Please tell me whether I am wrong!

@sherinek (3320)
United States
March 1, 2007 3:02am CST
After obtaining a huge loan (1.5M in my currency) I bought a house. I couldnt even take a breather, this family wanted the house on rent. They were desperate and were practically begging me to give them the house, just after two days I finished the deal with the previous owner. Feeling sorry for them, I let them put their belongings in two rooms (without even obtaining the rent money). Then we signed an agreement. They paid only 60,000 out of 72,000 total lease money. I paid their lawyer fees as well cos they said they have a cash problem. They were supposed to pay me a refundable deposit of 18,000/- which would be given to them after checking the bills etc. Anyway, they did not pay that 18,000/-. After about 2 months only they paid the balance 12,000/- of the lease money. Now, they have not paid the electricity bills since Nov'06 and not paid water bills at all. Yesterday, i influenced the electricity company to disconnect their electricity and the water company to stop the water. Since yesterday, they dont have power. But in the night, i was feeling very bad for disconnecting the electricity. Everybody scolded me for that. So i want to put this in front of you'll. What would you do in such a situation? Was it bad what I did?
2 people like this
12 responses
@rainbow (6761)
1 Mar 07
I really feel for you, sometimes when we help people they take advantage and really turn things round so that we feel like the bad ones, do not allow them to do this to you. You are not bad and have done nothing wrong. My only concern with the electric and water is that there may be little children in the property but maybe a wake up call will solve your problems. I'm sure the companies involved will write to them first You have done your best to help them and they won't even pay their living bills. If the electic and water remain unpaid the companies would switch them off eventually anyway, maybe they though you would pay them. I would be asking for the legal fees and deposit to be paid or face court proceedings. Is there some sort of get out clause that you can use to evict these people from your property? Good luck sorting this out, rembmer what you just told me, be aggressive, please try not to loose sleep over these sort of people.
@rainbow (6761)
1 Mar 07
Sweetie you must do what is right for you, just remember you do not owe these people anything and have gone out of your way to help them soo much already. Do not feel guilty about looking after your family, your tennants will happily continue to let you look after them if you are not firm. I'm not sure about the sin issue, I would say any sin here is not yours; they are not your loved ones do not allow these people any more leeway. I'm here with strength and determination on tap after the day I've had, I feel empowered and that is partly thanks to you telling me to be strong! Any wavering and feeling guilty and I will try to encourage you to do what you really want just as you did for me. **Take care, big hugs**
2 people like this
@rainbow (6761)
5 Mar 07
You've been here a lot for me! I always said one day I'd be able to help back. I'll always be around if you need me - it's waht friends are for! Big hugs!
@sherinek (3320)
• United States
2 Mar 07
I think I am convinced now. I actually needed this push from you'll cos, as you know, I was having guilty conscious. Even though I keep on reminding myself all these facts, my sub-conscious was telling me otherwise. Knowing this conflict, my family, friends, neighbours, all were telling me the same thing that you'll said. So, now i am ok. Thanks a lot for being there for me.
2 people like this
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
4 Mar 07
You have done nothing wrong at all that I can see sheri and in fact have done more than most people would do under the circumstances. Firstly you allowed them to move in before the agreements were signed and you paid out more money that they should rightly have paid, so they are ahead on that score. Then they took time to pay you the balance of the monies that were owing, but you did not get a reprieve on your loan repayments. You cannot afford to carry people like this, particularly where the tenant is not pulling their weight or doing the right thing. Some people are like that of course, and it will test our patience and strength but if they have problems they should talk to you. The fact that they are at least 3 months in arrears on water and power was bad enough but it does sound like they did nothing to redress the situation. Have you had an inspection done of the house to make sure that there has been no damage done. Just make sure that the power and water are not reconnected, or if they are that they are in their name and not yours. You have a family of your own to consider, plus a mortgage to be paid and yet the tenant thinks they have the right to steal from you, because that is effectively what they are doing. Now, when they do leave please do not give them a reference saying they have been good tenants. That would be wrong, and perhaps a sin, because they would use that reference and then steal from someone else. Just make sure that they are out at soon as you can possibly have them out. Then clean the house and let it out to a tenant who will pay, so that you can meet your committments without any added stress. If anyone scolds you for what they have done, then let them pay the money that the tenant owes. I am willing to say that nobody will do that plus surely the electricity is the responsibility of the tenant and not the owner. Okay, it I was in your situation, then I would not have let them move in until they had paid all of the money over or at least some written agreement saying that they had to pay a certain amount of time to pay the balance. If they didn't pay, then I would have evicted them for non-payment or breach of agreement. I would have made sure that the electricity bill and water bills were in their name, not mine. But then again, perhaps I am a little bit tougher than you are Sheri. Also if the bills were in my name, I would have kicked them out as soon as the reneged on them because if they are so far behind in such a short space of time, they will never catch up. Hold your head high Sheri because you are a good person and have done a very good thing, only to have some rather irresponsible people take advantage of your good nature.
