I remember reading your first post. I can't believe this is still going on.

Sound advice. If the checks and balances aren't built into your system you're more exposed. And sometimes you can do everything right and the squatters were always intent upon taking advantage. You succintly made several worthwhile points here. Great info!

Robert, It is frightening to think that someone may be dependant on that rent to pay their bills and they are not getting it.  I know in NY it takes forever to get someone out of an apartment even when they have not paid.  I hope this sends a reminder to landlords to verify everything from a prospective tenant.

Robert,

Nice post. The lien route is only good if someone has assets. Deadbeat tenants usually don't and 'you can't get blood out of a stone'! Thanks,   Fran

My first experience renting out an investment property was to a client that had less than perfect credit. She said she had a child and wanted to move out of the Barrio area where gunfire was rampant. I felt for her.

I told her I was concerned about her bad credit but I was going to give her a break, A new chance, I said "Just don;t screw me"

Guess what, I got screwed. First rent check never came, she invited other familes and animals into the home and even tapped into the neighbors electricty. The association was all over me. Eviction costs, remodeling costs, new carpet costs, what a lesson.

If they dont have great credit and a good job stability, Pass.

Robert, great advice! the dead beat tenant needs to be dealt with swiftly, many times you can get accrate information from past landlords because some landlords will say anything to get the tenant out of their property.

I agree! Always better to be aggressive and proactive. If not, you will be much worse off.

You make excellent points - renting is always a risk!

You are reconfirming why I'm not in to property management, don't have any rentals and don't take lease listings.   I had some nightmare lease experiences and I decided to let those people who knew how to do it have the business and stick with what I do best (selling houses).  You do give good adivise though.

I understand the position you take on property management.  I would be there, as well, except that's my own house the squatters were in, shhhh..., that's embarrassing, I should have known better than not to check out their references before accepting them as renters.  I'll know next time, promise.

Brett, you did about as well as I did...  we learn the hard way.  How does the expression go? "Fool me one time, your fault, fool me twice, my fault..".

Thanks, Carole, I'm glad you agree.

Rebecca, the squatters are out, and the house is up for rent and new tenants are interested.  I want to make this just visible enough to help other landlords from falling into the same trap, and on personal note, I want to see life become a little more difficult for professional squatters.  They are thieves, and fairly well protected by the laws of the land.  About all you can do is evict them and get a lien, but then you have to collect the lien - and good luck with that!  If they give you a bad check, then they've broken a punishable law.

Fran, you are right about the assets.  I'll be lucky if I can come up with a boat, or motorcycle.

Robert, thanks for sharing the pain. One of the great things about Active Rain is to learn from someone else's experiences.

Renting is always "a chance" when it comes to dealing with people you don't know anything about.  Credit checks are always a must and also, what I do here in Virginia is I check out the court records in the Civil division to see if they have any unlawful detainers that are not in the credit report yet.  Could still be pending cases from recent evictions from the previous home they rented that are still waiting or they haven't been served yet, etc.  

We just wait till they leave and take the doors off for repair and then not answer the phone. It works beautifully.

We also have a great second floor apartment. We just change the locks and it is very difficult to kick in because of the stairs without hurting oneself.

 Does anyone know of a list of tenants who have defrauded landlords on the web??