The gall of some people!

mstevens · July 18, 2008, 08:30:24 PM

I just have to share this. Someone is bound to get a chuckle out of it.

We bought a house that came with 2 other spare or backup houses that we can't sell off because there isn't enough frontage to subdivide. We rent them out.

About 7 months ago a couple moved in after paying $1000 deposit. The rent for this 4-bedroom house is $1,100 per month. That's below-market for this area, but it allow us to be particularly selective about tenants (we thought). They have never paid the rent in full for any month. The first 2 months they did some painting that we'd agreed would apply toward rent, so although they didn't pay the full amount they did pay what had been agreed. From then on out it was straight downhill. The most they paid in any month was $550. We didn't evict them for several reasons, one being that this is a small town and we didn't want to come across as heartless. We decided enough was enough when they crossed the point of being $5,000 behind on rent. As is traditional, they moved in with a full oil tank but we've seen no tanker filling it up yet. Those of you who don't heat with oil wouldn't believe what it costs, and we'll have to provide a full tank for the next tenant which could be another $1,000.

They're moving out tomorrow and will be doing a walk-through with my wife. The guy called this evening and said that, if we wanted to, we could apply half of his security deposit toward the rent he owes and would only need to give him a check for $500 when he moves out.

When my wife told me this I was simply unable to process what I was hearing and made her repeat it, then asked if she were joking. She wasn't.

ducpainter · July 18, 2008, 08:33:14 PM

Tell him to button up his shirt so his heart doesn't fall out...

and get the make the beast with two backs out.

Bun-bun · July 18, 2008, 09:02:50 PM

Sorry, no sympathy for you. I learned a long time ago that some people will take advantage every chance they get. You should've kicked 'em out after the first month they stiffed you.
I wonder how many of the folks in that small town are shaking their heads, talking about how gullible you are?

'Course, maybe it's just me. This has not been one of my better weeks.

mstevens · July 18, 2008, 09:31:30 PM

Quote from: Bun-bun on July 18, 2008, 09:02:50 PM
Sorry, no sympathy for you. I learned a long time ago that some people will take advantage every chance they get. You should've kicked 'em out after the first month they stiffed you.
I wonder how many of the folks in that small town are shaking their heads, talking about how gullible you are?

'Course, maybe it's just me. This has not been one of my better weeks.

I think it's just you. I'm a doctor here and live in a big house. People tend to presume we have lots more money than we do. I doubt we would have gotten many points for kicking them out in the middle of the winter, either.

I'm not asking for sympathy about the unpaid rent, or anything else for that matter.

I'm simply pointing out how odd it is that they owe that much back rent and still think they're going to get any of their security deposit back.

He Man · July 18, 2008, 09:49:30 PM

I know exactly how you feel. I've had to evict 5 tenants over the past 4 years. One of them was a total douche fag and left with a $9000 debt and costs us over $1000 in court/lawyer fees. She STILL wanted us to pay her security deposit back (she lived there for 25+ years, and we owned it when she was there on the 22nd year!! RENT CONTROLLED APARTMENT!!!! The security deposit was $300! Yes she managed to dig up the original copy too! The lawyer, in his badassess to her to stfu and get out too =D ) I just finished some paper work and tomorrow night, i need to serve another tenant for 2 months of no rent. + hes supposely a douche bag who talks back, so that probably wont go so well.

People are assholes, wat are you going to do? If you can afford to be that generous to let someone stay with that kindd of debt, and you can turn a blind eye to it without any financial hardship, then consider this a lesson learned.

The Architect · July 19, 2008, 03:51:18 AM

mstevens, I understand. I've done the same before. Who wants to be a ball buster 24-7.

But you now have to document the unpaid expenses they have incurred and indicate the deposit deduction. Once they realize they own you over $5000, the deposit thing kind of goes away.

In NH, I have been told, if you decide to become a ball buster and go to court, the court will not understand your forgiveness of the previous unpaid rent. Basically, if it was acceptable then why is it not acceptable now.

Once the rent was not paid in full, you should have atleast given them a demand for rent and a notice to quit letter (ask a lawyer if these are the right documents.) This way if something ever goes really sour you can document that you were not just letting things go by.

Now that I think about it, these people have now gotten away with not paying their rent. They know they can get away with it. You may be able to afford the loss of rent. Will the next landlord?

There's a fine line between douche dag and sucker.

Why sign an agreement if you can't carry your end of the bargin?

Fox · July 19, 2008, 08:07:58 AM

I'm sorry to hear that. I should not be shocked by peoples stupidity, but I am. I guess I expect more from people.

The Architect · July 19, 2008, 08:54:27 AM

Quote from: Fox on July 19, 2008, 08:07:58 AM
I'm sorry to hear that. I should not be shocked by peoples stupidity, but I am. I guess I expect more from people.

Here's a theory

printman · July 19, 2008, 09:41:49 AM

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

How true is that

vwboomer · July 19, 2008, 04:03:06 PM

Quote from: printman on July 19, 2008, 09:41:49 AM
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

How true is that

I love that movie. It's funny because it's true.

sugarcrook · July 19, 2008, 04:31:57 PM

Quote from: red duke on July 19, 2008, 03:51:18 AM
mstevens, I understand. I've done the same before. Who wants to be a ball buster 24-7.

My gf.

Vindingo · July 20, 2008, 06:05:26 PM

Quote from: sugarcrook on July 19, 2008, 04:31:57 PM
My gf.

Some people just dont get it, and some people get by their entire lives doing shit like this.

You should write it off as a charitable donation on next years taxes and feel good about being a philanthropist

mstevens · July 21, 2008, 09:10:39 PM

Quote from: Vindingo on July 20, 2008, 06:05:26 PMYou should write it off as a charitable donation on next years taxes and feel good about being a philanthropist

Except for the fact that it would be illegal, I'd probably do it. There are other ways to write it off, though.

I found out earlier today that a neighbor is looking for them because she loaned them $130 and desperately needs it back. I also found out they got some sort of rent assistance from the town. If they did, I think the town's lawyers are going to all over them.

We haven't heard anything more about wanting part of their deposit back, though.

PizzaMonster · July 21, 2008, 09:26:54 PM

I can be a pretty charitable guy when it's justified but I've also always believed that you can only be a doormat as long as you continue to take things laying down.

The Architect · July 22, 2008, 12:49:20 PM

Quote from: mstevens on July 21, 2008, 09:10:39 PM
Except for the fact that it would be illegal, I'd probably do it. There are other ways to write it off, though.

They were doing you a favor, less income for you to claim...........

Quote from: mstevens on July 21, 2008, 09:10:39 PM
I found out earlier today that a neighbor is looking for them because she loaned them $130 and desperately needs it back. I also found out they got some sort of rent assistance from the town. If they did, I think the town's lawyers are going to all over them.

People like this usually leave a trail of unpaid depts. Will they ever learn their lesson?

News:

The gall of some people!