Do you have a rental property in Pittsburgh with non-paying tenants? Or maybe some of your tenants pay partial rent and say they will catch up soon. This is a very common and frustrating part of being a landlord. In this article, we’ll talk about how multifamily property owners can approach dealing with non-paying tenants in Pittsburgh.
If you have tenants who aren’t paying rent then you’re facing the same dilemma that many landlords go through in Allegheny County. It’s frustrating and unfortunately it can be time-consuming to resolve. That said, here are some ways Pittsburgh, PA landlords can handle tenants who don’t pay rent.
1. Lower Your Chances of Non-paying Tenants in Pittsburgh: Do a Background and Credit Check!
The best way to hopefully avoid renting to a tenant that doesn’t pay rent is to screen the tenant before signing a lease with them. Too many landlords rent to the first person that shows up and has money for a security deposit and first month’s rent. While it’s tempting to take that money and hope for the best, it very often doesn’t work out well for the landlord. Instead of leasing the apartment right away, take time to do a criminal background check and a credit screen. The best offense is a good defense, meaning that if you are careful about doing a background check on your tenants, you will filter out a lot of potentially negative candidates upfront.
2. Negotiate a Solution with your Non-paying Tenants
Many landlords try to negotiate with their tenants in the hope of getting them back on track. This usually comes in the form of negotiating a different payment schedule, or maybe asking your tenant to do some work on the property in exchange for a reduction in rent. If you decide to go this route, make sure you have everything documented in a legal contract. If you agree to different payment terms than what are outlined in the lease, you need to have a written document signed by both parties stating the terms. If you are asking your tenant to perform services in exchange for rent, create a Statement of Work, just like you would for a contractor, and clearly define the payment and what constitutes a “complete” job.
3. Evict a Non-paying Tenant
This is usually a worst-case scenario for both a landlord and a tenant. If a tenant is not able or not willing to catch up on overdue rent, you can serve them a Notice to Quit. At this point, it is advisable to have an attorney or someone experienced with this process get involved on your behalf because there are a number of requirements surrounding how to deal with this process.
If a tenant does not leave the property after the date defined in the Notice, you or your legal representative can file a landlord-tenant complaint in the magisterial district court. From there, a hearing will be scheduled and a judge will hear both sides of the case and make a ruling. It’s important to note that even if a ruling goes in your favor, tenants can sometimes appeal the judge’s decision. While the timing for every situation is different, the entire process could take 60 days or more.
4. Sell Your Pittsburgh Rental Property
Another option is to sell your Pittsburgh rental property. If non-paying tenants are just one of the many frustrations you’re facing with your rental property, then it could be your best option! Sometimes it’s easier to take the cash and move on with your life.
At McIntosh Management, LP we buy frustrating rental properties from landlords like you who are burned out, worn out, frustrated, and who just want to get their lives back.
Click here now and fill out the form or give us a call at (412) 785-7928 to get a fair fast cash offer from us today.