Having Dilemna With Debt Owed to Me

[Rebecca2]

A few years ago I had to move out of my house because it was not handicap accessible and could not be remodeled to make it handicap accessible. I bought a house that was handicap accessible. Also, the new house is also within the city limits so I don't have to pay an extra fee for emergency services (i.e. ambulance, E.M.T.).

I have been trying to sell the first house without any success. In the mean time I have been renting it out. I have had three sets of renters. The first ones tore the place up and left owing me $1200. BTW, the first renters were the daughter and son-in-law of some friends of mine.

The second renter deserted the place leaving two dogs and a tiny kitten to fend for themselves. I didn't know she had left until a neighbor called to tell me that the doors and windows were open and kids were going in and out of the house. I don't know how those poor animals lived in that place in the freezing cold without without food or water for nearly two weeks. (I don't know what happened to the dogs. The kitten is a happy part of my family.) The renter left owing several hundred dollars plus it took over $3000 to make repairs.

Now, I have renters who seemed decent enough. They didn't have a criminal record, had a fair credit report, had good references, and had good jobs. Of course, two months after they moved in things started going downhill. They failed to pay the utilities (which WERE in my name). She got laid off. He had an accident on the job. He did not qualify for worker's compensation. Then it rained for almost two weeks straight and he couldn't work because he does construction. They are currently $1687 behind in rent. Tomorrow that will increase when this month's rent is due. I have talked to them about what they owe and how they plan to pay it. I don't think they fully undetstood the meaning of our conversation.

So, here is my dilemna - I can evict them and start over with new tenants or try to sell the house again. Of course, because of their debt, I don't have any funds to carry the mortgage for even a month. I have already had to make a deal with the mortgage company to pay the interest on the loan until my tenants catch up with what they owe me. If I evict my tenants after the mortgage company has agreed to work with me, it makes me feel like that jerk in the parable who was forgiven his debts but refused to forgive the debts of someone who owed him money.

At this point, I am having a problem paying my bills. I am juggling the bills I pay from month to month. I have cut back on things including medications that I should be taking. I can't afford to keep going the way things are going.

I have prayed a lot about this. I have talked to people in my church. I know that God will help me resolve this. I am just having a lot of headaches and heartaches about the whole thing. I just want this white elephant to go away!!!

Prayers needed.

Ideas wanted.

[F8thNJesus]

This is a long shot, and should only be done if the Lord tells you to do so. IF this guy is in construction, and they really have no where else to go, then maybe you could let them stay with you helping out with the bills, and repairing your house so that you could sell it.

Have these people really ran into a hard time, or are they just taking advantage of your compassion? You see the kitten you rescued was in a hard time, but someone that gambles and continues doing so but begging someone to pay his bills is not in a hard time.(not saying your tenants are gamblers) God will give you the wisdom to discern their actions. It is necessary for you to seek the Lord in this, and you will know them by their fruits. God is either telling you to be still and bless these people because they are trying, and have made every effort to do things right, or he is telling you to not enable people that are not going to see the blessings God has bestowed on them because of their hardened heart.

I would in the least have your tenants get the utilities in their name.

or you could have a rental management company take care of it for you.

If your old house is cheaper, then maybe someone from the church could make it handicap accessible, and you could sell the other house

Either way sister, I am praying for you, and confident God will show you the right path. HE always does.

Edited September 5, 2007 by F8thNJesus

[Rebecca2]

Could I ask a very simple question? And first of all, try to look at the subject objectively, from outside the situation. My question is this:

If it were you, on the other side of the equation, would you expect to be allowed to still live in a rented home that you already owed more than $1600 in back rent on?

I would never think of living in a house for which I could not pay the mortgage or rent. I was placed in a similiar situation when my husband walked out on me after I had put him through college. He maxed out my credit cards, cleaned out my bank accounts, and caused me to lose my job. I ended up filing for bankruptcy. I didn't want to do it, but I had to be realistic. It still hurts knowing that I didn't pay my debts.

[Rebecca2]

This is a long shot, and should only be done if the Lord tells you to do so. IF this guy is in construction, and they really have no where else to go, then maybe you could let them stay with you helping out with the bills, and repairing your house so that you could sell it.

or you could have a rental management company take care of it for you.

If your old house is cheaper, then maybe someone from the church could make it handicap accessible, and you could sell the other house

Either way sister, I am praying for you, and confident God will show you the right path. HE always does.

I already let them stay one month free in exchange for work done around the house. Unfortunately, he went a bit further than I had asked / given permission for and added a deck on the front of the house that I do NOT care for at all. I think it will decrease the property value.

The mortgage payment on the other house is not quite $100 less than this house. To make it handicap accessible would double the cost of the house. I would need to get a second mortgage. I would end up paying more monthly and in the long run. Also, it is in the county and I would have to pay a fee for emergency services. In the long run it would cost much more to move back to the other house.

I will have to look into a rental management company. I had given that a thought before. Maybe it's time to make some serious inquiries about this.

Thanks

[chin]

been there, done that. you make others accountable, as you are. nice does'nt work. there are no free rides. get a lawyer take them to court and make them pay. always have it in writing. can i come and live with you for free? red flags all over the place. shame on them the first time, after that it's all on you. i know from experience, pay as you go or get lost. sorry that this happened. don't keep repeating the same mistakes. it's about tough love, it's still love, good luck.

[VicMal]

I really don't know when I can help you but I can promise that my family would pray one time every day for your situation. We live in Ukraine, and situation with accommodation is very hard for so many Ukrainian people. There are so many people who work in private organization and pay their salaries in envelopes. They can't take credits in any banks. Young people marry and can't go from their parents. Accommodation in Ukraine is very expensive and buy it can only rich people. My family rented accommodation for 10 years. We can't allow ourselves to buy even very old flat because of our salaries enough for paying for rent and food. But we thank God for all that we can. We hope that one day we can go to our own flat or house.

In love,

Victor.

[Leonard]

May the Lord help you sell the white elephant. +

[tsth]

Dear Rebecca,

It seems that you have been MORE than fair. To evict them, is not a wrong thing to do. Having been in rental property before, it is not a "fun" thing to be in, especially with regard to "clean-up"! I highly advise you to get out of the rental situation as quickly as possible, because for a single woman, it is not profitable nor safe. It is a hard business.

I will remember you in prayer this morning, that God will give you a remedy for this.

God bless you.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Marnie]

I have four rental properties and there is NO way I would be a landlord without rental agencies. They chase down the bad checks and the cut-and-runners and handle all the paperwork, etc.

In the meantime, evict the freeloaders and try to get another family in there ASAP. Tell your mortgage holder what's going on. But if you are able to do it at this late date, get an agency to handle things from now on.

[Guest]