hello fellow landlords, so my tenants who are ignoring ntq, I mailed a follow up letter with cleaning checklist and still now reply. Today I sent message that I would be picking up rent tomorrow and asking when can we schedule move out inspections with no reply.

These tenants have already stated they won't move without a court order. However, I just learned (through court records) these tenants were evicted before moving into my place (in the same city). Their rental application clearly stated they had no evictions, so to me that is rental fraud right there.

My question is this: Should I let these tenants know that I know about this or bring this up at court in front of judge? It certainly would prove a lack of integrity with their counter arguments. I just can't believe people would want a 2nd eviction on record within 5 years.

Tenants lied on a rental app? That's a new one! Court records... might have been a good idea to check before move in.

Tonia,

Stop the drama. Bribe them. You know what a lawyer will cost you. You know what missed rent will cost up until the last minute they can remain in the house they will. They will also ask for continuances, and try to prolong the eviction as long as possible. Once they are evicted, they will probably tear up the house like stopping up drains and leaving the water running when the leave in the middle of the night.

Hi Tonia,

Some tough advice has been shared here, and there is something to learn from all of ot.

Doing a background check prior to renting is Landlording 101. Forgive Vee for assuming you're a rookie, because not doing you due diligence is a rookie mistake. It doesn't matter if you're full time land lord or not. The real question is are you prepared to hand over possession of a property worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars without checking the person out properly. Whether you have 1 unit or 100, the answer should be the same.

I have a full time job and a part time job apart from Landlording, I screen for credit, background, landlord refs, social media presence, income, and I do an in home inspection of the applicant's current home. Keeps my vacancies low and profits up. I could find 100 excuses why I would not do this, but that doesn't help me be a good landlord. Like Nike says, "Just do it."

JB is right. Do NOT listen to Patrick. Rewarding these bad tenants with cash is one of the worst things that you can do.

JB is right. Do NOT listen to Patrick. Rewarding these bad tenants with cash is one of the worst things that you can do.

Are you Landlords SERIOUS??? Here's a pro-deadbeat that Tonia of RI did not screen, screen, screen. Therefore NOW more money will be tossed at this bad situation with the court process. Hire an attorney, court fees, AND more time in lost rents and possible more damage, and unpaid utilities. Stop the bleeding now....

...ABSOLUTELY Cash for Keys offer with a list of criteria for tenants to meet for payment of the cash. The unit must be broom cleaned. No damage to the unit. all keys returned at walk thru inspection and must be out in 3 days.

Being so RIGID: I plan on fighting this one based on principles since these tenants have been problematic in behavior. WELL principles will get no more rent and add-on legal fees and more costs that you will not see. Sure you will have a judge but that judgement, collections and another mark against credit will become a tax write off on your 2018 taxes. DEADBEAT could careless...

This tenant could care less that another eviction will add to their record. They are deadbeats AND Tonia missed this factor. NOW offer the deadbeat to get out and move onto the next paying tenant and screen, screen, screen.

Poor advice from Tom. Cash for keys is AlWAYS a bad idea.

It is good and bad....its a judgement call. Suing and getting a judgement that can screw with the bad guy for a long time whichcan be soul satisfying.

Jeff of CO, Good luck with continuing to throw good money out the window and the clock continues to tick and money continues to be lost. Stop the bleeding and do Cash for Keys.

So go for it continue to increase the debt owed by the deadbeat tenant and this will increase the tax write off for 2018. And the debt will go to collections and never be collected in the majority of these cases.

Stop the bleeding and do Cash for Keys!!! Moving onto a well screened new paying tenant.

Tom of FL, good luck with rolling over and rewarding tenants for bad behavior. Guys like you are one of the main reasons that there are those kinds of tenants.

I have no problem whatsoever with taking all legal battles like this to the mat. It's just another business expense, which is something I need.

When you reward bad tenants, word gets out that you're a pushover. And when you won't stand for something you'll fall for anything.

