Smoke Detector
I have a tenant that always takes the battery out of the smoke detector.
I saw a smoke detector with a hidden spy cam. I am thinking about buying one & installing it in the apartment. I also think there are drugs being sold out of the apartment. This smoke detector will catch taking the battery out & even drug activity in the apartment. I would turn this over to the police & have tenant evicted. They have signed a drug addendum already. Can I do this? Please advise
1, You cannot violate their rights by placing a spy cam. Are you kidding? !!
2. Give them notice for violating the lease terms if taking out the battery violates the lease. Check w/your county housing code violation, fire marshal, etc to find what your culpability is on detectors. Your insurance agent might help, too.
3. Make sure your insurance is paid.
Not long ago I had a conversation w/the county drug task force guys. I could not even remove the trash bags that needed to be removed and let them go thru them. They could have if they were on the street, but I could not participate in giving them access.
Call some departments if you need to, but you best be very knowledgable of the laws and their rights.
However, you can give them notice to vacate IF your lease gives you that right. Check your landlord tenant law.
The section 8 tenant pays for the utilities in my rentals. I am told that the cost of tenant paid utilities plus the rent are factored into the mix when the tenant applicant is given a Section 8 voucher.
I have lots of S-8 tenants, all but one are long term customers. They happen to be some of my better tenants. We (our property managers and I) spend a lot of effort on screening up front. Set the expectations up front. Walk through all the provisions on the lease with them... make sure they understand THEIR responsibilities. Make sure they know that their voucher can be taken away for failure to meet the terms of the lease and the S-8 program.
I do not pay any utilities. I think this varies from area to area and from one housing authority to another.
NewKidInTown3 brings up a good point about inspections. Make sure your property is Section 8 capable. Some properties just will not pass inspection. The local Housing Authority here is very strict. Over the years, I have paid thousands of dollars to "fix" hand rails that wobble "too much", etc. I remove all screens (a 1 inch tear is 1 inch too much,) miniblinds (until last year, no vinyl miniblinds allowed) and tighten every switch plate cover. Get a list from the HA and go over every item. And I have no properties built prior to 1980 in the program. 1 flake of loose exterior paint, lead based or not, and you are in deep dung.
I hear that Section 8 (HUD) has a lease-option program?? Is anyone familiar with this?
Thanks for the contact lavonc.
I tried two places in Greensboro, NC. 2 were right on the mark, one was no where near what it was suppose to be. Lack of good comps seemed to be the problem.
Is this an opportunity for propbot/tci to offer such a service?