[sueduvall]

I had a renter who moved out with 4 days notice to me and turned the electric off before the first of the month never giving me a chance to have it transferred in my name and costing me another $25.00. The first month she was there, she somehow thought her rent was due on the 15th. We had a month to month agreement. After 9 days late (I am not a confrontational person at all, but if you push me the "tiger" comes out), I left her a message as to when was she going to pay the rent and if she didn't want to live there, I had someone else who would love to move in. This woman is an accountant, but does not trust banks and always gave me the rent in 3 money orders. I always had to go pick it up (40 minutes across town) and I think it was on time 1 month in about 20 months. She got all upset and paid the rent and realized it was due on the 1st, not the 15th. After that, there was always another excuse. She used the same one at least 3 times, saying that her boss and his partner were demerging their CPA firm and her check was going to be late because of that. Each month, always an email message from her, was shorter and shorter such as "rent will be there on the 7th, that is how I get paid". I always wondered if she told her car loan person that, or the dentist, electric company, etc. or if she could take groceries out at the grocery store and tell them she would be back to pay for them when she got paid. I think it was me she took the main advantage of. I also had an aboveground pool. The pump went out a day after a hard freeze in Florida. She told me she did run it. I really didnt believe her, but told her I never took care of the pool on previous renters, but that I would buy a new pump. The looney bird drained the pool and let it sit in the Florida sun. By the time, I came around the property, it was going on 2 weeks that the liner was exposed. I told her it could not be exposed for more than a day or two and that the liner was probably ruined. Sure enough, the liner feel apart. She said she would replace it (in one of her emails) and gave me a ridiculous amount of $2500 she was quoted. I told her that was terrible and that between my boyfriend, my son, me and her, we could probably do it ourselves. She said she couldnt afford it right now. Time never came, she continued to be late on rent. I think I got upset with her 3 times during the whole 20 month period and let her know. She said I stressed her out about living there everytime I got upset. I was the one upset. There were times I relied on her rent to pay my mortgage. She never paid a late fee or offered, but I had to pay a late fee on my mortgage, let alone the daily added interest to my principal. She also ran over a 100 ft outside electrical line that supplied electricity to a small shed/cabin. She never offered to replace that. She had 10 animals. My backyard patio bricks are black from them - they were nice and pressure washed when she moved in. I had picnic tables built around a tree - she threw birdseed on top and them and they rotting eventualy from all the pecking. She would have repairmen come in without telling me and take it out of the rent on her own. That was an argument about my washing machine. I told her she could use them, but if they broke down, she needed to pay or get her own. She took $100 out of the rent to replace a switch on an old washing machine. In an email, she said she would pay it back. She ends up giving me 4 days notice BY EMAIL that she will be out "due to a tight budget". She finally got a boyfriend after 16 years and was driving to his home 1 1/2 hours a day weekly and dinners, etc. She would go to the beach for a week also and then rent would be late. I told her Landlord Tenant says even on a month to month, she must give me 15 days notice, and what was she going to do about paying for the washer and pool liner (and now the walls of the pool are rusted). She answered back with, "you better change your attitude or no one will ever want to stay there". Who is the injured party there and where is she coming from. She never answered my question - what can I do to this lunatic?

[On-da-Beach]

I don't know why this is on the Florida forum. But, if you let her stay for 20 months with the same issues every month, I'd say you should have set your ground rules early on and stuck by them. She did what you let her do. Learn from this experience and move forward.

When the first month's rent was late, that was the time for assertive behavior. Let her know how it will be or she's out...period. That's the only way they'll respect you.

You can still be nice, but be firm!

Be glad this one's gone. You'll do better next time.

[TNRyan23]

Unfortunately, There is nothing you can do. I'm not sure if you had a lease but even if you did, There really is nothing you can do other then by having it put on her rental history.

You could sue in small claims court but chances are you wouldn't win, It would be strung out for several months and even if you did win, She likley wouldn't pay anyways.

It's a hard lesson to learn but hopefully you did and hopefully you won't be as nice to the next tennant which is sad to say but in todays world you have to be a jerk to get respect.

[cfIfan]

you could engage an attorney but all they will do is bill you and not get any money back. If she doesnt have any money and she is obviously not a home owner you will never see a cent. I know its hard but im afraid you will just have to chalk this one up to experience. Did you run a check on her in terms of background and credit check. It sounds like you have been putting up with problems with her from day 1. I would suggest you engage a realtor to find you a tenant. You dont have to have them manage the property, but simply find you a tenant.

Good luck

[Dappleganger]

You had a month to month agreement so why didn't you kick her out sooner? I am sorry for your trouble but it seems that you were too soft on her. Business is business and you at least allowed the troubled renter to stay despite the many instances of problems.