Pets that violate the Lease

[MassLandlord]

I have tenant who occupies a 1 bedroom apartment in the home my wife and I bought last year. We have a 5 month old baby with us. This is our 1st tenant and she has been trying us at every turn since we rented her the apartment in June. What should I do about two rabbits we just discovered ( we saw them while letting repairman in). It's a clear violation of the no pets clause of the lease t.I intend to put it in writing and require her to get rid of them.
She already has letters from us on being too noisy with people coming and going in the wee hours of the morning, violating the no smoking policy to just being overall inconsiderate. The first month she paid rent, after the upfront money, she bounced two checks and blamed it on a transfer of Bank Ownership before she paid in 100 dollar bills on a Sunday.Frankly one side of me just wants to evict her now...but the other side says just ride it out for the final 4 months of her lease...as we do need the money to keep up with the mortgage. And Massachusetts laws side with the tenant I'd welcome your thoughts.

 

[djdj]

OH GEE.....laws dont favor tenants....they just discriminate against really really stupid landlords!

So give her a notice to cure the violation of the two rabbits...say 10 days if she doesnt show proof that the rabbits were destroyed and not living there, then that is grounds to start eviction proceedings...she violated the lease.

remember legal fees are a tax duductable expense against your rental income!

 

[MassLandlord]

Thanks for the sarcasm... I never used the word discriminate or stupid. Don't know where you're coming from I'm just trying to live in the same house with someone who so far, has been a real pain. And I've lived in apartments most of my life, so it's not like I'm living in some silver tower...but I guess like my tenant, some people have an axe to grind.
I'll try another website.

 

[djdj]

what ax to grind......you have a lease, the tenant volated it, so they have rights too.. the right to fix the violation to avoid eviction...

Then if they dont you can start eviction proceedings..

Now how is that unfair?

We DONT live in a communist 3rd world dictatorship, we have laws and BOTH of you have to follow them.

So when a stupid landlord thinks he is KING,Judge, and Jury... well the law will punish him...thats fair!

PS sounds like she might be dealing drugs,to pay the rent.. $100 bills, late nights etc...

 

[MassLandlord]

Thanks, I really do appreciate the input. I'm not stupid, just new and learning every day. I've already done some of the things you described.

The drug dealing thing crossed my mind too.

 

[djdj]

no problem... sometimes i have to shake people up..to get their attention

Learn about landlord /tenants laws so you wont have to go thru this again...there are law libraies ope to the public in most major cities, plus housing/civil court has people to help both landlord and tenants...

Personally i think most l/t laws are fairly balanced as long as both sides play fair.

good luck, be nice but firm, and i hope you do get them out before the police come with a search warrant, but remember its about the rabbitts get the rabbits out and no smoking you may just have toput up with themuntill the lease ends...also you must give them at least a 30 day notice, in writing, and spend the $3.25 and mail all letters BOTH regular mail AND certified return reciept as well to show a judge they refused to pick it up...... before the lease ends otherwise they could claim it continues on a month to month basis.