Recent Feedback
I hired Terminix. He inspected my unit and the two units next door. (By the way, the complex is very clean) My husband and I lived there until 2010. Then we spent a year cleaning, painting, revarnishing the hardwood, re-tiled the Kitchen and Front door area, had all the closet doors cleaned and painted, replaced two ceiling fans and the dining room fixture, detailed the bathroom. My husban and I were both smokers and lived there 11 years. So we had our work cut out for us. Oh...and we replaced the two window treatments. Then, after we were finished, it still took us several months to rent the place out. Finally we got our tenant. A very nice young woman, but unfortunately she was from Detroit, and works in a day care in Detroit, and has to bum rides to and from work because she doesnt have a car. Fortunately she doesnt have a stick of furniture either. Just a bedroom suit she bought about 4 months ago. It was made very clear by the Exterminator that the bugs did not travel through any walls, nor were they there when she moved in. He said, from the extent of the infestation, it was a very recent occurance. And that she needed to take a hard look at where she's been, and/or who her visitors are and where they have been. My question is: Since I covered the cost of her first infestation, even tho she was the one responsible for the infestation in the first place. Will I be responsible in the future?And if so, is there a way I can get her evicted, since I can't afford the cost to exterminate for bed bugs. I had to pay $550.00 That's a full months rent. And I have other expenses related to the Condo that I have to cover monthly, like dues and property tax. I honestly can't afford to keep her place bug free if she is a carrier. So I need to know what I can do. Can I just not renew her lease, and let her know in advance that the lease will not be renewing? I know she can't afford the extermination either. Besides, my husband and I are seriously thinking about moving back in and selling the house. Since he and I are both working part time now, we just can't afford the upkeep of both a house and a condo. Even with the rental income.Thanks!
Optional Information: State/Country relating to question: Michigan Already Tried: I paid for Exterminating the Unit. And discussed the cause of the problem with the tennant. The adjoining units were also inspected, but no sign of any infestation there. This was deemed to be an isolated case, whereby the tenant either brought the bug into the unit, or the bug was brought in by a visitor. This is the first case of any type of pest the Association has ever been made aware of. This is a clean and well kept Complex and I was in comunication with the Manager, the Maintenance
Absent any clause in the lease to the contrary, if you can show through your exterminator's report that this was not an outside infestation, it is the tenant's liability to pay for the extermination and you need to notify her that you are holding her liable for the extermination. You cannot just terminate her lease, but you can refuse to renew the lease and you need to give her written notice, but you should not specify why other than you are choosing not to renew and give no cause. If she refuses to pay for the extermination, then you need to pay and deduct it from her security deposit and inform her in writing that you are doing so.
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How much of a noitce to I need to give her if I decide not to renew the Lease. And when exactly, should I let her know that the cost of the Exterminator is being deducted from the Security Deposit? I have a brand new refrigerator in the unit. I don't want her to take that with her to make up for the lost security deposit. You never can tell what a tenant will do.
If she has a written lease and it does not specify otherwise, then you only need to give her 30 days prior to the end of the lease to inform her you are not renewing the lease. If she has no written lease for a term she is a month to month tenant and then you only need to give 30 day written notice you are terminating the lease. You should send her a letter telling her that the cost of extermination is her liability and if she does not pay then you will have to pursue legal actions against her and you need to tell her this up front now.
Experience: Licensed attorney practicing landlord-tenant, land use and other real estate law and litigation.