What should I do? - Landlord Forum thread

What should I do? by Orvil (PA) on June 26, 2012 @13:15

I have a T whose lease is up at the end of July. T has not paid utilities (obligated by lease) since May & has stopped paying rent since June. I don't think they are at the residence since I never see them (I live 3 houses away), but, I do see items in the yard which they had used: swimming pool, bicycles, toys, tents, throw-rugs, etc.

I do see the lights come on at night. I called them & the phone is no longer in service, I sent them a letter & received no responce. How do I get this T out of my house so I can make it ready for a paying Tenant?

Thanks for your help.

[ Reply ] [ Return to forum ]

Re: What should I do? by Micah on June 26, 2012 @13:25	[ Reply ]

Since you do not know the eviction procedures you better hire a good flat-rate eviction attorney (make sure he/she is an eviction specialist). You are already about 20 days behind on starting the paperwork...

Re: What should I do? by OK-LL on June 26, 2012 @14:03	[ Reply ]

Most states' LL/T law allows entry without notice if LL suspects abandonment, so that the LL can safeguard the property against elements & intruders. So you can knock & use your key to enter, but if you see signs that your tenants are still there, you must back out immediately having satisfied your concern. Otherwise, you can post a 24-hour notice to enter for inspection/maintenance/whatever is allowed in your state and then the next day do so. If the tenants have allowed the utilities to be turned off, have stopped paying rent and are no longer on the premises, you may want to assume abandonment and follow your state's abandonment procedure -- change locks, send a notice of abandonment to tenant's LKA (your rental), post the same notice on the property door, and wait the required number of days (30 in my state), then dispose of the property according to statute. Or it may just be quicker to file FED (eviction) -- in my state it's only 11 days from filing to judgment, then you have the ultimate right to enter. Pick a direction and take it.

Re: What should I do?