Rental problem (apartment, renters, eviction)

[Thriftylady]

I am a landlord in sheridan and have a problem I have never run into before and could use a little advice.
The other night I noticed my security lights go on in the back and went to see what caused it. As I opened the door a policeman was standing at the side of the house and went to draw his gun on me!! Talk about surprised!!! I asked what was going on and he first asked if everthing was alright then explained they had gotten a 911 hangup from the apartment (attached to my house). I showed him where it was and went inside.
Later (after police left-and there were a lot of them)I went to the apartment to find out what was going on, apparently the wife accidently (she was drunk) called 911. Now to explain this, she is afraid of her husband because in the past he has beaten her. She then left for a few days and all of a sudden he is at my door saying she is gone and he is moving and wants his deposit and rent back that he has not used. Then a few days later she calls upset and wants to know if she still has her home. The only thing I could think of was splitting the rent and deposit equally between them , so I gave him half the rent and half the deposit back and she came over and paid the rest of the rent and deposit that we had returned to him. Now comes the problem-he's back and staying with her!! She has not talked to me about this yet but her contract states that company over a week calls for a raise in her rent. I also added a clause to contract that states if police are called more than once eviction could follow. Please did I do right? I don't want her to be afraid to call the cops if she is getting beat but my object was to get her not to have him move back in. I like them both alot but not together, they are not good for one another. I don't know what to do!! Do I allow him to move back in? Do I just evict them both so I don't have this problem? I really don't like being this involved in my renters lives. I prefer just being the landlord, makes for better business when it comes time to collecting rent or having to evict.
On top of all this I have a son that needs a place to live and the apartment would be perfect for him!! Help!

[blakeman59]

My two cents worth is that if it is a verbal agreement it would likely be considered a month to month agreement. If the lease is written and it is month to month. Then simply give them a 30 day notice to vacate. If they ask why you can tell them if you want. In a month to month tenancy no reason is required to regain possesion of your property. If it is a 6 month or other term lease then its a different story. The roughest part of landlording is raising the rent or telling someone to leave but you just end up paying in some other way if you don't do the job. You didn't reall have to give the fellow any money at all when he ask for it since notice is required to vacate but sometimes landlords do this to avoid trouble with people that don't know or respect the law.

[Thriftylady]

Thanks for the advice. I know I didn't have to give the money back but I was being nice!! So much for being nice!!! Now he is staying there and she hasn't came and talked to me about it either nor has she brought the new contract over. Oh well guess I'll just have to deal with it. that's life!1 Ha!!

[RockyMtnr]

I believe that whoever's name is on the lease is the tenant and they "own" the deposit and rent money - if it's one or the other then sobeit. If it's both, then they are both entitled to equal treatment.
3) If she has a restraining order against him - only then can you take steps again him.
4) Good job having that term put in the lease.

Having managed multi-family for several years, this is one of the more common annoyances, i.e., domestic abuse. Do not dilly-dally: If you hear disturbance, call the police. Detach yourself from the personal - these people will eat you up with their problems if you allow it. They must solve their own lives ... and you must solve your rental problem. Hopefully, you already have a good eviction attorney. If not ... now is the time.

[Thriftylady]

Thanks for the advice. Yes since all this has happened I have detached myself from being too freindly with them and am trying to be Just the Landlord. Too hard otherwise to do business with them.