What would you do here? --71.207.xxx.x

She cant do that anymore? I would have asked when she will be out and i would follow it up with an eviction notice --74.77.xx.xx

Things are getting bad for many people and this may become more common. --24.180.xx.xx

This is an example of when I took Brad and Sid's advice on doing bi-monthly rent. When the tenant had trouble paying the full $550.00 rent, I split the rent in half and had it due on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays. This system worked okay for 3 years but now I am back to where I started,...she is having trouble paying the $275.00 now. And because she has been with me for 7 years, I am trying to be patient and see if there is a solution here other than eviction. --71.207.xxx.x

Roy you can't fix her finances. I would sympathize with her, say you understand, but that you can't afford to subsidize her and you should both mutually agreed to end the lease and let her move...I don't have time to agonize over someone else, I have enough problems of my own these days. --50.82.xxx.xxx

Roy,I am done trying to solve peoples problems when there is nothing in it for me,she needs to come up with a solution otherwise pack and go and i will raise the rent and get someone else who can take care of themselves --74.77.xx.xx

After last night's phone call, my first thought was "the economic recession has begun'. My tenant got accustomed to getting paid 'time and a half' and when the over-time honeymoon ended, it threw her paycheck to paycheck finances in turmoil. She still works full time at $12.00/hour but with no over-time hours now. --71.207.xxx.x

It sounds like the tenant hasn’t had any rent increases during at least the last 3 years which makes me believe the tenant is spending money elsewhere and rent isn’t the priority or they are in a rental they can’t afford and need a roommate or to find a cheaper rental. Is it possible at that pay rate your tenant could qualify for some subsidies like food/heating/etc which would free up money for rent? --75.67.xxx.xxx

I would follow the terms of the lease that was signed years ago. It likely spells out what your actions will be in case of non payment. It likely also includes how quickly that she will vacate if she cannot pay. --149.76.xxx.xxx

--162.249.xx.xxx

Actually after 6 years, this tenant finally got her first rent increase. Her rent went from $500 to $550.00/month. That rent increase pissed her off too but like all of my other tenants, she got over it and accepted it. Since it was Brad and Sid who got me into this situation, I will let them tell me how to get out of this situation,...LOL. --71.207.xxx.x

Sounds like she is not managing her money well. Have you asked her if she has a budget to share? Perhaps reviewing her budget would give you an ideas of how to proceed. $12 x 40 times four weeks should give her plenty of money for $550 rent. --172.56.xx.xxx

--71.207.xxx.x

--72.231.xxx.xx

The answer is clear, pay your rent or move. If you are out by (pick a date) there will be no additional penalties. Trying to make things work for a struggling tenant who already can’t pay dirt cheap rent is not doing her or you any favors. --75.89.xxx.xxx

--71.207.xxx.x

Yes of course I'd go week to week. Until she gets her spending under control. She can live in her car. There is communication. But it does seem like ya just kicking the can down the road. She can't seem to "get in front of her money" yes a part time job would be helpful. A church to pay one month rent would be helpful. Is there any COVID money program in your area or a list of churches that could help --172.56.xx.xx

My approach would be to end the relationship because I have no desire to stress about collecting rent every week. --172.58.xxx.xx

--71.188.xx.xxx

Oh, and can she apply for benefits. If she is protected class she may get them. I got three of my tenants from one unit on the list to get benefits. --71.188.xx.xxx

Roy I'm glad you care about your renters. There are also free classes offered by Churches, And budget discipline help. If she was willing to attend, I would consider gifting her a month rent as a reward. If she puts in practice what she learns she'll go forward forever as your tenant. If not she is just holding a place for someone who will. --172.56.xx.xxx

I would ask if she is giving her notice. Get it in writing. T finances are an issue that becomes mine. Not my job to tell someone to get a 2nd job. Just a simple "sorry to see you go". You get what you allow. Pretty sure you can raise it.. --73.230.xxx.xx

MC has a good answer: so you can't pay rent. Are you giving me official notice that you are leaving? Or what are you suggesting, exactly, Ms. Tenant? Because you can't just not pay rent. --50.82.xxx.xxx

I just called this tenant. She and I are meeting at 9.00am tomorrow morning at her house to discuss her current situation. If she can afford a $100/week (every Saturday) then I may be willing to accept that. I hate losing a good tenant if something can be worked out here. --71.207.xxx.x

She's not a good tenant. She can't pay the rent. --71.63.xx.xx

Sometimes rents go up and sometimes rents go down,..depending on the market all RE is local too. This is a Class D neighborhood and if she moves out, I will be looking at a major rehab expense and then finding another tenant during the winter doldrum months is not something I am looking forward to. I need to keep her in that house for another 6 months. --71.207.xxx.x

