Trusted
But last July we bought a two-flat property in a choice location because we plan to build a house there eventually. But in the meantime, we're landlords.
One of the tenants was a police officer and his wife. No issues there. Great tenants.
The other tenant is the brother of the former owner. He's a nice guy except he's usually out of work and rarely pays the rent....and has a lot of really noisy friends.
I've given him notice....and he's supposed to be out today. He owes me about $3000 in unpaid rent.
He was, until recently, on home detention (hence can't go to work -> no income -> no rent).
He's now on community detention and can go to work (and find a new place to live).....but I haven't seen any rent since early December.
I'd called the Tenancy tribunal and applied for a hearing for unpaid rent and "possession", based on the advice their advice line gave. I went to the hearing and found out you can't apply for possession until AFTER the final date of the tenancy has passed. I should have applied to end the tenancy (which includes possession).
Oh.
OK..so they re-submit my application (amended) and I have new hearing date at the end of February.
Meanwhile, the cop and his wife got tired of all the noise and moved out. Empty flat. Can't really rent it for a decent price with the rough crew in the back hanging out on the steps all day.
The order I have got from the Tribunal for arrears is effectively unenforceable as the guy has no money anyway...and I can't use it to have him removed by the Tribunal.
It looks like he can sit there, rent free, until at least the end of February...and with him there I can't really rent out the front flat......and no relief in sight for weeks yet.
Lovely.
If you're ever a landlord and you have problem tenant? Move early, move fast at the first sign of trouble and make sure you apply for an end to the tenancy and arrears (assuming an ongoing problem) if the person is still there on your property. You'll be put through "mediation"...and it's worth it in so far as the mediator can give you an enforceable order if the conditions aren't met. I already had one of these (back in August).....and let it lapse because the guy did start to pay rent, and some of the arrears, for a few months (WINZ at first, then his cash jobs). But that "golden age" soon ended...and I was back at square one.
Don't do that. I've cut this guy so much slack he's like a kite in a high wind. All it got me was good karma and a huge hole in my finances. By the time this guy is gone I'll be out roughly $6,000 in lost rent...and we're not even talking about any repairs or maintenance.
