Any tips on dealing with a messy tenant?

Question

I have a tenant living in my basement - he was living in the house I bought about a year ago and I decided to keep him. I did not make him sign any rental paperwork. Yes, I know how wrong this decision was!

The problem lies with the fact that he does not keep his unit clean. He rarely takes out the trash, does not clean appliances or bathroom. Is there anything that I can say to him legally to get him to clean his unit and KEEP it clean?

Please help! Thanks!

Answer 1

no written lease makes it easy

30 days advance notice to leave apartment

30 days advance notice of written lease

that's 30 days in advance of rent due date

you can change the terms of the tenancy at any time;  leave him on month to month lease, but give him a Covenant or Agreement, that he must take out trash at least once a week (day before trash collection) clean appliances and bathroom.

Tell him frankly that you're concerned his failure to clean regularly is damaging appliances, leading to pest infestation, and that it bothers you.  That otherwise you think he's a fine tenant, but that if he wants to continue, there needs to be a change by him.

Answer 2

You need to either:

give him a 30 day notice to terminate his lease - without cause or reason. Never give a reason, it is not required by law

or

deal with it

The fact is you can write up anything you want in a lease. If he is a messy tenant, nothing is going to chage him. You can't force him to clean his unit or keep it clean.

Answer 3

As of today, you need to make a contract and spell out everything you expect - DON'T Leave anything out!

Then, he must sign it within 3 days or get out.

You can have him removed by assistance with the health department if it comes down to it - messy = infestation and health issues.

Answer 4

You need to decide if you really still want him there. If you do you need to write up a rental agreement, with a clause about sanitation and landlord inspections in it. you must give 24 hours notice before an inspection. Even though you currently have no written contract if you decide to boot him you still have to go through the legal notices, ie: notice to quit/eviction, then the courthouse if that does not work. I went through this when I let my brother and his girlfriend stay with us. They broke up, he moved out, she was a slob and refused to leave because she had no where else to go. I packed her stuff and put it on the porch, and I got in trouble and had to let her stay until I went through the legal process.

Answer 5

You can give him a 30 day notice for which to leave.

Then I'd suggest fumigation.