Combative Tenant (PA) - Landlord Forum thread 360652

Combative Tenant (PA) by Annoymous on July 12, 2020 @07:23

Long story short. Tenant tested me to see if he could push me around and constantly fights and complains about my employees. I had enough of him and asked him to move out after being there for two months. Then attitude quickly changed for the better towards me but not my help. Since then my tenant has done nothing but complain about the apartment. When I make arrangements for contractors to go out there to check things out, tenant constantly calls me and says cancel because of a conflict. This has happened at least five times. One of my contractors asked me if I still wanted to address the issue from two months ago and if so he would go out there. I let my tenant know and when contractor arrived there was nothing but animosity. He asked me before he went out if tenant was caught up on their rent for the month. I said no. When tenant starting yelling and screaming at my contractor, he asked my tenant if the rent was paid yet. My tenant completely flew off the handle. I asked my contractor why he asked that question. His response was that there was so much yelling and screaming at him and he did not want to fight back and thought that by asking that question my tenant would calm down. My contractor was a nervous wreck when I talked with him and warned me to be careful. My tenant wrote me several text messages blasting my contractor. I never responded. Then the last message was do you want me to leave. I fear my tenant was setting me up for something so I did not answer. In all 40 years I never had a tenant ever yell and fight with my help the way this person does. My question is can I get him out legally before the lease expires?

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Re: Combative Tenant (PA) by Garry on July 12, 2020 @08:02	[ Reply ]

You need to issue your T a 3 day notice to pay rent or quit ASAP. If rent goes unpaid, yes, you can get him out legally before the lease term is up. Just start your state's eviction procedures. Do your "talking" thru official notices/paperwork. Do not send ANY contractors there to fix anything until the T is out, or the rent is paid up. I would send a different contractor there the next time, and tell him to not engage the T in any conversation. Just fix the problem, and leave.