@sherinek (3320)
• United States
5 Mar 07
Thanks ossie. You know what they are doing now. Keep the gate locked all the time as if to say they are not in, but in the middle of the night, they move away the things (i have no idea what) that they can carry in bags. The neighbours tell me they do this. I cant imagine what sort of people can be this evil. I understand people have money problems. But when ever i speak to them, they try to speak law to me. They are some people who try to turn every thing to their favour. I dont want to go to take legal action ossie cos it takes such a long time and most verdicts are given in favour of the tenant. We have followed the legal procedures to the dot. But still, this is what happens. Do you have this type of people in your country as well. I sure hope not. Anyway, tonight, we try to get hold of these people. Thanks again for being supportive and have a nice day.
1 person likes this
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
5 Mar 07
Oh Sheri I do hope that there was nothing of yours in the house, i.e. furniture and things like that, if these people are moving stuff in the night. It is most unfortunate that these type of people are everywhere in the world. They have no respect for the law or anything and it is also the case they some people will try anything to get out of paying their debts. I hope that you can catch up with them tonight, because they do not sound like they types that you want hanging around for too long. Good luck my friend, and I will be Praying that they leave your house soon without causing you anymore grief. Please be careful next time my friend, and do not under any circumstances allow anyone to move in till they have paid all of the money. It is one thing to want to help people who are less fortunate, but some people will take advantage of you, just as this lot of tenants have done.
2 people like this
@juls2me2 (2150)
• United States
1 Mar 07
If its not against the laws in your area, then I really don't see anything wrong to stopping the electric bill and water bill from continuing on endlessly. Here in the US, if you have renters there are specific laws that can sometimes make it difficult for landlords to even kick the people out. To me, the big mistake in your case was not getting the rent up front before allowing them into your home. Good luck to you.
2 people like this
@sherinek (3320)
• United States
2 Mar 07
I know. They were supposed to give it to me in 3 installments that is 6000 x 3. They paid the balance of lease money also after two months and promised that they will pay the 18,000/- in due course. I reminded once or twice, after that, I didnt. Its hard for me to keep on reminding them and I never thought they will not pay the bills. Now, we cross our fingers hoping that they will move out by end March.
1 person likes this
@neon2000 (2756)
• Philippines
5 Mar 07
As a landlord, you have every right to do you think is appropriate. But if the case does not happen always, you can still give them time to pay their due amount. But one buddy said here that f it is of permanent in nature, yes, you are right.
@rocky777 (353)
• India
1 Mar 07
I don't think what you did was wrong. There is no reason for you to foot their bills, but if you would like to, there is no one who can stop you from doing charity. That said, do they have a temporary cash problem? I should think not, since they have come up with the lease money. But if you think they have a temporary problem, you can afford to be charitable. If their problem is of a more permanent nature, then they cannot afford your place, and they should try to move to a place they can truly afford.
@sherinek (3320)
• United States
1 Mar 07
Thanks. I have a feeling that they will do anything not to pay bills and debts. They just earn and eat and do other stuff. Even though i want to do charity, i am not in a position cos i am also paying about 30,000 per month as loan installment of that house. I hope and pray that I would be able to get rid of these people.
