Ugh -- tenant never pays

[jamesbe]

So I've gotten to the point with my Tenant that I have sent in the N4 form for non-payment. (I'm in Ontario).

She seems nice enough, had a few problems with an employer and that really messed up her finances.

So she was paying me half the rent at the start of the month and the other half a few weeks later. I was okay with it, but it seems like that was a bad thing to accept because now it's getting out of hand.

Rent is $1200 and she sent me $800 the second Friday of Feb, then said she would send me the other $400 Feb 18th. No payment on the 19th so I sent her a message, she read it (got to like notifications) but no reply. A few days later I sent an e-mail no reply. So yesterday I served the N4.

So the first of the month comes up in a week, but I had to give 15 days, (so march 8th). What happens come the 8th if...
1) she pays the remaining of Feb but hasn't paid for Mar yet (due on the 1st).
2) She hasn't paid anything...

In scenario 1 do I have to submit another N1 for Mar? Should I do that on the 2nd of the month if she doesn't pay it right away, despite having now till the 8th?

What a PITA, I've been in the house (last week) and the place is clean and well kept so that is good.... but the lack of communication and $ is driving me up the wall.

[marina628]

You have to protect yourself but it sounds like she was a great tenant until a specific event affected her finances.I would try to have a face to face see what her plan of action is to get her finances in order and try to work with her.

[jamesbe]

Well she only moved in, in Sept and only paid on time once... So it's not like she had a lot of good history unfortunately. I'm not sure what she does with her money and it's none of my business really except for the fact that I'm not getting what I'm owed. But I know she gets child support for more than the rent value and she makes about $40k a year on top of that.

[marina628]

Sorry I assumed she was there for a while.Based on that information I would proceed as you have and also let her know you want rent on the first of the month in full.Is it possible she gave false info on her application and does not make what she declared?

[jamesbe]

Possible but from her occupation it is about right, she was wearing scrubs a few times we met.

[jamesbe]

So I read the N4 more carefully and see in scenario #1 they also have to pay Mar 1st rent by Mar 8th or I can apply for termination with the board. I guess that is good.

What about last month rent? Do they now forfeit that because they were terminated?

[CJOttawa]

You have to protect yourself but it sounds like she was a great tenant until a specific event affected her finances.I would try to have a face to face see what her plan of action is to get her finances in order and try to work with her.

Late to the party on this one but I wanted to put in my 2-cents.

I am a tenant and have no sympathy for jamesbe's tenant.

Responsible adults have emergency funds and appropriate insurance to cover living expenses when life throws them a curve ball.

If $1,200 is too much to hack for rent, the tenant can find a place for $600 or share a place with four roommates to keep their costs within their ability to pay.

Yes, this is a hot button of mine. Bad tenants ruin it for the rest of us who pay on time.

[jamesbe]

Looking for a place in Kanata ? Lol

Agreed, what's more annoying is she has brought in two adult family members to live with her yet still can't pay, this really baffles me.

Month is almost over now, so I'll serve the papers ASAP with the required 14 days notice it means by mid may I should have all of April and all of may or a notice to leave.

[Jon_Snow]

Based upon this thread alone, landlording looks like an alternative form of hell.

[CJOttawa]

Based upon this thread alone, landlording looks like an alternative form of hell.

I've read articles in which the advice was given to avoid being a landlord and instead invest in self-storage. Why?
"If someone fails to pay for their storage unit, you keep their stuff and rent the space out to someone else."

Sounds far less risky than dealing with humans.