Charge rent on move out date? - Landlord Forum thread 332578

Charge rent on move out date? by maryanne (Vt) on March 25, 2015 @08:59

Sorry...this, I'm sure, has been asked here before but I don't know the answer. My tenant wants a few more days to move and plans to surrender property midday April 3. How many days do I charge for? 2 or 3? Thank you in advance!

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Re: Charge rent on move out date? by Shaun (FL) on March 25, 2015 @09:26	[ Reply ]

It is situations like this that has made me a real hard @$$. Tenants give notice, that states they will be out by last day of month..suddenly need more time to move, clean up and / or want to turn keys in at 9-10pm at night. I am NOT a motel. If your belongs are still on the property as of midnight you owe for the day. And FL law is double rent for holdover... If you are Month to Month and you roll into the next month you owe for the entire month. I use that to encourage them to get on out. Too many times I have a Tenant ask then they don't follow through…."Everything will be out except for the big items, like couch, dining set, etc…" And you find out groceries in the pantry, clothes in closet. In other words they haven't moved. They really do not realize that when they hold you up with their extra days, they end up costing you money.

Re: Charge rent on move out date? by P-Bone (NY and OH) on March 25, 2015 @10:06	[ Reply ]

Honestly, I'd probably inform them that staying past the current agreed-to vacancy date will require payment of the next month of rent. If they are a good tenant, I may otherwise pro-rate it back, but it puts me in a position that I can't turn the unit over quickly if I'm required to wait a few more days to inspect, repair, and prep the unit to re-show.

Re: Charge rent on move out date? by Anonymous on March 25, 2015 @10:46	[ Reply ]

Holdover in my state is 2x the rent, so I usually suggest that they load their stuff into a Uhaul a day before the end of the month, and plan to clean the empty rental on the last day of the month. They'll have to spend 2 nights in a motel to do that, but I explain that's less expensive than paying my 2x rent. To answer your question, if you are inclined to pro-rate, you'd charge for each day they occupy the rental, so if they want to turn in keys on April 3 at noon, that would be 3 days.

Re: Charge rent on move out date? by Chris (Wi) on March 25, 2015 @12:26	[ Reply ]

Honestly if they have been really good tenants I would draft up an agreement quick that states they must pay $XX per day for the 3 days or so that they need to complete the move. Make sure they pay in advance. Make it clear that if they are not out by the specified day that they will be gone after for holdover. If they have been anything less than steller I would let them know that they must be out when they stated they would be our or you will go after them for holdover.

Re: Charge rent on move out date? by CCRider (CA) on March 25, 2015 @21:52	[ Reply ]

It doesn't seem crazy to me, that they want to wait until Friday to move (April 3rd). They're probably taking Friday off so they can move and unpack, etc., over the weekend. I'd charge them for 3 days. As someone else said, if they're there at all on the 3rd, nobody else can be living there. Plus, you know how moves go - they'll probably still be there later than mid-day. If they've been great tenants and you don't expect a lot of damage, I'd even offer to take the 3 days rent out of their deposit, if they promise to definitely be out by that day and leave the place really clean, so you can get in there Saturday and start painting, etc. I've done this and the tenant is so grateful they make an extra effort, and I knew they'd be getting back most if not all of their deposit anyway, so it worked out fine. Treat good tenants well, and they will refer good tenants to you. Worked for me.

Re: Charge rent on move out date? by Anonymous on March 26, 2015 @01:29	[ Reply ]

Has to be in writing. No oral changes. Important unless you want problems. Pro-rate rent. Don't take it out of deposit.