How to Handle Bad Tenants Who Won’t Move Out

No landlord expects to encounter a nightmare tenant, but it happens more often than you might think. Sometimes you can’t tell until time has passed because some bad tenants dress nice, drive nice cars, and seem like reasonable people.

Bad tenants make their landlords’ lives difficult by not paying rent on time or in full, intentionally withholding rent, damaging the property, and refusing to comply with lease changes. 

Thankfully, there are ways to deal with these people, so they don’t ruin your life or your properties.

Take swift action against lease violations

The first time a tenant violates the lease, pays rent late, or otherwise causes a problem, it’s tempting to overlook the situation and give them the benefit of the doubt. However, some of these situations are signs of a pattern and not just a one-time thing. 

Of course, some tenants will be late with the rent once or twice and it won’t be a habit. However, you have to look at the bigger picture to know if you’re dealing with someone whose paychecks just didn’t line up right or someone trying to manipulate you.

Don’t leave lease violations without consequence. At the very least, write a warning letter to the tenant so they know you’re not going to overlook their violation. If it was just an unfortunate circumstance, they’ll correct the problem right away. If it happens to be a pattern, you’ll probably be met with resistance or a refusal to make the requested changes in a timely manner. If that happens, don’t hesitate to start the eviction process. Resistant, uncooperative tenants are likely to get worse over time.

Learn how to spot bad tenants

There are always going to be bad tenants who slip under the radar because they won’t show any red flags right away. However, there are several signs to watch out for and some may not specifically mean a tenant is going to be a nightmare, but you should be on alert anyway.

·  Tenants who make their own improvements without permission. Sometimes it’s something simple, like installing a better toilet or changing the sink fixtures. Other times it could be as drastic as them adding a shed in the backyard that they rent to someone else. Never assume this is just done out of convenience. Tenants who don’t ask permission are likely to break additional aspects of their lease.

·  Tenants who frequently pay rent late and have excuses. When your tenants are late with the rent, it can impact you financially. If you count on their rent to pay your bills, tenants who pay late or not at all are particularly frustrating. To prevent this as much as possible, don’t let anyone slide on late rent without paying late fees. Also, have rigid policies and give pay-or-vacate notices for late rent when legally warranted. Make sure your tenants know that not paying rent will result in an eviction.

·  Criminal records. Although in many states, including California, it’s becoming specifically illegal to reject a tenant solely for having a criminal record, rejection is sometimes warranted when their criminal conviction(s) have the potential to negatively impact you, your property, or other tenants. For example, if an applicant has a recent conviction for rape or arson, that could be grounds for rejection. If the conviction was 10 years ago or more, it may not be legal to reject that applicant and they might sue you. To cover all your bases, always consult an attorney before rejecting applicants based on criminal history.

·  Your tenants argue with you over lease changes. Sometimes you’ll need to change the terms of your lease agreement, and provided the change is legally allowed and you give proper notice, your tenants must comply. If you have a tenant who argues over these changes, even if they’re not a big deal, that is a bad sign.

Set strict rules from the start

 When you create your lease agreement terms, make sure to enforce them across the board. Once in a while, it’s okay to be understanding and accommodating, but as a general rule, if you overlook issues, tenants will take advantage of you.

 The best way to prevent renting to bad tenants is to set strict rules and high standards from the start. For example, require a credit score of at least 650, if not higher, to ensure you only take on reliable tenants. Always require income of at least twice the rent, but three times is even better. 

Most people who have a good income won’t be the kind of tenants who waste your time with nonsense or cause damage.