Fed up with tenant rights! (lease, renters, security deposit, legal)

[JJNewbie]

I'm sick of hearing about tenant's rights. Does anyone know any websites that focus on land lord rights? I just lost a tenant that was dealing drugs and growing marijuana out of my property. He cut holes in my ceiling to ventilate his dope, he left baggies with cocaine residue on my kitchen floor, and he's dealing drugs in our neighborhod. This guy destroyed our property then he only moved about 200 yards away. Anyone have any ideas what I can do to make his life hell? I know based on the paperwork he left behind that he's been attempting to buy a home so I was considering small claims court to seek a judgement but any other advice would be greatly appreciated. -JJ Austin, Tx

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by JJNewbie

I'm sick of hearing about tenant's rights. Does anyone know any websites that focus on land lord rights? I just lost a tenant that was dealing drugs and growing marijuana out of my property. He cut holes in my ceiling to ventilate his dope, he left baggies with cocaine residue on my kitchen floor, and he's dealing drugs in our neighborhod. This guy destroyed our property then he only moved about 200 yards away. Anyone have any ideas what I can do to make his life hell? I know based on the paperwork he left behind that he's been attempting to buy a home so I was considering small claims court to seek a judgement but any other advice would be greatly appreciated. -JJ Austin, Tx

JJNewbie, this forum isn't about helping someone make their neighbors life "hell". I would suggest calling the police if there is illegal activity. Good Luck.

[DVDFreaker]

Originally Posted by JJNewbie

I'm sick of hearing about tenant's rights. Does anyone know any websites that focus on land lord rights? I just lost a tenant that was dealing drugs and growing marijuana out of my property. He cut holes in my ceiling to ventilate his dope, he left baggies with cocaine residue on my kitchen floor, and he's dealing drugs in our neighborhod. This guy destroyed our property then he only moved about 200 yards away. Anyone have any ideas what I can do to make his life hell? I know based on the paperwork he left behind that he's been attempting to buy a home so I was considering small claims court to seek a judgement but any other advice would be greatly appreciated. -JJ Austin, Tx

"Anyone have any ideas what I can do to make his life hell?" You need help!

[elgusano]

I would do the small claims court thing, but call the police and use the evidence against him showing the damage to your property.

[20yrsinBranson]

Do you really need someone to tell you that you need to call the police IMMEDIATELY?

20yrsinBranson

[Donn2390]

If you did a walk through ever couple of months, you would have found all of the problems before they got out of hand. I require a walk through after the first 30 days, and every 90 days thereafter. Write it into the next renter contract. You can't trust anyone, ever...!

[elgusano]

Originally Posted by DVDFreaker

You need help!

Yeah!

How dare you suggest that a criminal be inconvenienced?

That being said, are walkthroughs legal everywhere?

Even if they're not, I'm sure there's a "maintenance" clause that would permit entrance to eyeball things.

[Ultrarunner]

As hard as it is to hear... providing shelter is a business and as such, my advice is to count your blessings that your problem tenant is no longer "Your" problem.

The ability to be pragmatic is very important in deciding where to spend your time and energy.

[RowingMunkeyCU]

Originally Posted by DVDFreaker

"Anyone have any ideas what I can do to make his life hell?" You need help!

Agreed. Yes, it sucks, but it might be worthwhile to run background checks on future tenants.

Originally Posted by Donn2390

If you did a walk through ever couple of months, you would have found all of the problems before they got out of hand. I require a walk through after the first 30 days, and every 90 days thereafter. Write it into the next renter contract. You can't trust anyone, ever...!

That, IMO is an abuse of power, especially if you're performing these walkthroughs under the ruse of 'maintenance'. Yes, you own my hold the deed to the property, however the unit effectively becomes the property of the tenant when you decide to lease it and you really don't have the right to be constantly checking it. It's the same idea as buying a home (you're paying 'rent' to a mortgage company, and they have no right to check up on your home).

It is your duty as a landlord to screen potential renters before allowing them to occupy your property, even if that means you have to spend some money for a background check, require references, etc. You could build that cost into your application process. You require a security deposit for a reason, and if the cost to repair totals more than that, you take them to small claims court. If you fail to take those steps, it is YOUR fault and no one else is to blame, YOU decided to take the risk of renting to that tenant.

Granted, there is the rare circumstance that, even after you've gone through an extensive application process, you get a bad apple. In that case, just go to small claims court.

[JJNewbie]

JJNewbie, this forum isn't about helping someone make their neighbors life "hell". I would suggest calling the police if there is illegal activity. Good Luck.

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Thanks for the prompt reply. What forum might be more appropriate?