You have no idea how much I resent social welfare. I was always such a liberal pay your taxes, help out your neighbor kind of guy until we started actually dealing with the fucking trash that lives off the system.
When the last tenant left the upstairs ones asked to move downstairs. We let them figuring upstairs is easier to rent out. We told them to have it clean. That was April 1. At the beginning of the month we got the half of their rent that comes form social services. To this day they still haven't paid their half. Some lame ass story about how some other social welfare had her address mixed up so they didn't get their money. How about you get a job you fucking lazy ass. So we called and called no response. I can't really deal with it during the week because I am working and then today we go there and no one is home.
We go to check out upstairs where they used to live and it is disgusting. Also , they heat is at 80 degrees. That means it has been at 80 degress for 17 days. Serioulsy, but who cares they probably aren't paying for it - your taxes are. Not only that but you can here in their apartment that the TV is on, the radio is on. The basements light are all on, the back hall light is on.
Then the kicker - the new upstairs appliances are missing. Yes the appliances we just spent a $1000 on are gone. They decided to move them downstairs. Great! The old appliance from downstairs are in the back hall blocking the door. This is definitely not okay to with fire code or with me as I would never let such careless people move our new appliance around. I don't want to have to move huge appliances between floor and hook stuff up.
The room used to look like this with a brand new refrigerator and stove (e:paul,45020) now it looks like this.
Then they broke the front screen door.
And added this totally ghetto trash couch to the porch.
Now we have to evict them too before it gets worse. I am going to start over with a property manager.
I just saw this website listed on craigslist.
www.Bad-Tenant.org Apparently, you can blacklist all your bad tenants there.
Why is it illegal to put furniture on the porch? I mean, its your porch, right? You can put whatever furniture you want there, if it isn't a fire/safety hazard.
Paul! hold on!!!!!
There are a lot of property managers who could make it much worse for you.
Listen, I live in the City too in my owner (me) occupied double. Ive had 3 different tenants without any issues - fingers crossed. You may have been doing some of these things but try out some of the others: Ive only advertised through craigslist. I always state "quiet owner occupied" in the headline. I always state "housing, credit and professional references required". Finally, I let the answering machine screen my calls. I bet I only return 1 out of 5.
Since its my home, Im extra discriminating in whom I select to live with me. My lease is 6 pages long and outlines my expectations as a landlord. I include a provision for inspections of the apartment a few times a year - under the guise of checking out the mechanicals and fire alarms. I explicitly state that any property left behind after the termination of the lease is considered abandoned. Lastly, I only offer a month to month lease, so the eviction process only required for tenants who might refuse to leave.
In return, I offer an apartment that is affordable (not cheap, cheap would suggest my housing has little value), clean, and safe place to live, with a responsible landlord.
If nobody takes your offer at the price point you post, well, lower it until somebody worth having does. Youre better off missing a month looking for a new tenant, or taking $25 less than having to deal with crap like that.
If I were you, Id also get a set back thermostat with a locking cover - or separate mechanicals (obviously more $$$). Itll cost you $75 bucks, but pay you back in December.
Be aware - couches on the porch are not legal, and you, as landlord, could be fined.
Better luck next time.
Move the couch on the porch ASAP. The city will fine you for having living room type furniture outdoors.