Hey plm, is this the property that you decided to rent out temporarily for a few years prior to selling? (I just re-read your post last Sept.)

If so, why wouldn’t you rent only month-to-month, and only to stellar renters (i.e., absolutely no bankruptcies, no evictions, great credit)?

You don’t want to get Professional Renters in there. One *perceived* slight and they can run to the Tenants Legal Rights Center. Then, perhaps anything you do or say going forward could now be construed as “retaliation”. Say they suddenly start paying on time, but are building a room addition/deck/chicken coop, or moving 10 people into the unit, or locking you out and refusing to give you a key, etc. IMO, what rights you thought you had regarding your property do not exist anymore. As long as tenants pay, your lease is basically worthless. They have possession.

Have you ever tried to show a property while using a police preserve-the-peace escort? Or tried to evict someone who was never on the lease but had a restraining order against the person you didn’t know lived there and who is now refusing to pay the rent?

Don’t think this can’t happen to you. And don’t think that a property manager is going to jump into your mess. Instead, you’ll have to pay an attorney to tell you that you are powerless for the life of the lease if the renters pay on time. This is a renter’s rights town.

Unless, of course, your rental is in Texas, in which case, let a thousand flowers bloom!

(Disclaimer: nothing stated above is to be construed as legal advice, and is solely personal and/or the experience of friends and family.)