Eviction Advice/Assistance
I just purchased my first rental property, and, in addition to having cockroaches and a recently-released felon living in my building, I have a woman with late-stage Alzheimers's/Dimentia.
In addition to living in a unit that I wouldn't let my cat live in, she only paid a portion of her rent.
Can any of you offer me some insight into the eviction process (possibly even a humane one). By the way, she her lease is expired as of 2/29/04.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Okay, on a personal level, I feel both for you and for your lady tenant. Sorry, no sympathy for the felon.
First of all, late-stage Alzheimer’s involves memory loss. So maybe she paid only a portion of her rent because she "believes" that this is her correct rent. Try to reason with her. Be patient and understanding. Judging by your initial message, I think you already are. If your discussions with her don't lead to the desired result, do you have an emergency contact for her? A family member perhaps? Contact them to inform them that her rent has not been paid, your discussion has not yielded the desired result, and you will not be forced to evict her. Her family may intercede and pay you the difference, or remove her from the apartment.
You should definitely check with a lawyer to make sure that you are in compliance with PA law. But basically, if comes to evicting her look at her lease. Does it say anything about what happens with her tenancy after the lease expires? In most states, I believe she automatically becomes a month-to-month tenant. If she is in fact a month-to-month tenant, you simply need to inform her that she will no longer be able to live in this apartment after 30 days time. Bear in mind that in her condition, you may actually end up having to go to court not because she will fight you on this, but simply because she may not be able to move out without assistance from relevant authorities. If she is a section 8 or other assistance program tenant, the agency running the program may also be able to assist in this situation.
This is going to be a long and uncomfortable process. I sort of have a feeling that you're having to deal with someone who either has no family or has been abandoned by her family to waste away in that apartment.
Good luck.
[addsig]
Thank you for the response and advice, which I will certainly heed.
I was not given any additional contact information, and according to another tenant who has befriended her, she has no family. Therefore, I see my self working with the county agencies to try to get her the help that she needs.
Going into this endeavor, I had the hopes that there would be some things that would go smoothly to give me some time to get aclimated, but good 'ol Murphy's Law had to step in.
On the bright side, it seems that the convicted felon could be moving out. Not bad.
Thanks again. If anyone else has any advice, I would certainly appreciate it.
Dear Mah,
I just talked to a friend who is a social worker and I told her about your problem. Even though we are in Tenn. she said the services are probably about the same in Penn. She said to contact the Adult Protection Service and they could probably help you. They will agree with you the lady should not be left alone.
Cordially,
Alice
Alice,
Thank you for the response. I will do so in the morning.
Much appreciated.
Matt
To those of you who may have read this post, and especially to those who posted responses, things worked out well and I got some warm fuzzies out of the situation.
I spoke with the boro manager where my building is located (who was very eager to work with me since I am rehabbing a mostly vacant, blighted 19 unit apartment building ), who put me in touch with a local religious organization that found my tenant a spot in a nursing home where she can get three square meals and the medication she needs.
Well, now if only these warm fuzzies can help me pay for the electrical work that I need.
in a multitude of counselors there is much accomplishment, and good
