Evicting a Tenant in DC - What to expect?

[Anonymous]

This is why I sold a rental condo in DC, to get rid of the hoarder tenant the condo association was anxious about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to move back in, it’s 90 days notice, in English and Spanish. It’s much easier to evict for owner use than nonpayment.

This is the answer.

[Anonymous]

Move back in. They need to leave so you can move back in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a lawyer ASAP.

OP here. I have an attorney. I would not advise anyone to bother going through litigation without one. I sat through at least a dozen cases during my hearing and it was heart wrenching to watch for any plaintiff who wasn't fully prepared. The cases were typically dismissed. Tenants, on the other hand, were largely able to say that they lacked representation and were granted a continuance for 12 weeks later. I was one of two landlords with favorable outcomes.

What is your "tenant" saying for not paying rent ?

Not OP, but guessing the tenant didn't show.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a lawyer ASAP.

OP here. I have an attorney. I would not advise anyone to bother going through litigation without one. I sat through at least a dozen cases during my hearing and it was heart wrenching to watch for any plaintiff who wasn't fully prepared. The cases were typically dismissed. Tenants, on the other hand, were largely able to say that they lacked representation and were granted a continuance for 12 weeks later. I was one of two landlords with favorable outcomes.

What is your "tenant" saying for not paying rent ?

Not OP, but guessing the tenant didn't show.

That’s correct, didn’t show and hasn’t provided any explanation for nonpayment thus far.

[Anonymous]

OP, what did you charge for rent?
Did your property management co do reference checks, and credit checks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Offer to pay them to leave. Then sell the place. Dc is horrible to landlords.

If we travel we will leave our house vacant with a caretaker /friend checking on the systems. DC is so horrible to landlords. Zero incentive to be one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you do income, credit and background checks before you rented out to this person?
I am curious landlord.

This was the first and only tenant that I didn't choose myself and I believe this was the difference. A credit and background check was performed but there wasn't anything derogatory information listed. I think this guy could have easily been snuffed out with streets smarts/common sense, however. I relied on property management since I was living out of the area. In the past, I've met all of my tenants and didn't always choose those with the best credit ratings. I selected based on character and gut. I ultimately wanted a decent, responsible person who will pay and not cause a burden to other neighbors.

In his case, there were two red flags. He wanted to move in IMMEDIATELY and he paid with a credit card, which I wasn't aware of. I would have never consented to credit card payment for the first month's rent and security deposit. I believe he was moving from another property prior to eviction proceedings when he applied for mine. The credit card payment should have been a red flag to my property management and disallowed for a first payment.

Hopefully this helps other landlords and I'm happy to answer any additional questions.

I'm so sorry..it could be far worse. They could be insane and threatening (happened to us). NEVER be a landlord in DC. I have zero tears to shed for the so called housing crisis. This city is heartless to landlords.

[Anonymous]

My parents just escaped the trap that renting is in DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents just escaped the trap that renting is in DC

the city won't even prosecute rapists and murderers , what do you think they do to dead beats?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents just escaped the trap that renting is in DC

We decided that if we need to we will shutter our home (but make it look occupied) rather than rent it. OR sell. Being a landlord in DC s for the birds. I guess the reason we have nuisance apartment buildings is that only mass scale slum landlord types can stomach it, absorb the random costs for evictions etc., and the aggravation. Or landlords that price everyone out, and probably still run into headaches. Being victimized when you want to simply rent out a property fairly is not a great feeling.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Will update once the eviction is over, but not there yet.

I’d really love to know what the potential fines are for conducting self-evictions in DC. I’m not concerned about having to go that route here but I’ve not been able to find anything online. I plan to ask the attorney once my own case is resolved.

I will eventually move back in but I will only advertise in targeted areas going forward. Planning to do some short term rentals over summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you do income, credit and background checks before you rented out to this person?
I am curious landlord.

This was the first and only tenant that I didn't choose myself and I believe this was the difference. A credit and background check was performed but there wasn't anything derogatory information listed. I think this guy could have easily been snuffed out with streets smarts/common sense, however. I relied on property management since I was living out of the area. In the past, I've met all of my tenants and didn't always choose those with the best credit ratings. I selected based on character and gut. I ultimately wanted a decent, responsible person who will pay and not cause a burden to other neighbors.

In his case, there were two red flags. He wanted to move in IMMEDIATELY and he paid with a credit card, which I wasn't aware of. I would have never consented to credit card payment for the first month's rent and security deposit. I believe he was moving from another property prior to eviction proceedings when he applied for mine. The credit card payment should have been a red flag to my property management and disallowed for a first payment.

Hopefully this helps other landlords and I'm happy to answer any additional questions.

I'm so sorry..it could be far worse. They could be insane and threatening (happened to us). NEVER be a landlord in DC. I have zero tears to shed for the so called housing crisis. This city is heartless to landlords.

Wow. OP here and sorry this happened to you.

I’ve been combing through other nightmare cases and have been utterly appalled at what I’ve found. Numerous cases of tenants dragging out the process following 18-30 months of nonpayment. It seems as if self eviction would be a better recourse in those cases and leaving it up to the tenant to pursue litigation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Will update once the eviction is over, but not there yet.

I’d really love to know what the potential fines are for conducting self-evictions in DC. I’m not concerned about having to go that route here but I’ve not been able to find anything online. I plan to ask the attorney once my own case is resolved.

I will eventually move back in but I will only advertise in targeted areas going forward. Planning to do some short term rentals over summer.

They can assign treble damages. Here's a case where a law firm got $36,000 for someone wrongfully evicted in DC: https://buckleyfirm.com/pro-bono-victory-elderly-client-wrongful-eviction-matter. Not to mention legal fees, court costs, interest on judgment, and the time it takes to litigate. OP, do you have a clearance or a professional license? A job where your reputation matters? Because this would also show up on a background check.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Will update once the eviction is over, but not there yet.

I’d really love to know what the potential fines are for conducting self-evictions in DC. I’m not concerned about having to go that route here but I’ve not been able to find anything online. I plan to ask the attorney once my own case is resolved.

I will eventually move back in but I will only advertise in targeted areas going forward. Planning to do some short term rentals over summer.

They can assign treble damages. Here's a case where a law firm got $36,000 for someone wrongfully evicted in DC: https://buckleyfirm.com/pro-bono-victory-elderly-client-wrongful-eviction-matter. Not to mention legal fees, court costs, interest on judgment, and the time it takes to litigate. OP, do you have a clearance or a professional license? A job where your reputation matters? Because this would also show up on a background check.

This sounds like a pretty egregious case with a slumlord who deserved to pay every penny. Thanks for providing an example!

-OP