A suggestion to Sarasota eviction court process (tenant, 2015, landlords)

[Richbeachgoer]

I am a landlord that rents property out in North Port. Back in April I rented out my house to a couple with the lease term of 6 months. When the lease term was up in Oct. I extended their lease till Dec. 03, 2014 I gave them notice on Nov. 06th to vacate the house Dec. 03, 2014 On Dec. 03 they ignored my request to the term of the lease. When I filed the claim on Dec. 04 the tenets refused to pay any rent after that We had a hearing to see the eviction Judge on Jan. 28th 2015. At the hearing when the Judge asked them what was your reason why you did not pay rent, their answer was I have cancer and I think that I am entitled to free rent. The Judge said there is no one in this world that lives on free rent. Then they complained to the Judge that I shut off their wifi after I was giving them water and electric and rent free of charge. The Judge said I was not required to provide them with wifi. But I was required to give
them the water, electric and the stay at my house until a Judge decides on the case. The Judge ruled they owed me 2 months back rent. I know Judges they have to go by what the county laws are and I would of supported her of what decision that she would of made. The Judge gave them 24 hours to vacate. I could not tell them to leave because they would of ignored my request and the Judges order that was handed down to them. So I had to get the writs of possession of the house with the sheriff.Well it was Thursday and they had to give them 24 hour notice on Friday making it the following Monday that the sheriffs would come to force them out. The tenets that were being evicted drove off and I have no idea what address they moved to. Making it imposable for me to file a claim on them for back rent. I am not looking for you to help me out with the problem but I thought I could make a suggestion of how the process can be changed for the many of landlords not to
be cheated out of whats their rights to them they deserve My suggestion would be once the tenet refuses to pay the rent and the Landlord files a eviction claim, they make the tenet pay for some rent as the process of time is going by. I think the county accounts are a very excellent way for the landlord and the tenet who is facing eviction that no one is cheated out of just cause. The tenet I delt with disappeared after the hearing and there is no way I can file a claim on them. We the landlords pay our taxes and we obey the laws, but when a tenet stays in ones house dishonoring terms of leases, and skips town to escape their liabilities is certainly not the way a good citizen of the county or the state or even this great nation to be

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by Richbeachgoer

I am a landlord that rents property out in North Port. Back in April I rented out my house to a couple with the lease term of 6 months. When the lease term was up in Oct. I extended their lease till Dec. 03, 2014 I gave them notice on Nov. 06th to vacate the house Dec. 03, 2014 On Dec. 03 they ignored my request to the term of the lease. When I filed the claim on Dec. 04 the tenets refused to pay any rent after that We had a hearing to see the eviction Judge on Jan. 28th 2015. At the hearing when the Judge asked them what was your reason why you did not pay rent, their answer was I have cancer and I think that I am entitled to free rent. The Judge said there is no one in this world that lives on free rent. Then they complained to the Judge that I shut off their wifi after I was giving them water and electric and rent free of charge. The Judge said I was not required to provide them with wifi. But I was required to give
them the water, electric and the stay at my house until a Judge decides on the case. The Judge ruled they owed me 2 months back rent. I know Judges they have to go by what the county laws are and I would of supported her of what decision that she would of made. The Judge gave them 24 hours to vacate. I could not tell them to leave because they would of ignored my request and the Judges order that was handed down to them. So I had to get the writs of possession of the house with the sheriff.Well it was Thursday and they had to give them 24 hour notice on Friday making it the following Monday that the sheriffs would come to force them out. The tenets that were being evicted drove off and I have no idea what address they moved to. Making it imposable for me to file a claim on them for back rent. I am not looking for you to help me out with the problem but I thought I could make a suggestion of how the process can be changed for the many of landlords not to
be cheated out of whats their rights to them they deserve My suggestion would be once the tenet refuses to pay the rent and the Landlord files a eviction claim, they make the tenet pay for some rent as the process of time is going by. I think the county accounts are a very excellent way for the landlord and the tenet who is facing eviction that no one is cheated out of just cause. The tenet I delt with disappeared after the hearing and there is no way I can file a claim on them. We the landlords pay our taxes and we obey the laws, but when a tenet stays in ones house dishonoring terms of leases, and skips town to escape their liabilities is certainly not the way a good citizen of the county or the state or even this great nation to be

Exactly why as a landlord, you collect first, last & security. Unfortunately, there are many renters who become Houdini-like when they can't pay rent or after an eviction occurs. If proper background checks are done, that might be a lifeline for you ~ otherwise, we live in an age of social media ~ use it to find your missing. I'm sorry but you're not the first nor will you be the last to experience the phenomena of ghosting; be happy it only took two months to evict them!

