Had a message from tenant that is 3 months behind and they want to meet tomorrow night & pay two months, she got a surprise Christmas bonus that they desperately needed. It is a real blessing and I am glad it will help them get closer. They've rented from us for over three years and they are the kind of people that pressure wash the siding, fix a water leak under the house from an old water line going next door from former owners water source (repo house from part of family next door). We had our own well bored when we bought it. The leaking water was running the old lady's well dry next door and she didn't have anyone to fix it. So a kids appendix and job losses, etc., had set them way back.

Well, two months paid is better than nothing, but what about the other, and the next? Do you think they will really catch up? That's an awfully deep hole.

Larry-- "predict" fact is it's gone well for the tenants not the business owner. No longer prediction but fact.

When the OP mentioned a well thought for sure it was going to be wishing well!

Please tell me she's paying all the late fees and the court costs she owes you to. She should be well on her way out the door at 3 months in.

No, because you just don't know what is out there around here. We know they get a huge refund at tax time and always get all of their bills caught up then. I just told her WE couldn't wait any longer and she was going to have to do something (loan from a company/bank, family or move). I had even told her after she had paid us all they owed us I would rent something to her again. So she knew I meant what I said, because I'd never had to say anything like that to them before.

Yikes...3 months behind. Saved by a Christmas bonus. Still one month behind. Is there any indication they will stabilize in 2019, or did this just delay the inevitable?

I will be interested to hear if their promise to pay 2 months actually comes true. Keep us posted.

You are much more patient than I am...no way I'd let someone get that far behind. I'm in the ZT camp.

Can I be Frank? -- PAT? (my name is D) you sound like a tenant with yada yada yada yada!!!!!! my aunt died my uncle died my Maintenance man has a hangnail, I mailed it already, my friends grandmother died, i needed the rent to go on vacation to HI, on and on and on. Good luck with this. Oh forgot-- it's winter?

Ally if that's advise "well it's bad". Feeling all warm and fuzzy inside "don't pay the bills".

3 months and counting........... most LL's can't afford to support they slew of Residents.

Pat VA -- from the movie "MY COUSIN VINNY" the guy who wanted to fight for the money he owed for pool.

You got it? Lets see it? Fan it out so I can see it? How do we know that isn't just a 20.00 on top?

Pat you will certainly be first in line at the pearly gates. Not being able to keep your business up and running due to poor business practices may being your FAMILY down however.

Pat, I ‘predict’ this will go well. First off, you knew going in that these people were more likely to make it right, and are able to verbalize your reasons. Empty units waiting for ‘the perfect tenant’ May get broken into, and time spent searching for a new tenant (yuck) has been much discussed on this forum lately. To not have to deal with all the ‘really, really, really interested parties who want to move in right now!’ is worth something right there.

Cutting tenants ‘a break’ certainly isn’t for many landlords. And I admit, three months would be more than what is in my comfort zone. But, for those who have the skills, it can be a very profitable means to additional income. Of course, one needs to be able to verbalize/document the reasons why one tenant can be expected to catch up, should it ever come to that (unlikely)

Pat,

Do you lend money out buddy? I could use a loan and I am sure I will pay you on time just as the written contract says........honest