Landlord Question and Answer Forum

I am only the property manager for this home in CA and the owner lives on the east coast. I have a tenant whose lease became a month-to-month lease as of October 2013. They have were doing well and couldn't have asked for better tenants. But then in November they did not pay rent and I gave them a 3-day pay or quit notice. they came to me promising to pay by a certain day so i agreed since this was the 1st time since they started living in the residence that this has happened. Well it is now the end of December and I still have not received any rent money for the month of November or December. I have them another 3-day notice and they were to pay the full amount by today the 20th @ noon or turn over the keys to the property. They have not and now i am stuck. I know I need to get them out of this house that way i can get a tenant in that is able to pay in a timely manner but i do not know how to do it and how to do it where it will not cost myself or the owner out of pocket up front. I am trying to do this peaceably. The owner does not have the money nor to I to pay for any of this upfront. How do I get these people out of this house?

You need to start the eviction process. Contact your local court house to find your local law and how to officially get the tenants out of the property.

Posted by Susan P, CA on Sunday, December 22, 2013

how do I do this if one the owner lives on the east coast, i do not have limited power of attorney, and both myself and the owner do not have the $$$ to do it? Even the paralegals & the lawyers won't talk to me because I don't have the power of attorney and I'm the one taking care of the house. Any suggestions?

Posted by Effie C, CA on Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Hello Effie, I have the same situation, about non-payment...so I asked my tenants to please look for another place that they can pay, and to please be moved out by certain date...and it has worked for me. In my case I am the owner, and I had given tenants many chances & they understood and have moved out.

Posted by Gladys Hugo F, FL on Sunday, February 16, 2014

My tenants are leaving and they owe a lot of back rent, way more than their security deposit, we had made an agreement to do updates to house to help with back rent due, but they have not done this, so I've asked them to leave, and there are repairs I must do...that they did not do according to contract. Because they owe a large amount of money, may I keep the security deposit?

Posted by Gladys Hugo F, FL on Sunday, February 16, 2014

You sound like a caring & trusting person, and the renters know this and that's why they asked you. They weren't uncomfortable asking you, and you should not feel uncomfortable about letting them know you cannot do so. Also, they are not uncomfortable about not paying rent up to this point. You have to understand that this is a business, and sometimes you must make hard decisions. I know this might sound hard to you, you may even think I am heartless. But, look at the situation you are in now. You created this situation, not the renters. The renters took advantage of you. They are buying time to in order to leave. You did not follow the business aspect of being a landlord. As you read this, put your personal feelings aside, and think like a business person. I absolutely never rent to anyone who does not live in the city where the rental is located. They can get up and leave, and what your are experiencing right now is what happens. For me, I'd cut my losses because it is causes grief and you'll probably spend more money trying to get them to pay...and you'll find they won't. You'll come in time that the rent payment is more than the money you've spent trying to get your rental due. I would caulk this up to a lesson learned and move on. Linda

Posted by Jeff & LInda C, CA on Tuesday, February 18, 2014