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I bought a duplex in Sept of 05. I inherited the tenants that were in the house. Downstairs I have great tenants. The check is there the first of every month. Upstairs is a different story. Single guy,who is a carpenter and works for himself. Always has an excuse. He has been paying, just always late. Then he did a few jobs and never got payed from them. Needless to say ,I also did not get paid. So now he is into me for about 4months. So I have decided to start the new year off right and cut my losses.I want to cut him loose. I have never had to do this before. What is my first step? Do I have to have my attorney send him a letter? How long will this take?Any help anyone could give me would be appreciated. I live in Ohio.

Thanks

Buckeye1131

I'd start with a termination of tenancy letter, have it notarized and drop it off to him.  I had really bad tenants too and i couldn't put up with it anymore so when i didn't get March 1st's  rent and it was March 31st, i went to them and said if your out by the end of the weekend we'll call it even, if you can't be out by then be out by April 15th and you won't owe me for April only March.  It worked they were out by the 15th of April, i got in there cleaned it up had major repairs to do and put it up for sale.  I just cut my losses and didn't go after them for the rent/damages.....i knew I'd never get it they had no money.  But at least i didn't have to really push to get them out....Tenants have alot of rights unfortunately and it can get UGLY!

Also when you give him the letter and tell him the options also state that if he's not out by the 15th that he'll be hearing from your lawyer and he'll owe you past due rent if he's not out.

my advice is just remember, do not make the tenant mad because he can really cost you, buy busting up your investment. just tell him you can't pay his payment for him, and tell him he must move out bye a certain date, also ask him to return the keys leave the unit broom swept clean and you want , ruin his credit, excellrate the lease to term, anything to use to equil out the playing field. and if he does you will give back what you don't use of the deposit. next time don't wait 4 months. I now you did'nt want him to move out because you did'nt want to clean the unit, and re rent it right , right you have got to keep your tenants in line, if they don't pay buy the 15th of the 1st month they are late they are not going to pay you. sucker that is what it makes me feel like, this game I have played before to, and boy can the tenant tell you all kinds of stories, and that is what it is, just tell them to leave .

then they no up front they can't get away with this game because you will not put up with it, my freind , because you can't be their freind you are their Landlord see the Landlord not the bank. not their daddy. just be freindly not their freind.

Ok, all of the answers above are premature! For God's sake, this is a person you are talking about, and he may be sitting at his kitchen table cringing at the thought that sooner or later the landlord will come to the door and evict him. He knows sooner or later you will come.

You have to pay your bills too, so it must be done. The first thing is to talk to him, then let him know that you have bills too. I can only imagine what he would be feeling at the moment you sit down and have that talk. He knows what you are about to say, but you say it anyway.

Let him know that he will have to move out, because you must pay your bills for the house. Let him know that you understand his predicament, and that you've already helped as much as you possibly can, by letting stay as long as you have. Then tell him that you now have to get this rented to someone that can make timely payments, starting 7 days from now. Then ask if you can help getting his things out this week. If you show that you are a nice person, they usually will stop thinking of you as the "Bad Landlord!"

If that fails, then and only then, start getting a little tough!

I hope this helps.

evahle

Yours is the best answer I've read yet!