Screen, evict dodgy tenants

People get into property management business with the aim of making as much money as they can. However, sometimes they might be forced to ask tenants to vacate their premises before the set time even if it means incurring losses or refunding rent fees

Ms Clain Ayebazibwe a property manager from Inland Property Consultants Najeera says there are a number of reasons one might ask tenants to vacate their houses.

Financial inconsistencies
Ms Ayebazibwe says that during screening you may realise that the client will not be able to pay rent dues as required. If this happens, then you have a right to either turn the potential tenant away or if they have already moved in, ask them to leave.
“While screening tenants make sure you ask them about their monthly or daily income to make surethey can afford the rent otherwise you will have to deal with non-payment. Even when the tenant has rented the house for sometime, when they get major financial setbacks, they may be asked to leave.”
Ms Ayebazibwe adds that if the tenancy agreement has already been signed, you might have to follow legal procedures and wait for three months after issuing the eviction letter before demanding that they vacate the house. However, there several laws defending tenants from being evicted for reasons such as gender, age, or race.
“It’s is good for business to have a tenant who can pay rent every month. If you notice that the tenant does not have enough income, then you have a valid reason to terminate the tenancy agreement,” she says.

Criminal history
Ms Ayebazibwe says that if you realise that your tenant is a criminal or participates in criminal activities, then you can ask them to leave. The earlier they leave, the better lest they bring trouble to your property and tenants.
“If the authorities get to know that you did not screen that person and he or she is on the run, you might be labelled an accomplice and charged with hiding/housing a criminal.”
Ms Ayebazibwe adds that if a tenant commits a crime on your property and you do not resolve the matter, you can be sued for supporting criminals and conducting business with them. To avoid this, screen your tenant even before they move in.
Eviction report.
Mr Adanan Mpuuga the Executive Director of East lands Agency says people who have suffered house evictions in the past especially for non-payment can be told to leave.
“The moment you realise that the tenant was a rent defaulter somewhere else, it’s better to ask him or her to leave before they manifest their non-payment traits to you . Deliberate rent defaulters normally pay the first three months as required and then they start dodging you for more than three months until you kick them out,” he says. Mr Mpuuga adds that while screening, you have to ask the new tenants if they were evicted in the past and the circumstances surrounding their eviction.
“If a tenants realises that you are very strict, they can give you false information. This means you may have to carry out your own research”, He says.

Tenant background information
If a tenant fails to give you all the information you need or to fill the tenancy agreement, you have a right to refuse them access to your property.
“Make sure you have your tenant’s agreement form ready because the answers filled in give you a clue on what you’re supposed to ask the tenant during screening.
If a tenant leaves some questions intentionally unanswered, they might be hiding something.

Tenant’s agreement involves a lot of information and these include, biography, next of keen, source of income, how big is the family, marital status and reason why she or he is leaving the previous house.