Tenants at my rental home ripped me off

[dmtrader]

They took off owing me $2500, left the home a mess with holes in the walls, uneaten food congealing on the counter and the microwave, all the window treatments are gone, as are many of the carpets.

I am not even going to talk about the bathrooms.

There are shut off notices on the door; Consumers Energy wants a $300 deposit to turn the power back on.

I wonder if it is even worth it to rent it back out again. Maybe I should leave it vacant, and just pay the mortgage myself.

Less money to gamble that way. Maybe that's a bonus.

[docrocker]

man i know the feeling... difference is you have their info to take legal action against them and get your funds back. Wish you all the best of luck... what state are you in ?

[Masu485]

find them and destroy them!

[dmtrader]

man i know the feeling... difference is you have their info to take legal action against them and get your funds back. Wish you all the best of luck... what state are you in ?

I'm in Michigan - all the laws favor the tenant
I can get a judgment against them, but collecting is another matter.

[daggerkobe]

That's what the security deposit is for.

[dmtrader]

find them and destroy them!

I'm there Mas. I've actually thought about it. Too much to lose if I get physical with them, though.

[dmtrader]

Security deposits -- doesn't even come close to coverign what I am out on thise.

[lyon804]

They took off owing me $2500, left the home a mess with holes in the walls, uneaten food congealing on the counter and the microwave, all the window treatments are gone, as are many of the carpets.

I am not even going to talk about the bathrooms.

There are shut off notices on the door; Consumers Energy wants a $300 deposit to turn the power back on.

I wonder if it is even worth it to rent it back out again. Maybe I should leave it vacant, and just pay the mortgage myself.

Less money to gamble that way. Maybe that's a bonus.

You definitely had some LLMF, but what were you doing all this time?? People are tenants for a reason. Now, I know not all tenants do this. Like I said LLMF. I always do background,credit checks on my tenants and I only take families. I also do a mandatory walk through of the property once every 6 weeks. Along with collecting the first 2 months rent you need to collect a security deposit of $500. One more thing. You need to charge more rent. People will actually take better care of your shit when you are charging more for it. Sounds funny I know, but trust me. Your better off not renting if you cannot follow these guidelines. There is a difference between being a landlord and a slumlord. It's up to you.

[Doug]

that Sucks !

I used to rent out a condo, had good tenants, but got out of that game...I felt due to be screwed.

[Doug]

You definitely had some LLMF, but what were you doing all this time?? People are tenants for a reason. Now, I know not all tenants do this. Like I said LLMF. I always do background,credit checks on my tenants and I only take families. I also do a mandatory walk through of the property once every 6 weeks. Along with collecting the first 2 months rent you need to collect a security deposit of $500. One more thing. You need to charge more rent. People will actually take better care of your shit when you are charging more for it. Sounds funny I know, but trust me. Your better off not renting if you cannot follow these guidelines. There is a difference between being a landlord and a slumlord. It's up to you.

As tenant ,I wouldn't agree to an inspection every 6 weeks...never heard of that !

[dmtrader]

You definitely had some LLMF, but what were you doing all this time?? People are tenants for a reason. Now, I know not all tenants do this. Like I said LLMF. I always do background,credit checks on my tenants and I only take families. I also do a mandatory walk through of the property once every 6 weeks. Along with collecting the first 2 months rent you need to collect a security deposit of $500. One more thing. You need to charge more rent. People will actually take better care of your shit when you are charging more for it. Sounds funny I know, but trust me. Your better off not renting if you cannot follow these guidelines. There is a difference between being a landlord and a slumlord. It's up to you.

You're right. I needed to charge more rent and make more inspections of the property.

They were friends -- a family I knew pretty well. He had a good job, she was involved in the PTA, etc. etc. They were selling their home in Waterford and moving here for the schools. They even talked of buying my house from me.

This whole thing caught me by surprise.

[docrocker]

I would go as far as inspection but are you dealing with government assistant living ??? or are you getting people that have actual full time jobs and good credit report? You do have to get the 2 months rent a head of time as well. I have also have to agree with the more it cost to rent the better they treat it but than again you usually get a higher class of people in there.

bol

[accuscoresucks]

always check credit scores,and everything else before renting,info on the application.
their are services that will allow unlimited checks for a annual fee

[dmtrader]

that Sucks !

I used to rent out a condo, had good tenants, but got out of that game...I felt due to be screwed.

Looks like you got out just in time!

[urge2kill]

As tenant ,I wouldn't agree to an inspection every 6 weeks...never heard of that !

I think landlords can enter the place anytime after giving 24 hours notice.

[dmtrader]

I think landlords can enter the place anytime after giving 24 hours notice.

You can enter at a "reasonable" time that is mutually agreeable to tenant and landlord.

At the end, they were incommunicado. I finally entered the home to find a mess.

[lyon804]

You're right. I needed to charge more rent and make more inspections of the property.

They were friends -- a family I knew pretty well. He had a good job, she was involved in the PTA, etc. etc. They were selling their home in Waterford and moving here for the schools. They even talked of buying my house from me.

This whole thing caught me by surprise.

I know what you are saying! I have an old saying for you to go by that your friends most likely use.