Cash for keys is for weak landlords.

Sure Tom...How many thousands of dollars are you going to bribe a scumbag with??? No thanks. I'd rather pay that money to a decent eviction attorney and get some good advice in the meantime.

JB of OR and Jeff of CO go for it keep throwing out money that you will not see in a majority of cases. Best of Luck you both willl need it because its all about the principle thing to do...

Legal fees add up, dragging out more time with no rental income, and potentially more damage as well. As the court process drags out and added legal fees as well.

Thanks Tom, but I don't need any luck. I'll create my own, thanks. On the other hand, I'm sure glad I live no where near you. I sure don't need some local LL who wants to kick their deadbeat down the road to me without a "kick me" message posted on his back.

Tonia, with all the mud slinging, I didn't read every message carefully. In RI, if you want to get them out, the fastest way is through nonpayment.. 30 day notice followed by eviction filing can last quite a long time.. (different eviction court schedule, proceeding etc). Which means your tenant got more time to stay.. They had eviction record(s), they know the gist, so just hire an attorney and evict when it comes time they don't pay passing 15th..

Btw, I have done Cash for Key couple times.. If your tenant is a deadbeat to a point of no return (trust me, there are many out there won't mount for anything or have anything garnishable in their life time, that's how sad they are), try cash for key..

For example, if rent is $1000.. Offer $500 if they are out in a week, $350 if 2 weeks.. etc...

I will ignore all the drama amongst the Forum members.

Tonia, there is no reason to tell the judge up front about the prior eviction or the lie on the application. The easiest most basic eviction is for non-payment of rent. It is usually simple and smooth. So evict for non-payment, and keep it simple.

The only reason to bring up the old eviction and the lie about it is if you need to "impeach" the tenants in court. For example, if they lie in their court testimony, you might be able to bring up their lies in the application to challenge their credibility in their testimony -- it boils down to: you lied in your application, so why should we believe you now?

I don't do cash for keys, but my court system is reasonably prompt. If it took me 6 weeks or even longer to do a simple eviction, maybe I'd consider cash for keys. I know some jurisdictions take a long time to evict, and I am not willing to give an opinion as to whether cash for keys is a reasonable idea or not. It all depends on the individual circumstances. I do what is best for my bottom line.

BOYS! Go to your rooms! This discussion has devolved into a snarling match. There are many ways to handle any situation--not all solutions work on all problems.

I will tell you of an alternate way someone(not me) handled it. This LL I know had the same situation--no rent, no compliance to notice to quit, tenant would not leave. So, armed with his copy of the lease,and his title to the property, he MOVED INTO the home while they were still there! Yes, came with a sm suitcase, used his key to get into HIS property, and told the deadbeats he was living WITH them till they vacated. They said they will call the police and he said please do! I will show the police my title proving I am the owner, and all the notices I sent you that you ignored, and the lease between us that you have broken. It is YOU who shd not be here. The police will see all my documents, know YOU are in the wrong, and say "Sorry,this is a civil case-we can't get involved."

The wife said to the husband-"this is your fault,I'm taking the kids to my sister's place" and she left. With no support, the tenant spent one night with the LL on the couch and finally decided to move out the next day. The LL provided boxes from the back of his trunk.

It took a while. The wife came back to take charge of the packing--but the resistance had turned the corner. LL came back to check on them every day with the "threat" of him moving back in over their heads. But, he bought packing tape and boxes, brought pizza one day, helped load the truck,etc.

Lynda, that is one heck of story and funny way to get the matter resolved.. Tonia, I would check with your attorney first.. not sure if it is legal in RI.. (betcha, the attorney never heard of it either)

If you intend to move in as owner, that is a different story.. I have no idea if there is a separate law on that..

Like a light house, sometimes the best thing you can do is just be the signal to warn the next victim.

One eviction on your record shame on you and the drama filed story Mr Tenant........however if there is a second eviction - well the blame becomes more the Landlord for not spending the money to check out your future client.