[Richbeachgoer]

You bet I am happy it took only 2 months if it were New York it would of been much longer. Sure doing credit checks can reduce the risk for bad tenets but it still could happen And the damage the tenet leaves behind. The smoking all by itself causes allot of damage and very hard to repair. I knew the tenets had the money they were giving me the rent for 10 straight months. And for her to say Im entitled for free rent and not give a penny towards the rent to help me pay for the bills is pretty disgraceful

[Richbeachgoer]

If you have a store or any other business and someone comes in and says I want to buy a product you have displaied in the store and he says I cant afford that product and he walks out of the store without paying him anything he would be locked up, right? Well if the tenet could not afford to stay in that house and the agreement we made, he should of moved out and find another place to live where he can afford it. I am not in business to give people free rent where I have to pay bills for the place keeping up with the house.

[StAugustine]

Its part of the game, we don't live in a perfect world.
This is a standard cost of doing business. You got them out in a couple months? You got out cheap.

If you're cut from that cloth where you will chase someone down to the ends of the earth to collect the last cent 'on principle' (aka, ego), landlording will shave 10-15 years off your life and take away all your happiness.

[Richbeachgoer]

You got that right about being a landlord will shave 15 yrs of your life off

[DUNNDFRNT]

Originally Posted by Richbeachgoer

If you have a store or any other business and someone comes in and says I want to buy a product you have displaied in the store and he says I cant afford that product and he walks out of the store without paying him anything he would be locked up, right? Well if the tenet could not afford to stay in that house and the agreement we made, he should of moved out and find another place to live where he can afford it. I am not in business to give people free rent where I have to pay bills for the place keeping up with the house.

That is stealing, not paying you rent is not, they will have a judgment against them, it will go against their credit, that's all they can do,

[sware2cod]

This is why most landlords require security deposit plus first/last month rent upon move-in. Usually security deposit amt is equal to 1 month rent.

Had you requested both of these then you wouldn't be losing 2 months of rent, because the security deposit and last month rent would have "made you whole".

Live and learn. CYA next time.

BTW - In FL you shouldn't be doing 6 month rentals because this can kick-in tourist tax on the rental. FL Tourist tax isn't due when lease is or more than 6 months. This is why most non-seasonal rentals in FL require minimum of 7 month lease.

Learn your laws if you want to be a landlord.

[Richbeachgoer]

I got a reliable realtor now to handle my rental house. She seems to be very reliable and out to protect her clients. It surely reduce this terrible thing happening again

[LifeIsGood01]

Originally Posted by Richbeachgoer

I am a landlord that rents property out in North Port. Back in April I rented out my house to a couple with the lease term of 6 months. When the lease term was up in Oct. I extended their lease till Dec. 03, 2014 I gave them notice on Nov. 06th to vacate the house Dec. 03, 2014 On Dec. 03 they ignored my request to the term of the lease. When I filed the claim on Dec. 04 the tenets refused to pay any rent after that We had a hearing to see the eviction Judge on Jan. 28th 2015. At the hearing when the Judge asked them what was your reason why you did not pay rent, their answer was I have cancer and I think that I am entitled to free rent. The Judge said there is no one in this world that lives on free rent. Then they complained to the Judge that I shut off their wifi after I was giving them water and electric and rent free of charge. The Judge said I was not required to provide them with wifi. But I was required to give
them the water, electric and the stay at my house until a Judge decides on the case. The Judge ruled they owed me 2 months back rent. I know Judges they have to go by what the county laws are and I would of supported her of what decision that she would of made. The Judge gave them 24 hours to vacate. I could not tell them to leave because they would of ignored my request and the Judges order that was handed down to them. So I had to get the writs of possession of the house with the sheriff.Well it was Thursday and they had to give them 24 hour notice on Friday making it the following Monday that the sheriffs would come to force them out. The tenets that were being evicted drove off and I have no idea what address they moved to. Making it imposable for me to file a claim on them for back rent. I am not looking for you to help me out with the problem but I thought I could make a suggestion of how the process can be changed for the many of landlords not to
be cheated out of whats their rights to them they deserve My suggestion would be once the tenet refuses to pay the rent and the Landlord files a eviction claim, they make the tenet pay for some rent as the process of time is going by. I think the county accounts are a very excellent way for the landlord and the tenet who is facing eviction that no one is cheated out of just cause. The tenet I delt with disappeared after the hearing and there is no way I can file a claim on them. We the landlords pay our taxes and we obey the laws, but when a tenet stays in ones house dishonoring terms of leases, and skips town to escape their liabilities is certainly not the way a good citizen of the county or the state or even this great nation to be

It's tenant, not tenat.

Be grateful it was only 2 months. You should have asked for their Social Security number on the rental application to do a credit check and that way you could find them easier if you need to later.

Also you could have gotten their licence plate number and paid to do a check online for their future address. Or photocopied their ID and gotten their drivers licence number.

Regardless it doesn't matter. It would have cost you money to file a claim against them and if they don't want to pay for it there is no way for you to get the money. You can have a sheriff try to get it for you, but your would have to find where they have money or property that you can seize. let it go, let it go.