For a limited time, we are offering a $2000 moving credit to anyone who sells before 5/15/24.  

What To Do When a Tenant Trashes Your Rental Property

Rental Property
  • By My Tennessee Home Solution
  • 13 May, 2022

When you rent a home, it’s important to treat your tenants like the good, respectful people that they are. This means that you should always make sure to keep the property clean, tidy, and safe. And if you discover that your tenant is doing anything that might harm your home, you should do everything in your power to get them to stop. But what happens when a tenant does something that you simply can’t tolerate?

In the worst-case scenario, a tenant might damage or destroy your rental property without any provocation. Here are a few things to do in a situation like this and get your property back in shape. Even if it’s not in a good shape or abandoned then we buy houses Nashville TN.

Take a deep breath

It’s going to be difficult, but it’s important to remain calm and collected during this time. Remember that the tenant is responsible for their actions, and your job is to protect your property and restore it to its pre-trashing condition. Things are not going to get easier if you act in a fit of rage, so try to remain cool and collected during this process. We buy houses is a convenient, fast, and reliable service for everyone who wants their house to be sold in a fast and easy manner.

Send a letter to the tenant

This is the first thing that you must do – send a letter to the tenant. In this letter, make it clear that he or she is at fault for damaging your rental property and that you are trying to protect it. However, do not threaten the tenant with legal action or make demands in your letter. Instead, focus on educating the tenant about his or her rights and responsibilities as a renter.

Understand the Tenant’s Motivations

Chances are, as a landlord, you’ve put a lot of time and money into your rental property and screening tenants. But despite your best efforts, you may get tenants that end up seriously damaging your rental property either accidentally or on purpose. (1)

When you first find out about the damage, try to figure out why they would do such a thing. Was it an accident? Or was it intentional? If the latter, it may be a case of the tenant trying to harm you or your property. This could be because they’re angry with you, or because they want to ruin your rental property so that you can no longer rent it out. Whatever the case may be, you need to make sure that you understand why they did this, so that you can decide how best to respond. Furthermore, talk to the tenant about their behavior; explain that their actions are not acceptable and that you will not tolerate them damaging or destroying property but be polite and firm in your message.

Determine if you have the right to evict your tenant

Before taking any action, it’s important to determine if you have the legal right to evict your tenant. If not, perhaps you are able to settle things between the two of you. In order to evict a tenant, you must qualify to do so. Every state has different laws governing eviction, so it’s important to research the specific regulations in your area. In general, you can evict a tenant for one of the following reasons:

1. The tenant has failed to pay rent.

2. The tenant has violated the terms of the lease agreement.

3. The tenant is a nuisance or threat to the other tenants or neighbors.

4. The property has been condemned by the city or state government.

5. The tenant is using the property for illegal purposes.

Having a hard time finding a nice buyer, sit back and relax we buy houses TN – offering you an opportunity to sell your house fast for cash. We’ve seen it all, from great homes to small apartments, we are always looking for a nice house to flip.

Start the Inspection Process

As soon as you find out that the tenant has been trashing your property, begin with a home inspection. This is the best way to gather evidence that will support your case. It is crucial that you give the tenant a chance to clean up the mess before you begin the eviction process. If they do not take responsibility for the damage, then you can proceed with an eviction.

Make a Decision

Once you figured out that the damages are bad enough, you should go for the eviction process. Get your tenant a notice that their lease has been terminated and that they must move out immediately. Consulting an attorney is a wise thing before taking any action against a tenant, especially if you’re unsure you have the legal grounds to do so. An eviction can be a long process, and it’s not something that you should handle yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing. When everything is falling apart in your home, one must be capable enough to make the right decision such as choosing we buy houses Tennessee that is not only fast but where you can find a great deal.

Assess the Damages

When you go through an inspection, it is important to take pictures and videos of all the damages that have been done to your house. It is a good idea to get a detailed list of all the damaged items, so you can refer back to the inspection report after an eviction.

Evaluate the Damages

It’s time to know how much would it cost for fixing up the damages, get estimates from third-party contractors and then compare the costs. By doing that you have a better idea of the financial feasibility to fix everything even if you decide to work out a payment yourself.

File a Claim with the Insurance Company

Depending on the number of damages, you may be able to file a claim with your insurance company to fix everything up and then ask for a reimbursement. But before you do that, make sure that you have a good insurance policy and then check your coverage.

Deduct from Security Deposit

According to state laws, you can deduct the damages from your tenant’s security deposit. But you can only do it if the damages are not caused by your negligence. In addition, the cost of damages has to be significant enough to justify it.

What landlords should do to avoid this situation

To be honest, it’s hard to predict what tenants will do. You should be aware of the fact that you’re likely to face a situation like this at some point. The only way to prevent it is to stay on top of your property and be prepared to act if you find a situation like this. Put the right insurance policy in place, so you’re protected in case anything happens, and your property must be clean and in good shape. Always keep an eye on your tenants and make sure that they’re doing their part to keep your property clean. It is difficult to deal with a trashy tenant but it is important that you react in a proper way – as we do the Tennessee home buyers team.