• FreeAdvice has a new Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, effective May 25, 2018.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our Terms of Service and use of cookies.

Landlord Tenant Problem

Accident - Bankruptcy - Criminal Law / DUI - Business - Consumer - Employment - Family - Immigration - Real Estate - Tax - Traffic - Wills   Please click a topic or scroll down for more.

fatman

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Arizona

Hi let me explain my situation. I am a owner of a two-bedroom condo that I live in. I rented out a room to a tenant for a 1YR lease. We agreed in an email that if the tenant wanted to break the lease she could give two months notice or two months rent. I failed to include this in the lease but have an email from her agreeing to it. We are halfway through the lease this month and I discover her hiding two small puppies unbeknownst to me. I tell her that she cannot have the puppies and they have to be gone by the end of the month. She just says she can't live without them and she is moving out at the end of the month. I say that we have a lease in place and she cannot do that unless she pays me two months rent. On top of that I discover upon her leaving that she let the dogs chew up 3 pieces of (carpet 6-12in) and feces all over the carpet. I made sure to take pictures of the damage and I have pictures of things she used to try and get odors out of the carpet that still smells like urine. Since then she seems to have gone missing. She sent me a letter saying that she will pay through January bu t her last check just bounced for December. She also says that she only will pay to repair by seaming the torn carpet and steam cleaning the smell. I told her I want it replaced. I am worried because she has keys to my place and she doesn't have anything here.

What do I do now? Since she has no stuff here and hasn't paid rent can I change the locks legally without letting her know. Do I have to go through formal eviction processes or should I go straight to small-claims court? Should I go after her for more than two months rent since there was nothing written in the lease about 2 months notice rent? Can someone that has been through a situation like this please list the steps that I take in order of what's next ?

ThanksWhat is the name of your state? ArizonaWhat is the name of your state?
 


ncpropmgr

Member
#1. Change the locks.
#2. Is there a clause in the lease agreement she signed that said she could terminate with any such conditions? If no, then your email would suffice for terminating the agreement.
#3. Change the old nasty carpet out, charge it to her, send her to collections for the rent and old carpet replacement. Make sure to depreciate the carpet, FIVE year rule.
 

Find the Right Lawyer for Your Legal Issue!

Fast, Free, and Confidential
data-ad-format="auto">
Top