How does a landlord deal with stuff left by tenants

Most tenants leave something behind they forgot or didn’t bother packing. Stuff can by anything from clothes to food in the fridge to furniture and even vehicles and bicycles to outright disasters with a real mess to deal with – we’ve seen everything (Please refer to my “7 Tips for Landlords” for general information on leasing to new tenants – if you follow that, you’ll have 100% success with your tenants).

There are 4 basic scenarios landlords deal with when tenants leave.

1. Their lease ran out and they gave you notice and were good responsible tenants who cleaned up and get there deposit back in full – rare.
2. Same as above but did not clean up and maybe even caused damage to your property during their term – your costs are deducted from their deposit.
3. They defaulted in their rent, you kicked them out, they left peacefully – #1 or 2 may apply on junk left behind and/or damage.
4. They did the midnight run – usually #2 will apply and you’re left with a costly cleanup and repairs.

Dealing with:

#1 You may only need to do some normal touchups here and there and some wear and tear repairs/replacements – ie: carpet, new paint.

#2 This is where your last month deposit kicks in and hopefully covers the cleanup and/or repairs. You’ll need to go through with your original move-in list with your tenant and note any changes such as damage (not normal wear and tear). There should be a clause that any personal property remaining after official move-out day they forfeit and you dispose – get their signature on this clause. They are responsible for all costs deductible from their deposit – provide receipts for costs and your time and hours – anything over the deposit you cannot recover without civil court.

#3 See #2.

#4 The worst – see #2. They have abandoned and you may be faced with extensive cleanup costing several $1000s in junk removal costs not including your labour. Repairs are on top and often is in the $10,000s.

If you followed my “7 Tips…” you should have #1 tenants and your investment will pay off with long-term responsible tenants and minimal move-out costs.

Dealing with the stuff – just call us at Anytime Bins – we’ll send a crew and bins (see our Junk Removal page) and we’ll get your property cleaned up in 4 to 8 hours in most cases.

Thank you and good luck.

7 Tips For Landlords And Choosing Your Tenants To Avoid Disaster

We get a lot of calls from landlords who need to clean up their property because of tenants who left a mess, hoarded or physical damage and I thought it might be worth doing 7 Tips for Landlords from my own personal successful tenant management program. This will avoid common mistakes landlords make choosing tenants and eliminate the expensive cleaning up and repairing from nightmare tenants that could have been avoided.  

1. Advertising
   1. Price it 10% below market rent – avoids tenants doing value shopping and moving out all the time.
2. Applications – use a professional tenant application form and MUST get:
   1. Official letter from employer on company letterhead, signed and dated stating good standing and number of years employed – less than 2 years ask for previous employer.
   2. Bank letter stating good standing.
   3. Permission to do a credit check – then do it.
   4. Name of present landlord with address, phone number – then call to find out what your prospect was like.
3. Red Flags that warrant rejecting the application:
   1. Unwilling to provide requested information.
   2. Telling you they will move in NOW with cash.
4. Sorting through applications:
   1. Choose the 3 best applicants
   2. Arrange to visit them at their current home to see their housekeeping standards. If they refuse, reject their application.
   3. When you arrive ask to see their driver licence to verify this is their actual current home – for couples, both should provide driver licence with same address – if they refuse, reject them and leave.
   4. They may charm you, but this is business – get past that and be rational – use your Spidey senses – do you want them as tenants.
5. Signing the lease.
   1. Make sure you use a professional lease.
6. Collecting rent – make sure your prospect understands the following and which should be in the lease:
   1. Etransfer by the 1^st – not a minute later.
   2. Day 2 file an eviction notice – this is an important legal step.
   3. Know the landlord tenant act inside out.
7. Inspections:
   1. Inspect weekly during the 1^st month even just a drive-by – are they behaving or signs of property abuse starting.
   2. After one month do monthly furnace filter checks (and inspections) – Are they living like decent human beings or are they slowly turning your home into a landfill site inside and out.
   3. After 6 months you will know they are good tenants or not.

Your property is an investment that can be destroyed less than a year and cost you $10,000 or more to cleanup and repair.

Remember, being a landlord is a business – keep your tenant relations professional and don’t get “emotionalled” when you have to turf them out.

Use my 7 Tips and you will be a happy landlord.

Thank you and good luck.