What would you do with a deadbeat renter?

RyanA · Post by **RyanA** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:40 pm

Just curious what each of you would do with a deadbeat renter. Being a nice guy, I offered the house attached to the shop to a guy in July. He told me he could have first month's rent in the "next week or two" and I told him I did not need a deposit since he was just getting on his feet. Well, two weeks come and go and no money. He made some decent stories and I actually saw the good in him and let him stay. Well, fast forward to today. It's now almost December and he has given me $170. That does not even cover his electric bill. What should I do? I have a couple options in mind:

1. Lock the house and put an eviction notice on the door. Put all of his valuable belongings in a storage unit and give him 2 weeks to come up with payment in full or he loses everything. Unfortunately, everything he owns will not cover what he owes even if you bought it all new... His car is currently in my basement garage at the shop so I'll probably block it in with my Avalanche. If payment not received in full within 2 weeks, I'll roll it outside for the repo men.

2. Tell him he needs to pay me but do nothing so he can move out in the middle of the night....

3. Block in his car, take his computer and tell him I need the money within 2 weeks or he's gone.

4. What is your idea?

No lease agreement so he CAN be kicked to the curb in 10 minutes. He's had over 90 days notice if we want to get "legal" with everything. He does have a place to live (his dad's house) if I kick him out...

I hate being a nice guy and getting walked over. I'm done with this person as they have made NO effort to pay their rent or electric bill. To make matters worse, I would have not even had possession of my shop at this point if it were not for him living there right now as I would have just moved everything to my house. Yep, sucks for me being a moron and trying to see the good in everyone, I know...

m6speed · Post by **m6speed** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:45 pm

take his shit, block his car, boot his ass

Gunmetal Si · Post by **Gunmetal Si** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:55 pm

m6speed;210431 wrote:take his shit, block his car, boot his ass

same shit i told u, i think! or something:PDT_020:

kleancut · Post by **kleancut** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:04 pm

hes got somewhere to go. kick him out immediately. he knows hes been negligent on paying his dues, but obviously he has zero integrity to care.

why care for someone who insults you by staying at your place without caring to pay his dues. id be offended right just from that.

like i said, kick em out immediately, hes stealing from you now by living at your house and not paying rent who knows what he'll do if you give him 2 weeks to gtfo.
I know of couple people who got laid off from professional jobs and had to leave immediality due to, there being a chance of damaging the company, while counting down to their last days.

this is what i would do. sit and chat. explain you cant afford him bumming off you and he needs to take his stuff either now or by tomorrow afternoon.

yes its hard to lay the law down when ur a nice guy.
but hes fuckin aruond with your finances... nuff shaid.

crx08 · Post by **crx08** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:11 pm

Waffles · Post by **Waffles** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:17 pm

Verbal agreements are just as binding as written contracts, however it is much harder to prove they ever existed in the first place. I dont think your renter will make a legal issue out of it, but be careful.

RyanA · Post by **RyanA** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:41 pm

I hear you on verbal contracts binding just as much as written. However, he has breached EVERY verbal "contract" we've had. So, he has already screwed that up. I have his car blocked into my basement garage right now so it won't be going anywhere. I'll probably block the actual door off completely so he can't get his wrecked motorcycle out, either.

Yes, we are going to have one hell of a "talk" tonight.

Fenian · Post by **Fenian** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:36 pm

I question the legality of holding on to any of his stuff. You should also make sure to CYA legally, because I wouldn't put it past a deadbeat to try and sue you for an "illegal" eviction. He may be a deadbeat, but just make sure it is by the book.

http://ago.mo.gov/publications/landlordtenant.htm

The link has 9 pages of information. Basically, because your agreement is oral, you have to give him 30 days written notice. Also, you can't evict him without a court order.

Take him to small claims if you want your money. If he has a job, they could probably garnish his wages.

Clayton · Post by **Clayton** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:45 pm

ive had a few at my house to save you the headache and longevity of the situation be straight up and tell them you have a week to get the fuck out, you dont want to have to go throught this every month. bite your losses and look for a better renter.

Shutter Speed Imaging · Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:38 pm

where is said house and how much is rent? You may have a new renter