"If you can't fuk your friends and family who can you"

Be careful renting this property once you are made whole again. I would see about filling charges against these people. At least inconvenience them if you can because they just fuked you out of god knows how much money. When, it alls said it done you probably lost at least $10,000 on those LLMF"ERS. Try to "legally hurt them" I would file charges on the grounds of theft and vandalism. You might not have anything there, but what would it hurt to try?

Keep in mind! Renting your property is work! Whatever, you make off people going forward, you would have earned it! Good Luck to you!

One More thing! You are not the first these people had done that way. Get references going forward if possible on top of the other stuff. The more you do on the front end the better off you will be. Don't ever worry about inconveniencing a potential tenant. Remember, potential tenants are dime a dozen, but homes to rent are very scarce in comparison. If you are too up front on some and they are not interested fine they wasn't worth the headaches. Adults will not mind consenting to what I have propositioned to you.

[dmtrader]

I know what you are saying! I have an old saying for you to go by that your friends most likely use.

"If you can't fuk your friends and family who can you"

Be careful renting this property once you are made whole again. I would see about filling charges against these people. At least inconvenience them if you can because they just fuked you out of god knows how much money. When, it alls said it done you probably lost at least $10,000 on those LLMF"ERS. Try to "legally hurt them" I would file charges on the grounds of theft and vandalism. You might not have anything there, but what would it hurt to try?

Keep in mind! Renting your property is work! Whatever, you make off people going forward, you would have earned it! Good Luck to you!

One More thing! You are not the first these people had done that way. Get references going forward if possible on top of the other stuff. The more you do on the front end the better off you will be. Don't ever worry about inconveniencing a potential tenant. Remember, potential tenants are dime a dozen, but homes to rent are very scarce in comparison. If you are too up front on some and they are not interested fine they wasn't worth the headaches. Adults will not mind consenting to what I have propositioned to you.

I'm considering getting a judgment against them. I know I'll never collect, but it may be a hassle for them.

I may be out as much as $10K. I may have to break out the Macallan's to drown my sorrows tonight.

I now have an application from my lawyer. I'll use this going forward. Still, in Detroit NO ONE has money and everyone is trying to rent their home. It's tough to find good tenants.

[lyon804]

I'm considering getting a judgment against them. I know I'll never collect, but it may be a hassle for them.

I may be out as much as $10K. I may have to break out the Macallan's to drown my sorrows tonight.

I now have an application from my lawyer. I'll use this going forward. Still, in Detroit NO ONE has money and everyone is trying to rent their home. It's tough to find good tenants.

Yes, get the judgement against them. It will follow them the rest of there lives. They will never be able to purchase a home in the future with this judgement. You might collect on the judgement many years down the road, but like you said it will hassle them going forward if not haunt them. I understand your rental property is in Detroit. I am sorry. Thers can't be a worse market. I am in the South were things are not great here, but pretty normal especially compared to Detroit. I don't know if there is a worse place to own a home in the USA. It's tough, what's done is done. Come to grips with it and a sound plan to rectify this thing the best you can. I am pulling for you! GL

[Boner_18]

I know about the trouble of a defendant being judgment proof and jurisdictions that are tenant friendly are even more of a deterrent to sue. But, obtaining.... just saw Lyon's. What he said.

[dmtrader]

Some good advice here. Thanks!

[BGS 9.5]

My father was a landlord for years when I was young, saw this scene firsthand more than once.....

[dmtrader]

I own several industrial buildings -- never had a problem like this.

Maybe I'll just leave it vacant. But then here is a higher probability of vandalism, right?

[blittydeuce]

LLMF?

[lyon804]

LLMF?

If you must... LOW LIFE MOTHER ****ER! I was trying to spare the woman and children.

[OSUCOWBOYS]

Sorry. It is embarrassing the things people think are acceptable to do in this world.

Best of luck with the clean up.

[dmtrader]

Thanks OK State.

Go Cowboys!

Go Barry Sanders!

[smitch124]

lazy liberal Mo Fo.

I saw some of Lyons earlier posts

[urge2kill]

I own several industrial buildings -- never had a problem like this.

Maybe I'll just leave it vacant. But then here is a higher probability of vandalism, right?

And squatting.

[dmtrader]

And squatting.

Ouch. I didn't think about that.

[urge2kill]

Burn it down and collect insurance $$$.

[dmtrader]

Burn it down and collect insurance $$$.

probably best option right now.

[keyboarding]

Maybe I'll just leave it vacant. But then here is a higher probability of vandalism, right?

Any potential vandalism is going to cost you less than what the past tenants did.

[dmtrader]

Any potential vandalism is going to cost you less than what the past tenants did.

Oh Man! This is so depressing.

[kmarinouofm]

I'm considering getting a judgment against them. I know I'll never collect, but it may be a hassle for them.

I may be out as much as $10K. I may have to break out the Macallan's to drown my sorrows tonight.

I now have an application from my lawyer. I'll use this going forward. Still, in Detroit NO ONE has money and everyone is trying to rent their home. It's tough to find good tenants.

never seen entire city blocks just vacant .. entire neighborhoods with just one person living in it.. detroit is just .. wow