1 person likes this
@jeb083079 (839)
• Philippines
5 Mar 07
no, don't feel bad about it. it's all about responsibility, being responsible to our own actions or their own actions. it's their responsibility to pay their bills, if they have no payment yet, then it's their own responsibility to look for ways on how to pay their bills. it's reasonable enough because you don't need to carry the burden from them. just think if you are doing this for humanitarian reasons. you're just helping them to be responsible and look for ways to pay their bills. they have not even confronted you about it, loss of electricity and water, which means they don't mind it at all or they know about it and they're not doing anything at all. an agreement is an agreement. wait for them to tell you about their bills and from there after hearing their reasons, decide on what to do. ask a lawyer if it's needed for legal reasons.
2 people like this
@sherinek (3320)
• United States
7 Mar 07
I know. They have not even contacted me after disconnecting the electricity and from that day onwards, they are not even at home. Always the gate is locked. The telephones unanswered. To do whatever, I have to get hold of the fellow.
@ssh123 (31073)
• India
7 Mar 07
You cannot be generous in matters where you will be loosing the hardearned money and chances are one day you will be landing in deep financial trouble. Helping people is different and sticking to agreement is different. Unless you are rich enough to bear all the expenses on your own - of theirs too, it is not advisible to be lenient towards the tenants. What you have done is right and tenenats have to come to terms otherwise how will you repay the loan?
1 person likes this
@sherinek (3320)
• United States
7 Mar 07
You know I am not rich and struggling to meet ends. God has given me enough to keep me going plus help who ever are in need, but not so much. As you know I am in deep debt, so its not possible to be generous. I cannot get hold of this people cos from that day onwards, they have gone somewhere and not at home. I really dont know what else to do ssh, but I have faith, that God will definitely show me a way.
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
16 Mar 07
I'm confused. Were you selling or renting the house? Either way, the utilities should have been turned on or switched to their name. That is, unless part of the agreement was that you'd pay the utilities which means you are renting and not selling. I don't know what laws Shri Lanka has (is that right?) but in most states in the U.S. a landlord can not change locks or stop utilities on property they are renting. It's against the law here. Also, in the United States, you could purchase and own your own home for less than the amount you've stated. Rental amount that high is unheard of around here so I'm assuming you were selling them the home....... like I said, "I'm really confused!"
1 person likes this
@sherinek (3320)
• United States
19 Mar 07
I am renting the house. Our currency is so depreciated 6000/- is a very low amount for a house on rent. Actually, this is a very cheap rate. When i gave the house to them, we signed a lease agreement. They have to pay the water and electricity bills. They have not done both that is electricity from November '06 and Water from July '06. Can you imagine they have not paid for water as long as they are there? Anyway, now i have taken action to remove them from my house.
@blackdove (390)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I think you did the right things. If they knew they couldn't afford the house, then they shouldn't have taken a big step such as trying to buy it. If I were you, they wouldn't have got the house unless I was paid all my money in full. Don't feel bad. Why should they get to screw you over, and they get by with not paying you. Don't feel bad.
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Mar 07
My first question would be did you warn them before you actually contacted the companies. Let them know that the bill had to be paid. Did you let them know and give them a time limit to get it done. After that if they didn't I would have done the same thing if they had not brought the bill up to date. It sounds to me that they are taking advantage of your soft heart. Don't feel bad you did what you thought you had to do.
1 person likes this
@sherinek (3320)
• United States
6 Mar 07
Yes. They were very cross when I confronted them about the bills. The first time I got to know that the electricity company has come to disconnect, I went there and asked for paid bills. They were very angry and told me that all bills would be taken care of. I told them to leave the place by the end of the month. You know its my mistake. Now I hope and pray that i'd be able to get rid of these rogues.
@ractims (51)
• India
5 Mar 07
Thorns are provided with the Rose, so that you do not take the softness of Rose for granted. Be nice to people but on very reasonable grounds.Otherwise people will take you to be a fool. Let the other people know that You are a practical person.
2 people like this
@mrddln (457)
• Philippines
5 Mar 07
You are not wrong. Slight only
1 person likes this