Bad Tenant: A tale related by Realtor Doug Love

Bad Tenant

Hostile tenants can turn the act of listing a house into a dangerous proposition for Realtors. We try to stay out of landlordtenant problems, but sometimes get pulled in.

“The guy’s a dirtbag,” said the owner of this house I was hoping to list. “He doesn’t pay rent, he’s mean, and the neighbors complain about loud music and parties.”

“You need to evict him,” I said.

“It’s in the works. I’ve sent him all the notices, but the jerk ignores ‘em. Meanwhile, I’m 200 miles away, getting no rent.”

Against my better judgment, I went to the house. Maybe I could reason with that tenant.

I heard Johnny Cash music as I walked up the weather-beaten staircase. The ornate front door with an oval-shaped beveledglass window and Victorian filigree trimwork had seen better times.

The music stopped after I banged on the door a few times. A big guy answered. I was ready to run. He looked me over and rolled his eyes, apparently in reaction to my business attire.

“Come on in,” he said in a resigned tone. I followed carefully. He plopped onto an old sofa and grabbed a beautiful Gibson Hummingbird guitar. “No, I’m a Realtor. The owner is talking about selling.”

“Yeah, well he can do whatever he wants,” he said. “I’m outta here this weekend. I got a job in L.A. starting next week. You can let the dear landlord know I’ll be paying up on the rent.”

“Wait a minute,” I said, “was that you playing Johnny Cash before I came in?”

He smiled and played the opening lick to Folsom Prison Blues. He sang like Johnny Cash. I harmonized with him over the lines, ‘If they freed me from this prison...’

The guy smiled again. “You play?” I nodded. He pulled a Martin D-18 guitar from under the sofa.

We jammed and sang Doc Watson, Merle Haggard, and Hank Williams songs. A couple of his buddies showed up with beer and instruments, and we jammed some more. We became great friends.

The next day I called the owner.

“Your tenant will be out this weekend,” I said.

“I doubt that,” he said. “I got complaints about loud music and partying again last night. The dirtbag!”

Doug Love is Sales Manager at Century 21 in Chico. Email dougwlove@gmail. com. Call or text 530-680-0817. See more columns at lovesrealstories.com.