Free housing

[tronix]

Hello everyone,
I own a home that was passed down to me. Currently there is someone living in it (a family friend) for free, no lease, no rental agreement, no other documentation just a verbal agreement. The agreement was that she was to fix up the house while living there (little things every now and then) and pay all utilities, then there would be no rent. She doesn't clean up after herself, puts holes in the walls, and other issues. My question is, since there is no lease and I own the property; is there any way she could sue me over conditions of the house or any other failure of anything else dealing with the home? Should I type up an agreement to prevent this from happening? I don't want to be sued or held liable for any accidents, mishaps, and any failure of the dwelling. I also don't want her to be able to stay there for much longer seeing as how she has not taken care of the home so I don't want to have a lease with her. Where could I get a document to prevent me from being held liable?
What other recommendations do you have?
Thank you for your help.

 

[FarmerJ]

Why didnt you say what state you live in? Bottom line here, rent paying tenant or tenant who does not pay rent by agreement if city inspections came in on Monday they can still cite you for any housing code problems found. This person living there has a tenancy , your states laws say so even though you have no written lease. (month to month at will tenancy at the very least) SO if your wanting this tenancy to be over then after you search your states laws for the amount of notice to be given to month to month renters give one in writing on paper sent via certified mail or confirmed mail delivery. Once they have moved out either fix it up while you find a firm to be your property manager and rent it out for you or fix & sell.

 

[BL]

If you have before and after tenancy pictures ,you can also sue for damage cost repairs.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Do you actually think, based on your story, they would comply with any kind of agreement anyway? Legally evict them.

 

[Searchertwin]

Hello everyone,
I own a home that was passed down to me. Currently there is someone living in it (a family friend) for free, no lease, no rental agreement, no other documentation just a verbal agreement. The agreement was that she was to fix up the house while living there (little things every now and then) and pay all utilities, then there would be no rent. She doesn't clean up after herself, puts holes in the walls, and other issues. My question is, since there is no lease and I own the property; is there any way she could sue me over conditions of the house or any other failure of anything else dealing with the home? Should I type up an agreement to prevent this from happening? I don't want to be sued or held liable for any accidents, mishaps, and any failure of the dwelling. I also don't want her to be able to stay there for much longer seeing as how she has not taken care of the home so I don't want to have a lease with her. Where could I get a document to prevent me from being held liable?
What other recommendations do you have?
Thank you for your help.

You are going to have a mess on your hands.
This person has already shown she doesn't care and as suggested by another poster, "Do you really think they will comply with any kind of agreement anyway"?

Avoid all the hassle, make this day one, send him a 30 days notice to move. Be prepare for more damages. If you have pictures of before, which I really doubt you don't, go now with notice in hand, take pictures at the same time and inform him that he will also receive notice by crr mail.

BUT, we don't know this person as you do. I get the feeling you are just a little scare of the "unknown", since this is probably your first encounter. If this is the case, than I would get a lease from a realtor or online, include things you want and go sit this person and go over it. Than you will know. There are thing you can add, such as they have to have renters insurance.

 

[tronix]

The house is in WV.
I am almost positive that it would not pass a total inspection if one was to be done. I see the odds of an inspection very slim however but I just worry about her or her son injuring themselves and holding me accountable. The house was originally not in my name, it was in my fathers and his siblings, In which the siblings allowed the person to move in. Now it is just in my name, noone elses. I plan on getting a lease agreement for the time being, (in reality I would rather her leave) until her son graduates high school, unless bigger problems arise.

Thanks for the replys so far.