsuit. Amazingly bad advice in this thread!

Some bad, some good....like always

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Thanks motion, I am well aware of the laws , and about cutting utilities. This will happen after their lease is up, and she has surrendered the keys /property to me, when I give her the check. Last thing I want to do , is trip up, and give them any reason to mess with me anymore. ...

Friday morning, No keys, no u haul full of stuff, .....no check, and I guess then, I am in it for the long haul. I am pretty sure they are leaving.

You're "good" with this approach imo...don't even need Speeder's lawyer . Make sure you give her written notice as to why you're withholding half her security deposit...don't let her snag you later on that. Good job Fred...mmm lemonade

[Evans, Marv]

Good news Fred. The receipt and "release" is a great idea. You've been b******g and moaning about your partner for some time. While you are taking care of business, I hope you take care of that business too. The idea about an attorney clienty to help or a refetrral is good too in regard to the partner situation.