Passive Impact: Real Estate Investing & Special Needs Housing
Welcome to "Passive Impact: Real Estate Investing & Special Needs Housing," where we explore how real estate investment can generate passive income while making a positive difference. Join host Robert Flowers as he shares strategies, success stories, and opportunities for investors looking to create financial stability and meaningful community impact.
Passive Impact: Real Estate Investing & Special Needs Housing
The Problem Tenant Chronicles Vol 1 Episode 5
What if your rental property became a battleground for safety and sanity? Unravel the complexities of property management as we dissect real-life scenarios faced by landlords. Our latest episode of the Problem Tenant Chronicles kicks off with a chilling account from Jake in Ohio, who finds himself threatened by a tenant, raising vital questions about personal safety and preventive strategies. We explore essential landlord practices, including thorough tenant screening and clear lease agreements, that can act as safeguards against confronting crisis situations.
We then turn to Alicia from California, whose tenant seems to wield maintenance requests like confetti. Balancing responsiveness with legal protection, we offer practical insights into managing relentless maintenance demands. From verifying reported issues to documenting each step meticulously, this episode equips landlords with the tools to navigate these challenging scenarios skillfully. Whether dealing with violent threats or a barrage of repair requests, our conversation provides actionable advice to maintain control and peace of mind in property management.
All right, everybody. Welcome back to the Problem. Tenant Chronicles.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's Wednesday, it is.
Speaker 1:Which means we're back.
Speaker 2:Back in the saddle again.
Speaker 1:With another deep dive, and you know it.
Speaker 2:Here we are.
Speaker 1:Today we are talking about the questions that you guys have sent to us.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Lots of great questions coming in.
Speaker 1:Really good questions.
Speaker 2:Really interesting. Yeah, what do you?
Speaker 1:think Makes you think about things of things. And before we get started, I do want to give a shout out to our sponsors over at yes lovers and associates, property rentals. Love these guys. They're the experts they are when it comes to special needs housing absolutely and you know they offer free workshops. I love that they do free workshops if you guys want to get in touch with them, yeah, you can give them a call at 901 445 8148 that's the way to do it. Or visit them online. All right Flowersandassociatesbookingcom.
Speaker 2:All right, so are we ready to jump in?
Speaker 1:I think we are ready to jump in.
Speaker 2:I'm excited, let's do it.
Speaker 1:We had a question from Jake from Ohio. Oh yeah, Jake, and this is a kind of a.
Speaker 2:This is a heavy one.
Speaker 1:Scary one, I'm not going to lie.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:He's talking about a tenant who is threatening him, oh, with physical harm.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so this is really serious. Obviously, we want to make sure everyone's safe, right, and the first thing is like, when you're in that moment, yeah, if you feel threatened, you know, don't wait, call 911 immediately. Right, like that's the priority right.
Speaker 1:Safety first.
Speaker 2:Safety first.
Speaker 1:But I'm wondering, like what are some of the things that landlords can do to kind of prevent situations?
Speaker 2:Right, well, that's a great question.
Speaker 1:Like that from happening.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Because you know it's like you don't want to get to that point where you're feeling threatened and unsafe. Yeah, One of the biggest things is tenant screening. You know, really thorough background checks. That's your first line of defense.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And a lot of times those background checks can actually reveal past evictions that are related to violence.
Speaker 1:Really.
Speaker 2:So that's a huge red flag.
Speaker 1:I never thought about that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's something to look out for and you know, contacting previous landlords, that's gold right there.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:They can give you really valuable insights into a potential tenant's behavior. Yeah, that makes sense, and then you know. When you're signing the lease, make sure you outline very clearly the consequences of any violent behavior, Right Including immediate eviction, Like that needs to be crystal clear.
Speaker 1:Okay, so it's like you're kind of setting the ground rules from the start. Exactly Okay, all right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, lay down the law.
Speaker 1:Well, let's switch gears a little bit, because we got another question.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And this one is from Alicia, from California.
Speaker 2:All right, alicia, what do you got for us?
Speaker 1:And she's dealing with a tenant.
Speaker 2:Uh-oh.
Speaker 1:Who just seems to have a maintenance request.
Speaker 2:Oh boy For everything, it's never ending right.
Speaker 1:It's like every week she's getting something else.
Speaker 2:The maintenance requests just keep on coming. Yeah, yeah, you know it's tricky because you want to be responsive, right. You want to be a good landlord. You want to be a good landlord, but you also have to protect yourself legally, exactly. So what I always recommend is, when a tenant reports an issue, respond promptly and in writing, acknowledging their concern Right, but this is the crucial part, alicia, you got to verify the issue yourself.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Don't just take their word for it. Go see it for yourself.
Speaker 1:So I'm actually going over there and I'm looking at it. You got it Okay.
Speaker 2:Take pictures, take detailed notes. This is going to protect you from any potential fraudulent claims.
Speaker 1:Well, that's a good idea.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, sometimes you get those tenants that are a little.
Speaker 1:Trying to work the system.
Speaker 2:Trying to work the system a little bit yeah.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So if it's a legitimate repair.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You get it done.
Speaker 1:Get it done.
Speaker 2:Within the timeframe.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Outlined in your lease and, of course, according to your state laws, of course. But if it's not, if it's not a legitimate repair yeah. Document why it's not a repair Right and communicate that clearly to the tenant.
Speaker 1:Okay, so everybody's on the same page, so documentation is really important.
Speaker 2:Documentation is key.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:It's your best friend in these situations.
