Section 8 nightmare
In a nut shell this is what I have. A section 8 tenant who is a pain in the rear. When I met the family they were extremely polite, etc and I deciced to be nice and rent to them. As soon as they moved in, their mood changed. I soon realized they were those savvy types who excel in complaing, whining and demanding everything. These nuts called 5 times late at night to get me to repair a broken entry door lock. Their kid had put super glue in the lock. They assume that EVERYTHING must be free because the govt is taking care of them. The lease ends in April 2003. My question is this, how do I end this lease since it is section 8? There was so much paperwork invloved with the section 8 crap that I want to make sure my rear is covered. Should I simply give written notice to the tenant and the HUD office that I will not renew the lease? My concern is that there is some new government form I might have missed and the tenant will stay another year or sue me for some bizarre reason. I'll never do another section 8 again, that's for sure. Any imput is appreciated.
Notify (in writing) the Section 8 program administrator for your area that you will be withdrawing your property from participation in the program when the current lease expires. Fax the letter, and also put it in the mail. After your fax is transmitted, call the office to confirm receipt and ask if they have a property termination package you need to complete.
Give your tenants written notice that your participation in the Section 8 program will end when their current lease expires and that you will not renew the lease. Be sure you follow all the provisions of your lease concerning termination and that your process is in accordance with your local landlord-tenant laws.
You story reinforces how important it is to check landlord references for each tenant application -- even Section 8 applicants.[ Edited by DaveT on Date 01/26/2003 ]
I don't know about your area, but in our area, you can call the HUD Inspectors out on damage that the tenant has done. Also if you have filed an eviction for the tenant because of a lease violation, they are supposed to be uneligible for the Section8 Voucher and can be kicked off the program.
In short, if thier is a lease violation, file the eviction and send a copy of the eviction to the tenant's case worker.
I agree that it is a lot easier if the tenants have violated some provision of the lease that warrants eviction. Landpimp2000 did not tell us if there are any major lease violations in play, he just said he is tired of the complaining.
Can you evict for violation of any lease provision? In my area, the violation must be significant and the lease itself must include language that the violation is grounds for immediate eviction. Examples of significant violations include using the property for illegal activities, or major violations of the health and safety codes.
In my area, you can have a HUD inspector look at tenant abuse, but HUD does not pay for repairs. You can workout a repayment plan with the tenant over and above the rent schedule, but usually only if the tenant admits to the abuse. Your other recourse is to deduct the repair cost from the tenant's security deposit when the tenant vacates.
I don't know whether damage to a lock is warrent for an eviction, but the damage that is done by the tenant should be paid for by the tenant, and if the money isn't paid, it is a violation of the HUD contract that he signed with HUD.
For me, I wouldn't evict on something like this. I would have a handyman go out and change the locks or do it myself.
Hello Landpimp2000, Well all Section 8 tenants are not alike. Don't judge all by the short comings of this one. Your lease should contain some thing to the fact that the first $50 or so dollars in repairs are the responsibility of the tenant. Having the tenant to pay for the door lock should make they more responsible. Be pro-active in the management of your property. Check out the property at least once a quarter. Hold the tenant to the rule outlined in the lease. What ever damage they do to your property is all tax deductable that is why HUD no longer pays for damage do by Section 8 tenants.
You still may be able to save the relationship with this tenant by sitting down all explaining the rules of the lease to them and the items that they must lay out their own money to repair.
landpimp2000
I understand how you feel and it's your property, but keep in mind it's just business.
When you rent to folks with young children you will have these kinds of problems, as a matter of fact being a landlord issues like this will continue.
You have the right not to renew their lease.
Ask your self first before you make a decision, are you making profit? Figure how much time you spend on each issue with these folks vs how much time you will spend getting the subject property rented again.
I have a renter that is late every month for the past 3 years by 10 to 15 days, but he pay his late fee each and every time and yes I have to do some type of repair 6 to 10 times each year. It this a pain yes, but I have a positive cash flow of 269 every month. I will put up with it because it's profit and sometimes you have to put up with a little pain to keep the profit coming in.
It just sounds like you're a little over the top, but son you will have to get used to this, as it is a part of landlording.
[addsig]