I hate being a landlord.

[politicat]

I totally despise this job. I so want to never have to do this again....

Here's the deal: Back in 1999, I bought my house after I left my ex and decided that Boulder County was where I wanted to live. It's a lovely house - 3 BR + den, open plan, porches.... In a not so good neighborhood, and it was a repo, so it took some work, but I could afford it and I did the work and I liked my house. And the neighborhood is coming back nicely.

Then I go and get married. To a guy that owns HIS house. That's okay, his house is smaller than mine, and a mobile home, to boot. We'll remodel it and sell it and be done. It sits on the market for 30 months, not even a nibble, not even with a selling price 10K below what it's technically worth, not even with a $2000 cash back rebate. There are just too many new houses available, and who wants 2 bedrooms when you can get 3, as long as you're willing to live on ramen and oatmeal??

We put mine on the market.... no luck there, either. There's a brand new development going in just north of us, so buyers can get bigger houses (made to poorer standards, but hey!) for the same amount. Two nibbles, both couldn't get mortgages. So... turns out we can rent out my house, but not his, since his is in a park. We reluctantly move (which has turned out to be a very good thing; I have learned to love the smaller house because it's more efficient.).

So I become a landlord. Ick. Yech. I never wanted to be a landlord. They're greedy, capitalist pigs who suck the life out of their tenants and waste the money on booze and comic books. I am not that!!

And now I've just had to evict one of the tenants. Yes, he didn't pay his rent. Yes, he vanished for 3 months and didn't tell me he was leaving. Yes, I've been trying to locate him for 60 days so that he could be served with an eviction notice. Yes, he never answers his phone when I call. Yes, he couldn't mow a lawn with the lawnmower strapped to his ass. Yes, he's a slob and I'm going to be lucky if I get the place clean on his deposit. Yes, he's been lying to me and the state about his income all along. Yes, his parents have been supporting him, and they didn't know he wasn't paying his rent with the money they sent him. Yes, I have run out of patience with him long ago....

But dammit, this isn't the liberal way of doing business... I hate this. I hate having to be the hardass and the bad guy. I hate the fact that this kid doesn't realize that he wears people out, and then wonders why they refuse to help him. I hate the fact that he's such a clueless git that he's never going to understand that no, I don't hate him, I just can't be his mom and his therapist and his landlord and his coach all in one. I hate having to impound his stuff so that I can get at least some of the money he owes me, and I hate that I'll never be able to explain to him that it's a good thing he didn't have that extra $300, because he would have spent it on games, fast food, and junk.

I hate this.

[democracyindanger]

1. Being forced into being a hardass landlord

isn't antithetical to being a good liberal. My landlord can be a hardass, and he's still got his Kerry sign in his window.

[politicat]

11. It doesn't mean I have to like it, or like the image it projects.

This git being one of those people who once knew one person who was an asshole X, so therefore all Xs are assholes....

He'll probably go join the OxyContin Rush team....

I will be responsible for the birth of Son of Rush (and this git emulates in many ways....)

[democracyindanger]

14. No, it doesn't. I kinda sympathize

I had a crappy neighbor who liked to crank his home theater at all hours, and I could only bear so much. What really pissed me off was that he was forcing me to be the bad guy, the cranky upstairs dude. But you gotta do what you gotta do.

[candy]

2. Don't hate it---he's the one that did something wrong,not you.

You are NOT a charity and believe me,he's not losing a minute of sleep over this.

[politicat]

9. And you know that's bugging me too?

It drives me batty that this git can't see that he's done anythign wrong!!

<Creaky old lady voice> What's wrong with kids these days?? </voice>

[Floogeldy]

3. Think "Business"

Business.

B-)

[politicat]

8. This is becoming a mantra.... "Mortgage, Business, Bankruptcy, oh my...."

Repeat until determined....

[Floogeldy]

13. Property that is not your residence is supposed to generate revenue

That is the nature of capitalism. You have rights in this regard, consitutionally, statutorily, and by virtue of municipal codes.

It's time for you to toughen up, get greedy, and make some money! ;)

Otherwise, that house will suck your income dry. Hey, it wasn't my idea; it was James Madison's!

B-)

[Lex]

4. Turn it over to property management company.

.
Their fee is a tax deduction and they have to deal with the tenants, the house, and the headaches.

We ended up keeping our first little house when we bought our current house and rented the 1st house--turned over the management to a property management company.

Now we get a check every month hassle-free and then we cut our check to the mortgage company for the mortgage that's on it.

[politicat]

7. I'm thinking that may be the way to go....

The housing market is starting to firm up, again, though, so we might be able to sell it.

[ChronicZabba]

5. Renting is hard....

Where at in Boulder County? I'm looking for some new digs, and am a damn good tenant, currently in Longmont...

