Well, believe it or not, in almost 10 years of landlording I’m getting ready to attempt to evict my first tenant. Their rent was due May 10, and her stories and excuses are SO ridiculous I don’t see this ending up anywhere good. It’s a single family house that rents for $1150. If they paid today, with late fees, they’d owe me $1340. The wife makes $80K per year, so paying me shouldn’t be a big problem.
I left a 3 day eviction notice taped to the inside of the front door last night. I realize that I need to catch them in person, but I was hoping that would get someone’s attention.
Does anyone have any tips/tricks/advice? I’m not wanting to do anything illegal or shady…I just want my rent, and after I get it I want these people out. The place is a pit. I agreed to 1 small dog and there are MULTIPLE dogs plus at least 1 cat that I SAW. This is a nice house and I can’t afford for it to be trashed any more that what they may have already done. (They’ve only been in since mid-Feb.)
From what I’ve read in here (I’ve never had to do an eviction either, ‘knock on wood’!), you might want to notify the tenant(s) that you are beginning eviction proceedings based on non-payment of rent and X number of violations of the lease (tell them how many and what the violations are). Then, offer them some cash ($200-500) for them to move. Explain that if you evict them, you intend to get your money in court, plus court costs, plus put a mark on their credit record, plus (fill in any other sort of legal lengths that you can put in)…perhaps they will move voluntarily.
Otherwise, the state is going to dictate the terms of the eviction…the good and experienced Texas folksin here (tedjr, Bud Branstetter, et. al.) can probably help you more with this part…
If I’m not mistaken, once you have given sufficient notice, and after I believe 3 months, you need to contact your county constable who can then drag them from the home kicking and screaming.
I have never been a landlord, but thats what I seem to remember reading in my recent research
might I ask what Zip Code this is in? I am curious what part of TX rents for 1150 since I am looking to buy my first rental there.
As to evict, I hope it goes well for you. I would probably show up with an ak-47 for a “sit down”. Joking of course…
I just love when people with money cry poverty. My friend is a Chiropractor in CA and he says people will tell him they can’t make the payment because they are broke. They then go hop in their Hummer on the way to their $600k+ home lol
Unfortunately the whole thing just got more complicated. We just got notice in the mail today that they have filed bankruptcy, so we cannot continue the eviction. There’s a law that kicks in in Sept. where if we already had the judgement we’d be ok, but unfortuantely we’re not that far into the process and the law hasn’t taken effect yet anyway.
So, many legal fees and headaches later I’ll let ya’ll know what happens.
This is by far the worst tenant situation we’ve ever faced…even before the bankruptcy came into play. Now we’re looking at probably several rent-free months while they continue to live in and probably damage our property.
Houston is ALL about location location location. I’ve been there a few times, got an interesting story from a warehouse manager once while installing a new wms system. Apparently there is no zoning laws in Houston. This guy had a nice house in a nice subdivision. One day, XYZ Chicken slaughter wanted to move in, and build across the street from the neighborhood. They were half way through building it, when they found some local ordinance or history with the property…something legal to stop construction and stop it from ever finishing lol. Moral of the story, is know where your investing. When theres little or no zoning laws, there better not be an empty field down the road lol
A first hand story, on the way to the airport, we drove past a row of beat down crack slum apartments, doors hanging on hinges, everyone sittin out side lookin depressed. Across the street was what looked like a million dollar house (sitting on $10 land), with a concrete wall and gate around it. I figured it must be the local drug dealer for the apartments across the street…
In my area there is a three day wait after the notice is served.
It does not have to be in person. Lots of possible problems with that. Just cause they are not home during your work hours ??
After three days we go see the JP and Constable who then serves them papers to appear in court. Which they may or may not do.
The setting of the court date is the rub because they can if they choose take their sweet time. While you are losing money to a thief.
Once the hearing is finished they have five work days to get out.
Three months of living on you ??? What a joke. You running a welfare program ??
Not payment of rent is the most simple. Do not muddy the waters by dragging all the rest of that stuff into the court room. No Rent is the best and only reason you want them out. Strictly Business.
And remember that time lines are different when the rent is paid and not paid in regard to getting them out of your house. They get 30 days if rent is paid up and you dont like the dogs. Less than two weeks for non payment.
Good luck
I have always bluffed my way out of evicting someone but I have read the laws around it. In Texas after your 3 day notice for nonpayment you need to go to the Justice of the Peace and start the eviction process. You should be able to get them out of there in 30 days or less.
