Have you ever had a tenant purposefully damage a property of yours? If so, can you think of anything you would have done differently to prevent it?

Never happened to me yet...but I wonder sometimes. Most of our properties are "B", and mostly rent to professionals...so most people are respectful but there's always the one oddball that ruins it all...and I'd like to prevent it before it happens.

I put a lot of weight on integrity/character when screening for tenants...if I catch someone lying it's a sure bet they don't have integrity and would do such a thing. I will turn down liars faster than the speed of light.

One thing I do always check is to talk to the PREVIOUS LL if I can...not the current one...often get a better story from that person.

I deal with lower income. I haven't had seriouse damage as of yet. But tantrum like damage from evictions is the norm.

I have dealt with this before. I cannot recall the person on the lease doing the destruction, but their paramours and offspring sure have.

It is a screening issue. The best way to avoid is to refuse the judgement proof as they as a group are the most frequent offenders.

I have had it happen, although not huge damage, enough that you know they did it on purpose. I have had them make things worse by "fixing" it. A lot of times it is just leaving their trash.

I have learned to keep calm, and level headed on my end, even if the tenant does not. Sometimes it is difficult to talk nice and respectful when you want to scream and swear. I will also walk away and not communicate with them while keep an eye in the distance. Cash for keys, pro-rating rent for the month are also helpful.

I purchased a home with a tenant living inside and refusing to move for the prior owner. When I met the tenants they made threats that they'd damage the property if I tried to evict them or raise their rent.

So I purchased a "Special" insurance policy that protects me from tenant damage, including carpets, appliances, windows, walls, window coverings, A/C and plumbing fixtures. It was an extra $120 on the home owners fire/liability policy.

I then filed a police report and took pictures of the current condition of the property. When it came time to pay the rent, the tenants avoided me. I served them a 3 day notice and later had my attorney do an eviction. When the Sheriff came to do the lock out, they documented the damages. I then called the police and had them act on my first report, claims they'd do damage if I evicted them.

I had a couple breakup, she locked him out, and he smashed the kitchen window to get in at 1AM March 1 2016. Upstairs unit called police and a bored cop(bless his heart) called me and spent all night tracking the perpetrator. The male tenant admitted the breakin and it went into the police report...yea. I had smashed glass 12 feet behind the window in the bathtub he hit it so hard. He tried to say he was wiggling in through an open window and it popped.

I had a couple breakup, she locked him out, and he smashed the kitchen window to get in at 1AM March 1 2016. Upstairs unit called police and a bored cop(bless his heart) called me and spent all night tracking the perpetrator. The male tenant admitted the breakin and it went into the police report...yea. I had smashed glass 12 feet behind the window in the bathtub he hit it so hard. He tried to say he was wiggling in through an open window and it popped.