How to evict a tenant (Fairbanks: renter, eviction, mattress)

[Chip N Sawbones]

Hi,
I've got a house in Fairbanks that I've been renting out since August. I had to leave the state to go to Louisiana for medical school. The problem I'm facing is that my tenants split up suddenly and the wife left with the kids. The husband is still there, and he hasn't been paying rent for the last two months. I'd like to evict him and sign on with a property management company so I can get someone else in there. The problem is that I'm busy with school and I can't return to Alaska until the summer. Is it going to be at all possible for me to handle the eviction without being there to do it? I'm at the point where I'd be willing to just pay the tenant to walk away, but he isn't returning my calls. Would I be better off just letting the tenant stay there until the summer and then try to evict him then? I'm worried that if I file for eviction he might just leave without telling me, letting the house will freeze up and the water pipes burst. What should I do? I'm new at being a landlord, and I only rented the house out because I couldn't sell it in time.

[johnrex62]

I have never been in your situation, so this is only my first reaction of what would I do.

I would try to contract with a management company and have them handle the eviction and re-leasing. It might cost more than a contract with an empty property, but it would be worth it to have someone onsite to ensure the property safety during the eviction process if I couldnt be there.

[Dakster]

Ditto to what Johnrex62 said. Since you will need/want a management company anyways, just get them on board now. They may charge a fee to get rid of/evict the current tenant, plus an attorney will have fees too, and then afterward once it is rented they typical have a percent fee they charge to manage it, but in your case you really can't do it from afar.

Only reason I can recommend this, is that I have been looking at some investment properties to rent out. My realtor recommended going with a management company and some of the mgt. companies are full service. Meaning they don't just find you a tenant, they actually take care of the place for you and handle all tenant interactions for you. Of course you pay the "bills" to maintain it, but they make sure that the work is done, the pipes don't freeze, and that the people hired are licensed and insured. Just read the contract really, really well. I found some things I wasn't happy about and they were OK with changing it.

Unfortunately, I don't have any contacts in Fairbanks.

[ysr_racer]

If push come to shove, I know a guy. I'm just sayin'

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by ysr_racer

If push come to shove, I know a guy. I'm just sayin'

I agree with johnrex62 and Dakster, contact a property management company now so they can look after your investment. You can still make any payment arrangements you like with your tenet, but the management company will ensure that if he should leave without notice, your heat will not be turned off and your pipes will not freeze up.

[NomadicBear]

This is why it's always a bad idea to landlord from long distance. If you're not within driving distance, you don't have any control over what goes on. I'd never be interested in renting out a single family residence, ever. I have a friend who has a few houses, and it's a nightmare. Deadbeat tenants who are late or don't pay, repairs, evictions, etc. He's been shelling out huge amounts of cash for a decade or more. If he would have taken all that money paid to interest, repairs, maintenance, principle, etc., and stuck it under the mattress he'd likely be in a better financial position. That said, I'd talk to a property management company, too.

[Dakster]

NomadicBear - I wonder if a property management company that also screens applicants would have given your friend better luck. It seems like AK has some laws to actually help protect the "owner" and not just the "renter". Don't get me wrong, there are still plenty of protections for renters too. And of course you can always lose if you have a bad run of renters.

Unlike where I currently live where everything is setup for the benefit of the renter and basically nothing for the owner. (and I am not someone that is renting anything out, but thought of doing it)

[Chip N Sawbones]

Okay, I'll talk with a property management company after the weekend. I never really wanted to rent the house anyhow. I was trying to sell it, but I had some foundation problems that I needed to fix first. I had to leave for the lower 48 a month after I got them resolved, and I didn't have time to find a buyer. A tenant was the next best thing. I knew renting from a long distance was going to be a hassle, but I never thought it would be this bad.

[AADAD]

Speak with prop management. You may need an attorney.

[RayinAK]

The details about the Alaska law relating to tenant and landlord can be found here:
Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord & Tenant Act - Consumer Protection Laws