--71.63.xx.xx

I’ve found this to be true over and over again. The more you do for someone, the less they do for themselves. You are doing her no favors by continually interfering with her responsibility to solve her own problems. If she values keeping your place as her home she will find a way to make it work. If you are this desperate for a tenant and seriouslt don’t think you can find someone better then you should seriously consider reducing your inventory by one and get rid of this unit. Unless of course it’s your goal to be a charitable housing provider and undermine your tenant’s ability to improve her own situation. --75.89.xxx.xxx

Many people have never had a mentor to learn about money management. They truly don't understand what money can and cant do for them. They have no money management skills. Agree with you plan. --172.56.xx.xx

Roy - Lisa's comments are good. If she can't pay and you think it's not worth the rent she is already paying, SELL it. --50.82.xxx.xxx

Roy,you should actually be thanking Sid and Brad instead of saying they got you into this.They showed you how to get your loser tenant from 2 years of paid occupancy to 4 or 5 years of paid occupancy and you avoided a turnover and the expense that goes with it.If you take only $100 week you will look as desperate as you are to her and within a month she will just stop paying altogether,you need to get at least the $550 over the course of the month and make sure she understands when there are 5 fridays in the month you get paid as a bonus.Why do you need to go to the house? the more effort you put into this the more she wins and you will do what she wants,no reason she cant have this discussion on the phone --74.77.xx.xx

This is good for the reasons Roy said. Not good to have an empty in winter. Ken you are not an intuitive. We have to do a clean up in NOvember and then we will go back to normal. --71.188.xx.xxx

This is good for the reasons Roy said. Not good to have an empty in winter. Ken you are not an intuitive. We have to do a clean up in November and then we will go back to normal. --71.188.xx.xxx

Get creative and collect that rent. Dig ? --24.183.xxx.xxx

That question has worked for me a few times. --70.92.xx.xx

I’d suggest that since she is not getting any overtime, it is time for her to find a second, part-time, job. --149.76.xxx.xx

--71.207.xxx.x

Start a new thread with the results of the meeting. --73.230.xxx.xx

--73.103.xxx.xxx

BRAD --73.103.xxx.xxx

I think if Sid and Brad gave advice to change the rent to bi-monthly you did not listen to the increase in rent - you only split it in half, rewind the time machine and follow directions. --76.190.xxx.xxx

Is it worth wild to retrain the tenant or not? --24.101.xxx.xxx

--73.113.xxx.xxx

6x6 they will not teach money management in schools because the people in charge do not want anyone capable of taking care of themselves and be capable of thinking for themselves,they want you just smart enough to run the machines of production but not smart enough to question anything --74.77.xx.xx

The school systems are all about test results these days and how they rank. --73.230.xxx.xx

I am now going to have 3 vacancies all at one time. November will be a busy month and there will be no rest for the weary. It is what it is. --71.207.xxx.x

Roy, I salute you for understanding your market and running your business. Sounds like you were fair and firm. On these days I remember that my houses will be better and my next residents will be better and again i will have more money in the bank. Getting from here to there can be painful but hang in there there is alot of good ahead. Just keep goin. Clean them houses up, repair, relist and rerent! --172.56.xx.xx

Thank-you Plenty,..and Brad20K. --71.207.xxx.x

I am sorry to hear about your three vacancies. However, your place is in the South with warmer climate and no problems with snow? Best of luck with the turnovers. It will work out. --71.202.xx.xxx

"It is what it is," is the final answer, again. --24.183.xxx.xxx

I would love a good tenant to go bad and move! But we all have different goals and are at different places in life. Surely with your rents being so low you can hold out for a stronger qualified tenant. If that’s just not possible you will continue to have these stress inducing situations. These tenants are blessed their are landlord’s like you who consider this just the cost of doing business. --75.89.xxx.xxx

Contrary to what everyone thinks here, this tenant did not go bad,..she just went broke and realized she needed to move. My definition of 'going bad' is when the broke tenant stops communicating with me, then starts trashing the house and becomes a total PITA to the point where I have no choice but to file for eviction. That is 'going bad' in my book,.. but that is not the situation with this tenant. --71.207.xxx.x

Roy,she hasnt paid the rent and did nothing till you went to visit her then she told you a story to buy more time,I call that going bad.Let us know what happens at the end of the month.Why are you letting her stay till the end of the month if the rent isnt paid? --74.77.xx.xx

She has paid one half of October rent. It was the 2nd half due on the 15th that she called me about and started this whole conservation. --71.207.xxx.x

Why? If they go bad I have no issue moving them along quickly. If they decide to move voluntarily it’s one more I can sell. Personally I prefer they make the decision to move voluntarily so I don’t have to decide who to non-renew or sell out from under. Right now they have all been good to me and as such I am committed to continue to provide them the option to continue renting from me. --75.89.xxx.xxx

BRAD --73.103.xxx.xxx

His other saying was, "Time is money!" --216.126.xx.xxx

Ken, that makes since. --73.113.xxx.xxx

Also, make sure you get something out of it. Cancel the lease and rewrite it to show weekly payments and make it month-to-month so you can throw her out when weekly payments aren't enough. --108.69.xxx.xxx