Re: Illegal Activity want other landlord's advice

Re: Illegal Activity want other landlord's advice by Jake on February 13, 2012 @15:58

"I feel a responsibility as a landlord that this house be safe for the neighborhood."

You rented to an unmarried couple with 5 children and a dog and did not expect trouble? What kind of a credit and background check did you make?

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Re: Illegal Activity want other landlord's advice by Anonymous on February 13, 2012 @16:20	[ Reply ]

I knew their credit wasn't great, did background check online that said no criminal records, yes totally naive and unprepared, trust me I beat myself up about this daily that's not what I posted here to hear.....I thought I paid dues to the lpa to help me when matters arise, to seek advice from others with more experience, not berate me. I can't change the past and wanted some support.

Re: Illegal Activity want other landlord's advice by Anonymous on February 13, 2012 @16:41	[ Reply ]

Don't beat yourself up. Learn from the mistake. I had a similar situation 42 years ago in my first rental property. I was more careful the next time. I still own the house and many others.

Re: Illegal Activity want other landlord's advice by Anonymous on February 13, 2012 @17:55	[ Reply ]

Don't beat yourself up. What has happened as a learning experience and when you are going to be renting again be more strict and pull on these memories to remind you why you need to be careful and take your time. My parents just went through a situation where they had to evict tenants for the first time in their 30 year LL experience and found out they could have avoided having them in the first place if they had just taken simple steps in an application process. They left the apartment damaged to the point where all the floors had to be replaced, several walls needed major rehab, tile in the bathtub needed to be replaced because they drilled over a dozen holes in it, graffiti on walls and a few windows needed to be re-framed because they drilled/nailed into them so much that there wasn't anything much left that would be able to anchor any kind of rod for blinds. Your tenants at least have paid the rent on time. Like other's have written, follow the advice of your lawyer. The events you described sound very disturbing especially the weapons charges. Schedule an inspection so you can get a look at your property and know if you are facing any damages. Make a report to child services that you are concerned about the safety of the children. You probably don't have to give your name and just say you are a concerned neighbor. In my state, the person has to be convicted of the illegal activity in order to get the eviction on those grounds and you don't have to send a 30 day letter. Explain to your husband that an arraignment isn't a trial. He may not get a trial or formal verdict until months down the line. Who knows what can happen until then? It's best to get everything started and sorted sooner rather than later. What prospective buyer is gonna feel comfortable buying the home under the circumstances of what is going on now? What if the home is being shown and a drug deal is going on and goes bad? or "clients" come showing up looking to score or settle disputes? I wish you good luck and hopefully this will be put behind you soon.

LL Tip: National criminal checks by ERIC on February 13, 2012 @19:43	[ Reply ]

National criminal checks are not worth the paper they are written on. National records are seriously behind; some states do not contribute their records. Many misdemeanor records are not listed at all. Small drug charges and disturbing the peace and other charges might be missed. They are better than nothing, but to rely on them is to be disappointed. Do a county level criminal check for all addresses the tenant lived at during the last seven years as indicated by their credit report and application.

Re: LL Tip: National criminal checks by Anonymous on February 14, 2012 @00:35	[ Reply ]

I have had very good luck on Nat, Crim reports. Like anything else it can be hit or miss.

Re: LL Tip: National criminal checks by Jake on February 14, 2012 @13:03	[ Reply ]

Eric, I agree that local county checks are important but the national check can not be so easily dismissed, especially for those from out of state who have lived other places. Once I found a criminal record from Alaska under the state's civil court records. A landlord can not know each and every county an applicant has lived in during their life.

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