Section 8 tenant not paying her rent

[Anonymous]

I am a new landlord in DC who bought a property with a section 8 tenant in last year. DCHA pays about 80% of the rent and she pays the rest of the 20%. She has a job, extra benefits from DC due to COVID but stopped paying her share of the rent for 5 months now. She’s jerking me around and not paying her share without any cause. She did for 2 months when I bought the property but completely stopped after that. I have a RE tax bill due from DC govt snd beed this money to cover mortgage, taxes, etc. What would be the first step I could do in making her pay the due rent?

[Anonymous]

It’s probably too late to advise you not to buy rental properties in DC because it heavily favors renter’s rights....

Give them 30 days notice to pay you the back rent or you’ll start the eviction process.

[Anonymous]

This. Unfortunately you made a big mistake when you bought the property with a Section 8 tenant already in place. I presume you've reported her non-payment status to your contact with the Section 8 program? What have they said to do? You'll need to at least file eviction proceedings but you're going to have to work hard to get her evicted. My understanding is that DC is not allowing any evictions at this time regardless of cause.

[Anonymous]

Shocker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s probably too late to advise you not to buy rental properties in DC becaus renter’s rights....

Give them 30 days notice to pay you the back rent or you’ll start the eviction process.

Can't start the process. In DC right now, because of COVID, you can't kick someone out. Quite frankly, you should be happy that you are getting the 80%. I know people who are renting at market and people are paying rent. We have a friend whose tenant is stiffing them on $3500 per month and they also have a job. They work for the state department and are using this as an opportunity to get over.

[Anonymous]

"without any cause"? Lady/duuude, it's a pandemic out there. Folks are having trouble putting food on the table. If you're rich enough to have an investment property, why don't you sit on your hands a minute and see if you can squeeze out a little empathy for people who don't have a savings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"without any cause"? Lady/duuude, it's a pandemic out there. Folks are having trouble putting food on the table. If you're rich enough to have an investment property, why don't you sit on your hands a minute and see if you can squeeze out a little empathy for people who don't have a savings.

DCUM has a chronic empathy deficit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"without any cause"? Lady/duuude, it's a pandemic out there. Folks are having trouble putting food on the table. If you're rich enough to have an investment property, why don't you sit on your hands a minute and see if you can squeeze out a little empathy for people who don't have a savings.

DCUM has a chronic empathy deficit.

I do have empathy for the OP...who is the one asking the question. If it was the section 8 tenant unable to pay rent, I’d have empathy for that person.

[Anonymous]

I think this is a troll because surely OP would call the housing authority to find out the next steps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"without any cause"? Lady/duuude, it's a pandemic out there. Folks are having trouble putting food on the table. If you're rich enough to have an investment property, why don't you sit on your hands a minute and see if you can squeeze out a little empathy for people who don't have a savings.

DCUM has a chronic empathy deficit.

I do have empathy for the OP...who is the one asking the question. If it was the section 8 tenant unable to pay rent, I’d have empathy for that person.

Go back and read the OP. The tenant HAS the ability to pay the rent. The tenant is REFUSING to pay the rent. That makes the tenant a lying scumbag because she has no mitigating circumstances to avoid paying her rent; in fact, that's OP's whole point is that the tenant is just flat out not paying the rent. My husband and I would love to not pay our mortgage but we have no reason not to - we both still have our jobs and nothing has occurred that would mean we CAN'T pay our mortgage. Furthermore, we made a commitment, a promise to the bank, that we would pay back the money we borrowed. The tenant made a commitment to pay for her housing and she needs to stand by it.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all the feedback.

First of all, tenant has a steady job and still works where she was employed before Covid. Second, I have cut her enough break by not taking rent or foregoing late payments for several months. She has been constantly asking for maintenance/repair items which I am getting fixed asap.

Is there anything else I could do before contacting DCHA? I don’t want to jeopardize her chances of getting section 8 again but don’t want her to stiff me with the rent payment either.

[Anonymous]

She’s a scammer. Why would you not want to jeopardize her chances of getting section 8 again? She has a job. Most people value shelter very highly and pay that expense first before anything else. She’s just taking advantage of the tenant friendly laws that don’t allow you to evict. I’m sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"without any cause"? Lady/duuude, it's a pandemic out there. Folks are having trouble putting food on the table. If you're rich enough to have an investment property, why don't you sit on your hands a minute and see if you can squeeze out a little empathy for people who don't have a savings.

the tenant has a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s probably too late to advise you not to buy rental properties in DC becaus renter’s rights....

Give them 30 days notice to pay you the back rent or you’ll start the eviction process.

Can't start the process. In DC right now, because of COVID, you can't kick someone out. Quite frankly, you should be happy that you are getting the 80%. I know people who are renting at market and people are paying rent. We have a friend whose tenant is stiffing them on $3500 per month and they also have a job. They work for the state department and are using this as an opportunity to get over.

Your friend should contact diplomatic security. That kind of debt could put a security clearance at risk.

[Anonymous]

this is why I sold my townhouse when I left Cap. Hill. you never want to be a landlord there. The laws are tenant-friendly.