PAYING IT BACKWARD

PARTIAL RENT PAYMENTS – IS THE LANDLORD DOING YOU A FAVOR?

There is no person that I know that has not fallen on difficult financial circumstances at certain times of their life.  It’s not an enviable position to be in, and it takes grit, determination, and luck to climb out of.

During times of financial difficulties, you may be tempted to work out partial rent payments with the landlord.  If you do, make sure to get this agreement in writing.  Your written agreement will be a defense to an eviction proceeding for non-payment of rent if relations between you and your landlord go south.

The problem is that some people make partial rent payments habitual.  And, while one would think that a partial rent payment agreement was not beneficial to the landlord, there may be a fallacy to that thinking.

How could it possibly be good for the landlord to accept partial rent payments?

If your landlord is not maintaining the property, you won’t pressure the landlord for necessary repairs.  You are now indebted to him or to her.  You’ve given them all the power.

You may not report:

·         Plumbing problems

·         Issues with electrical outlets

·         Flooding

·         Or infestations of mice or other vermin.

Instead, you may attempt to make repairs yourself, get cats to chase the mice, use buckets to capture water from roof leaks. . .

Now, you are under the landlord’s control.

How do you become empowered to mandate repairs?

Answer: Get caught up on your rent!  No more partial rent payments!

Take back your power. 

Once you are back in control, demand that repairs be made and put those demands in writing.  Document each repair issue and take dated photographs to substantiate those repair issues.