LogFAQs > #912230328

All this being said there are TONS of ways to get around all that. I have seen renters sub-lease for instance (even though it's not legal for them to do so). This can require you to discover the info on the other tenant, and go through the eviction process on them. In some cases this has been tried multiple times where a family would just keep sub-leasing to other people/family members to try and stay somewhere indefinately (this was in Ca though where the landlord tennant laws are very one sided).

If a renter can prove there are damages, or repairs that need to be made in a home, and that they have informed the landlord of them, they can fight an eviction based on not paying rent, on the bases that they are withholding rent until repairs are made. What is worse, they can make it very difficult to have those repairs made by limiting the times the landlord has access to their home, and then not being there when the landlord finally sets up a time (after a few times the judge will obviously realize what is going on, but it can take quite awhile before you get there).

Honestly though, if someone wants to take advantage of another person, its very hard to prevent it...without destroying the rights of every normal person who isn't a crook. There are plenty of landlords who do unscrupulous things as well, which is why the laws are so one sided in many places.

I always recommend that if you rent, you pay with a check and write on the bottom left of your check rent for "month". Make sure you communicate anything important with your landlord in writing as well (things that are damages or need repairs etc). Get a receipt for any security deposits etc.

There are people that will take advantage of you on both sides, landlords and tenants. The general feeling I believe (at least in places like Ca) is that the landlords own property and will not generally end up out on the street if they are taken advantage of (not always the case, but most of the time it probably is). Most landlords aim to actually make a profit each month from renting a property, so courts consider it part of the risk if tenants take advantage of them to some degree. Tenants on the other hand are often in serious trouble if a landlord takes advantage of them, doesn't return their security deposit for instance (which they needed to pay the deposit on a new place), doesn't do repairs that makes a place uninhabitable (while still charging rent and trying to force a tenant to stay due to a lease etc) etc.

I have rented myself and honestly the best solution is only rent to people you know trust if at all possible...and honestly, unless your a recluce and have no friends, you should be able to find someone you like, and trust (or at least a friend of a friend who they trust) to rent from you. If you do rent to randoms, do a background check for sure, and get a decent security deposit along with first and last months rent to cover most of the loss.

Also, try and give incentives for tenants to leave if you can, don't just rely on the courts and what is right etc. If a "selfish" tenant does not want to leave, it may be far better for you to offer them money to help them move, and their full security deposit back (as long as no damages are done) then it would be to fight them in court and "hope" they don't damage your property severly since they don't expect to get their security deposit back anyway. You can easily end up with thousands of dollars of damages from angry tenants and there isn't much you can do about it...even if you do everything legally and get them out pretty fast.
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"did you steal my f***in signature" Helly