I had a tenant move in med may she paid $300 dep and $300 1/2 month rent.
June I did not receive any rent and no response from the tenant. Her cell phone # changed I left several messages with her employer - no response.
I sent her notice of late pmt and notice to pay or quit.
Then her cousin calls me and said that her ex-husband broke in tried to kill her and her daughter, so she no longer stays there and is in protective custody, they changed the locks and I dont have keys to the unit.
Since she no longer live there the apt is considered abandoned and according to tx law I can post a notice of abandoned apt and remove the belonging in 48 hrs.
But her cousin said that he will come and take her stuff on friday and hand me the keys -
MY PROBLEM is I have not spoken to the tenant and dont know if this guy is actually her cousin should i let him take the stuff out, which I have would have thrown it anyway by now?
Hi,
This is a very interesting story, however I have some concerns first if you or I attempted to murder someone we would be arrested rather quickly, second I believe that protective custody is reserved for a witness to a major crime who is testifying in court?
A lock smith could pick the lock in a new york minute for probable a service call of $45 to $75!
I would call and talk to the watch sargent at the police station local to this property and explain the situation to him and ask if he or a detective has information in regards to this situation?
I smell a rat here, maybe a tenant who changed her mind about your unit and does not want to pay June’s rent? Or potentually lose a deposit?
This story sounds like someone is trying to keep you from collecting June’s rent or taking the tenant to court?
I would not give up any personal property of a tenant without pernmission in person or by notorized letter if un-available in person.
I think you really need to talk to the police!!!
GR
since the rent is not paid and the apt is considered abandoned, I would anyway get the lock open and put her stuff ont he street or throw it, but if someone one is taking the stuff out, it save me time and i dont have to spend money to open the lock.
If the tenant would still be living there it would be a diff scenerio, then I would have to get eviction order
You better know the state law on how long, and exactly, HOW to store abandoned property or you can be sued.
I got a $500 judgment against me once because I CLEANED OUT A RANSACKED ABANDONED SHED and carted the stuff to the dump. I had just bought the property and nobody was living in the adjacent units.
The shed turned out to have been used by the tenant across the driveway, who didn’t even know that shed had been broken into and his stuff vandalized.
Give written notices, or someone may decide you threw out valuable family heirlooms. Even if it looks and smells like absolute crap and garbage.
Furnishedowner
Tell whoever is taking away the stuff that they have to bring you a signed note from the tenant giving them permission and giving you back possession of the unit.
I don’t think you really have a problem here. You said the cousin has the key to the new lock not you, correct? So, what’s the problem here? Maybe I don’t understand. Trust me I’m here in Germany and I have rental properties I hear new stories every month to why the rent can’t be paid. I have a property manager and what I tell her is start eviction immediately. I’m trying to run a business here. It’s the States responsibility to take care of their citizens.
i guess she moved out 2 weeks back and turned off the power. The cousin took the stuff out but left the fridge filled with rotten food and infested all sorts of bugs, i will have to replace the fridge thats how bad it is.
Smells like a rat to me as well… I would definitely talk to the police first and see what is going on. I actually have a similiar problem where a tenant prepaid rent for 6 months but got arrested and is now in jail… At one time he was letting someone else live there but they ransacked the place and now it’s a crap hole… I am at odds as to what to do… some of his belongings are still in there.