HELP! First bad tenant! - Posted by Tim (ME)
Posted by Tim (ME) on October 09, 2003 at 19:33:15:
Hi Everyone,
I just bought a 3-unit building, and kept one of the tenants. The other 2 were evicted by the seller due to a clause I put in the contract, because they were total pigs who trashed the property. I am currently rehabbing the other 2 units. The 3rd tenant seemed to keep his unit clean, and he seemed like an honest guy who would always pay his rent on time. In fact, the seller told me the tenant was holding my rent money for when I take the property over.
WRONG! I had him sign a lease on October 1st (He had no prior lease, and no security deposit.), and in the lease it stated there is a $500 Sec Dep along with a rent of $575, so the Sec Dep and first month’s rent were due on oct 1st. He gave me $200 and said he would have the rest on Oct 14th, when his commission check comes in. I know, I know, I’m an idiot for taking partial rent payment, and for giving him until the 14th. I wrote him a letter stating that the remainder ($875) is due on the 14th, and not a day later, or there will be a real problem, and I’ve been EXTREMELY lenient with him up to now. Also, I reminded him that the monthly rent is due on the 1st, and the lease states that there is a $5 per day penalty for late rent.
I know I’ve already made some mistakes, not enforcing the lease right away, but I want to do something. If he doesn’t pay the FULL amount he owes me by the 14th, what are my options? I will not accept any more partial payments, because I think legally he is no longer late if I accept partial payment. Do I just give him an eviction notice right away?
Does anyone know Maine eviction laws? I haven’t researched it yet to find out the exact process in Maine.
Lessons learned:
- If you inherit tenants, you still need to do background checks, credit checks, etc.
- Never accept partial rent payment
- Enforce the lease right away, no exceptions.
Any help on how to proceed would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Tim (ME)
PS - My plan is to rehab the other 2 units, then sell in a few months for cash profit, but I still need my rent in the mean time!