Speaker 1:All right. Well, speaking of documentation, we have another question, that is Bring it on. It's a little bit of a nightmare.
Speaker 2:All right.
Speaker 1:This comes from Marcus in Texas.
Speaker 2:All right, Marcus.
Speaker 1:And he is dealing with a tenant whose guests are constantly parking.
Speaker 2:Oh no.
Speaker 1:In restricted areas.
Speaker 2:The parking wars the parking wars are real. They are very real.
Speaker 1:So what is he supposed to do about that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, it's all about clear communication and consistent enforcement. Marcus.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:It all starts with a detailed parking policy in your lease.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Spell out exactly where guests can and cannot park.
Speaker 1:All right, so we're really specific.
Speaker 2:You got to be super specific. Okay, no ambiguity whatsoever. All right and then when the issue arises, Inevitably it will. It always does. You start with a friendly written reminder.
Speaker 1:Okay, just a little reminder.
Speaker 2:Just a heads up, remember this is where you can park, this is where you can't park. But if it persists, if they keep parking in the wrong spot, you issue a formal warning referencing the lease and stating that continued violation will result in towing at the owner's expense.
Speaker 1:Okay, so we're getting serious now. Now we're getting serious, oh.
Speaker 2:And, of course, make sure you're following all local towing regulations to the letter.
Speaker 1:So you're not getting yourself in trouble.
Speaker 2:Exactly, don't want to create more problems All right, so clear signage Clear signage.
Speaker 1:Consistent enforcement.
Speaker 2:Consistent enforcement.
Speaker 1:That's what we're learning.
Speaker 2:That's the name of the game, okay.
Speaker 1:Well, we have a question here.
Speaker 2:Hit me.
Speaker 1:That I think every landlord, oh boy Breads. This is the one we all hate. This is it. Hey, this is the one Lay it on me. Security deposit disputes. Bella from New York.
Speaker 2:Sucker Bella.
Speaker 1:Wants to know how to avoid these battles.
Speaker 2:Oh, bella, I feel your pain, I really do.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:This can be such a headache.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But listen, meticulous documentation is your saving grace here.
Speaker 1:Okay. So before the tenant moves in, take dated photos and videos of every single nook and cranny Of the whole place. The whole place. Okay, I'm talking everything, everything. Use a checklist. Note the condition of absolutely everything.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:And then, when the tenant moves out, you do the exact same thing. You compare the before and after. Before and after. Exactly Okay, and if there are any deductions, you provide a detailed itemized list with corresponding photos. Receipts the whole nine yards.
Speaker 2:So we're really proving.
Speaker 1:You're proving it.
Speaker 2:That this damage was done.
Speaker 1:This is what it looked like before. This is what it looks like now.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Here's the proof.
Speaker 2:And we're not talking about normal wear and tear right.
Speaker 1:Exactly. You can only deduct for damages beyond normal wear and tear Right, so make sure you're clear on your state's definition of what constitutes normal wear and tear.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's important?
Speaker 1:Yeah, because it varies from state to state.
Speaker 2:Right Well.
Speaker 1:You got one more for me.
Speaker 2:I do, I do. All right, let's do it.
Speaker 1:This one comes from Ethan in Florida.
Speaker 2:All right.
Speaker 1:And he's wondering what happens when a tenant refuses to sign, oh boy, a lease renewal.
Speaker 2:That's a tricky one.
Speaker 1:What are his options?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so, ethan, this really depends on the type of lease you have.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:If it's a fixed term lease, you're generally not obligated to offer a renewal, unless local laws say otherwise. Right you always want to check those local laws.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:However, you need to provide a written non-renewal notice within the legally required time frame, which is typically 30 to 60 days before the lease expires.
Speaker 1:So we're giving them plenty of notice, plenty of notice, okay.
Speaker 2:So what happens if they just stay put?
Speaker 1:That's what I was wondering.
Speaker 2:After the lease ends. That's when they become what's called a holdover tenant.
Speaker 1:A holdover tenant.
Speaker 2:Basically, they're occupying the property without a valid lease agreement. Oh boy, yeah, this can get legally tricky.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Each state has specific procedures for handling holdover tenants, often involving formal eviction notices and court proceedings.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so if you're dealing with a holdover tenant, it's best to consult with a lawyer.
Speaker 1:Yeah, get some help.
Speaker 2:Get some legal guidance.
Speaker 1:All right, well, I think we have officially covered. We did it All of the questions.
Speaker 2:We tackled them all.
Speaker 1:That were sent to us Some tough ones today. The really good ones. Yeah, a lot to think about, but you know, it just goes to show that being a successful landlord is not easy.
Speaker 2:It's not for the faint of heart.
Speaker 1:It's not.
Speaker 2:It's a lot of responsibility.
Speaker 1:It's a lot of responsibility.
Speaker 2:It's rewarding, though.
Speaker 1:It is, it is.
Speaker 2:It can be very rewarding.
Speaker 1:I can know what you're doing.
Speaker 2:You've got to know what you're doing Absolutely, and you've got to know your rights and responsibilities. Don't stay informed as a landlord.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think that's a good.
Speaker 1:That's a good takeaway.
Speaker 2:Takeaway knowledge is power Knowledge is power In this business for sure.
Speaker 1:Well, that wraps up another Problem Tenant Chronicles. Deep, dive, dive.
Speaker 2:We made it we made it until next time until next time.
Speaker 1:Make sure, you guys stay tuned keep those questions coming and keep those questions coming. We'll be back we're here to help next wednesday with another deep dive see you then see you then.
Speaker 2:Bye, everybody, bye.
