Why I haven't posted much lately.
This summer (Australia's winter) has been a nightmare for us.
Another tenant moves into a property. Pays bond and has a payment schedule for the first month. This is not unusual, many landlords do this.She misses first scheduled payment. When we arrive at the property, there is someone ahead of us dropping off garbage on the lawn. Seems her old landlord spent the previous 2 hours sorting and bagging it.I start speaking with this woman, and find out lots of useful information on our dear tenant. She was also duped.She received one month rent, and tenant left water running when she left, which flooded, and did damage. We decide to break lease. Tenant has already breached lease, so we issue 5 day notice to quit.She doesn't leave. Water is not included in lease, so a day after her scheduled eviction, we have the town disconnect it.Next thing we know, the cops, town council, RTA, are all calling us and demanding we turn it on. NO WAY. According to the RTA we are required to mitigate our loss. Never being able to collect the money from the water bill, is doing just that. She is still in our property with 3 kids, without any running water...6 weeks later.We tried to show the property to applicants, and she tries to strangle Rob. Cops called.Seems even when we act within the RTA for showing a property, the criminal code steps in, and Rob was liable for criminal charges because the tenant said no. Cops called last night, and decided to not charge either the tenant or Rob. The tenant does admit to strangling Rob at the RTA hearing though.Tenant grandfather was with her. We offered to allow her to move in 2 days, and owe us nothing. She said she needed more time...6 weeks more. NO! After back and forth, we said we would compromise if the grandfather co-signed the lease and paid the rental arrears. She could stay. He refused. We don't know the outcome of hearing yet (it is mailed). Tenant has now served us for compensation of no water, moving expenses, and discomfort. She was able to get her hearing in 2 weeks . WTF. Oh, we countered, we want immediate eviction.
Hopefully next summer will be better.
This has been stressful.