landlords rights
I have a situation that I need an opinion on.
I live in Texas and have a house that I rented to a young couple.
New baby on the way so I thought I'd help them out. The house needed work and I needed someone there to keep someone from breaking into the house or barn and stealing everything as I live several hours away and don't get down there much.
Long story short they lived there about a year and got behind on the rent right away. I told them the first week of December that they had until the end of January to get out.
I did not get a rent check for December or January.
I moved my son down there and let him live in the Winnebago that was parked in the barn. The 22nd or 23rd of January they let the power get turned off which left my son with no power, no way to cook a meal or keep warm. I went down there and the place was a mess. Rodent feces everywhere, (and they had a toddler in the house), dirty dishes and everything in the frig was ruined and stinking.
I got pissed for several reasons but the main reason was because I had to pay $200.00 to have the power company come out to turn the power on that day. The couple that was living there still had stuff in the house and had moved out and left it unlocked. Wide open for anyone to come and steal my appliances or vandalize the house.
I went to Wal-mart and got dead bolts for the doors that take a key on each side. They had already broke a small window in one door to reach in and unlock it.
I locked it up and moved my son in.
Now, my question is. Do I have a right to keep their stuff until they come up with some money or at least pick up the mounds of trash they left outside for the dogs to tear into and strow all over the country side.
They made a verbal aggreement to pay me $700.00 of the more than $1,500.00 that they owe me. Then they called the local S.O. and tried to say I stole their stuff. Anyway, anyone from Texas have an opinion or maybe been through something like this. Just curious.
Bode
I live in Texas and have a house that I rented to a young couple.
New baby on the way so I thought I'd help them out. The house needed work and I needed someone there to keep someone from breaking into the house or barn and stealing everything as I live several hours away and don't get down there much.
Long story short they lived there about a year and got behind on the rent right away. I told them the first week of December that they had until the end of January to get out.
I did not get a rent check for December or January.
I moved my son down there and let him live in the Winnebago that was parked in the barn. The 22nd or 23rd of January they let the power get turned off which left my son with no power, no way to cook a meal or keep warm. I went down there and the place was a mess. Rodent feces everywhere, (and they had a toddler in the house), dirty dishes and everything in the frig was ruined and stinking.
I got pissed for several reasons but the main reason was because I had to pay $200.00 to have the power company come out to turn the power on that day. The couple that was living there still had stuff in the house and had moved out and left it unlocked. Wide open for anyone to come and steal my appliances or vandalize the house.
I went to Wal-mart and got dead bolts for the doors that take a key on each side. They had already broke a small window in one door to reach in and unlock it.
I locked it up and moved my son in.
Now, my question is. Do I have a right to keep their stuff until they come up with some money or at least pick up the mounds of trash they left outside for the dogs to tear into and strow all over the country side.
They made a verbal aggreement to pay me $700.00 of the more than $1,500.00 that they owe me. Then they called the local S.O. and tried to say I stole their stuff. Anyway, anyone from Texas have an opinion or maybe been through something like this. Just curious.
Bode
0
-
If you have a lease, it should specify what will be done with abandoned property.
If you don't have a lease, they are called "Tenants at Will."
Tenants at Will usually have more rights than tenants with a lease.
You ought to be able to take them in to small claims court to recover your money.
If you don't have a lease, you ought to talk to a real estate lawyer.0 -
Posession is 9/10th's. I would be very cautious they don't burn you out. 0 -
Kiss the money goodbye.
Throw their stuff in the trash.
Don't look back.
Doug0 -
Send them a registered letter saying that they have to pick their stuff up by a certain date...then follow Doug Wilsons instructions. 0 -
I appreciate the response, they did make a verbal agreement but we did not have a written lease.
What they have is not worth much even if we sell it. I just want them to clean the place up the way it was when they moved in.
My son is living there now and he is well armed. I have told him not to answer the door if the Police/Sheriff's Office show up. I told him to call me if that happens but don't let them in under any circustances.
Bode0 -
Each State has different laws. It is their property and you can't just get rid of it. If you do you will be very surprised at how much it is worth and how do you prove it wasn't. Antiques can be very valuable, you know. Not to say anything about that new tenant YOU moved in. But who took that valuable property. After all they did leave it there and were going to make arrangements to come and get it. Something will be missing. You need to talk to an attorney or you could loose much more money. 0 -
I've evicted. Went through the State Marshall's Program. I won't tell you details, because it doesn't pertain to your state. now..
How did you come to know these people? Word of mouth? I know someone who really needs a place...Would you please rent to my cousin's friend because.... NOT!!! Don't fall for it!
After I conducted my eviction, I rented only to someone cleared through a rental service. Prior rental history, credit check, job, etc. You get the picture.
You seem like a "good person". Bad for a landlord. Go through an agency next time.
Best your son is occupying the house during the interim. My read is the deadbeats are gone from your life. Live and learn. Joe0 -
Sister had kinda the same problem. Deadbeat renter behind on rent and would leave for 8-10 days at a time and had cats in the house. Then he just wasn't there for weeks, she went in rescued the cats and took everything she wanted and cleaned the rest and put stuff out for garbage. She did manage to get 2 rifles he left, a Marlin 336 and a glenfield 22. She talked to law enforcement and a lawyer and they said beings he left, was behind on rent and left the cats in there to starve(cruelty to animals charges could be filed) she had a rigjht to sell what she needed to get reimbursed for back rent. That has been 15 yrs ago and never heard from the dead beat or had any repercussions. 0 -
How do you like the Marlin ??
Doug0 -
State laws varry. Tennants usually have more rights than you do. I have been doing this since 1969 and it can get stickey. My best advise to you since you have already moved your son in is this. They moved out and abandoned the property. It was empty when you discovered that they had left. There was NOTHING in the place. Thats your story and you're sticking to it! You may want to bag or box any thing that was left that apears to be worth anything and store it in the barn for awhile just in case. Be aware that you could still be sued. Good luck! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
How do you like the Marlin ??
Doug
Only shot it a few times and and back then they were not bring that much, so I sold it to a friend for his kids first hunting rifle.0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
11 comments