[politicat]

6. It's now rented....

When he didn't pay his rent on 03/1, and didn't answer his phone, I left a message on 3/2 that we'd be coming in to check, and did so on 3/3. And on 3/4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.... I didn't want him dead and that kind of thing.

On April 1, we moved his stuff into storage, per Colorado Law, and rented the house April 20th to a very nice couple who are just getting settled in. We've followed the law every step of the way, sherriff involved, publication in the Camera, the whole shebang. The kids in the house now would like to assume the mortgage, in fact, and if they make it 2 years, we'll talk it over.

The issue is that tenant one just showed back up, all indignant that we just moved him out and let it go back on the market. Like we'd just wait around for him....

It's just a huge headache.

The house is in Lafayette, in the old district, on Emma, if that means anything to you.

[ChronicZabba]

10. rats........

looking in longmont

[mahina]

12. I'm a landlord too,

I have great tenants, rent to them for 200$mo less than market to keep them. They are one of only two black families within 3 miles, very cool, always pay the rent on time, and the place looks better than it did when I lived there.
But I've had my share of liars and creeps too, that's why I appreciate the good ones. Don't give up tita, with the * economy I'm holding on to all real estate. Cash is decreasing in value and property is going to hold its own against * created inflation.
Just MHO.

[IdaBriggs]

15. My family is a multi-generational landlord one.

My mother is third generation, and hopefully, I'll be #4.

I'm proud she is able to help people find decent affordable shelter, and I'm especially proud that she is a "hardass" landlord who makes sure her tenants get that she respects them enough to demand they pay their rent on a timely basis. Treating people like children who aren't expected to pay for their own housing is an insult in my family; also, we are quite aware that yes, people will happily take advantage of you for as long as you are willing to let them, and that letting people get further and further behind on their rent isn't good for them or the landlord.

The secret to her success as a landlord is tenant screening. If you want to do charity work and provide "free" shelter for people, that's awesome, and good for you. If however, you want to deal with grown-ups in a professional, courteous and respectful fashion, then learn to SCREEN LIKE CRAZY: Check references, criminal background, and verify employment. If they can't afford to live there, don't put everyone through the torture of moving them in anyway; its rude, counter-productive, and stressful.

Lastly, there is a certain issue of 'taking care of your own' that isn't always easy to swallow for those of us who suffer guilt about success; see my "charity" comment above if that's what you want to do. However, if you can't afford to make the mortgage payment because someone else isn't paying rent, you really aren't doing ANYONE any favors....

My mom is kind of awesome. Good luck! :)

[politicat]

17. Ya know? I did that!

He had a great job, when he moved in. He had good references. He had no CBC pings; decent credit, etc.

It's like a pod person took him over or something....

But no, no more charity. Thanks for the reminder.

[IdaBriggs]

20. Sometimes they sneak through (or start using drugs).

It happens. Usually about one a decade sneaks past my Mom, so if you got yours early, you are doing great! It sounds like you are doing everything correctly. The part that is bad is that while he was wasting time being an irresponsible idiot, someone who wanted your place who was able to behave like a real live grownup wasn't able to live there.

You should be proud of yourself! Providing decent housing is a really cool thing -- and being a Good Landlord who shows "respect" for the tenants (i.e., treats them like reasonable adults) is an excellent standard to adhere to. :)

[amandae]

16. Being liberal doesn't mean you have to let people walk on you

He has taken advantage of the situation, got into this situation with an agreement that he would pay rent and do the things necessary to keep the place up. He didn't follow through, you have to take action. It's not being a bad liberal; it's just following through with your side of an agreement.

Screen the next people you rent to more carefully; require more references and check them all. Not everyone treats other people like this. But those that do shouldn't get a free ride for being selfish shmucks.

[politicat]

18. What kind of screening do you suggest? DNA?

I can legally only do so much: I can do a CBC, a credit check, an employment check and a references check. This git passed those.

That's what pisses me off so much about this: we did everything by the book.

[LiberallyInclined]

19. I really haven't minded being a landlord at all...

we rent out the upper 1 bedroom unit of out chicago two-flat...in 6 years we have had 2 tenants- the first a female college student who stayed 4 years- even after getting married. but once she had the kid, they bought a condo.
our next(and current) tenant was supposed to be a college student and her fiance- but one month into the lease, it became just her and her dog- we allow some pets(1 dog, up to medium-sized, or up to 2 cats).

so- for $675/month, our tenant gets the upper 1 bedroom unit, with 2 walk-in closets, new dishwasher in the kitchen, private front & back decks, FREE use of laundry facilities in the basement, FREE Dish Network Everything pack- icluding ALL the 'premium' channels, and FREE DSL network connection.