Anyone who’s been a landlord for any length of item knows that headaches and hassles are simply part of the job description. And number-one among those headaches/hassles is problem tenants. For truly bad tenants in Sacramento, eviction is always an option. But that can be a lengthy and expensive process, so it’s better to find other ways to deal with bad tenants to solve the problems. Below, you’ll find 5 ways to deal with bad tenants in Sacramento in order to avoid having to have recourse to eviction. On occasion when I buy homes cash and it has a tenant inside that won’t cooperate I use BPE Law, located here in Sacramento. Visit https://www.bpelaw.com/
SPECIALIZE IN BUYING SQUATTER AND TENANT OCCUPIED, FIXERS, MOBILE HOMES AND HOMEOWNERS EXPERIENCING DISTRESS & STRESS. PRIMARY AREAS ARE: SACRAMENTO, S. SAC, OAK PARK, FLORIN AREA, DEL PASO HTS, NORTH HIGHLANDS, CARMICHAEL, CITRUS HEIGHTS AND ORANGEVALE.
April 2025 New Unlawful Detainer Laws that Evey Landlord should Know
AB 2347 https://www.dre.ca.gov/files/pdf/reb/rebspring_25.pdf extends the time by which a tenant must respond to an unlawful detainer action from five court days to ten court days after being served.
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I recommend Listen Jim and Wendy’s Testimonial On How I bought Their Home With Tenants Still Living There. https://youtu.be/0Q31tg8_6d8
and visiting this link-https://www.darrenbuyshomescash.com/what-to-do-if-your-tenants-cause-damage-to-your-sacramento-rental/
1. Tenants Who Won’t Pay
A common category of bad tenants in Sacramento is those who just won’t pay their rent. And this, of course, will adversely affect your cash flow.
The thing to keep in mind, though, is that tenants don’t pay for a variety of reasons, and often they’re not being malicious or trying to stiff you. “Tenants.” industry experts say, “can withhold rent from landlords for a number of reasons, from cash flow shortages or temporary unemployment, to repair and maintenance disputes. Communication is critical when confronting this issue, and it’s important to understand the tenant and the nature of the issue and try to negotiate, if possible.”
As a landlord, you have a couple of options to solve this problem. The first and most effective is setting up a payment plan that makes paying more manageable for the tenants. You could, for example, when tenants are struggling financially . . .
- Implement “a policy of accepting a partial payment from a resident once per year”
- “[P]rorate the late fees and delinquent rent over the remainder of the tenant’s lease”
- Allow weekly partial payments instead of larger monthly payments
- Apply the security deposit to the delinquent rent payments
Another option is to change the tenants’ living arrangements. “If a tenant can no longer afford the rent, landlords can set them up with roommates or move them to smaller, lower-cost units.” In the meantime be realistic. If your tenant is not paying you should be proactive and start advertising or seeking legal advice.
2. Tenants Having Problems With Other Tenants
And then there are those who are bad tenants in Sacramento because they are too loud or just obnoxious. Despite your best screening efforts, this kind of tenant can still slip through and can problems for you and other tenants. I have had this experience personally on a home I bought cash in Oak Park Sacramento. My renter was complaining to me about the side neighbor renter blowing leaves in their yard. Petty but this crap happens.
The first step in dealing with this kind of problem tenant is to encourage and allow the tenants to resolve the problem themselves.“Make a clause in the lease that specifically states that all tenants are to make every able attempt to settle arguments without your intervention. Include a message stating that if you must get involved, one tenant might not be pleased with the resolution, and someone stands a good chance of leaving the property.”
But you may have to step in. In that case, mediation may be called for. Just be sure to “explain the consequences in a calm manner to aid in resolution. At some point, your residents hopefully understand that the net impact is on them, not you.” Also make “sure that any lease or rental agreement contains property regulations and rules, in addition to tight clauses regarding these disagreements.”
3. Tenants Who Pay Late
Some tenants do pay, but they always pay late – not withholding payment, but just late. In dealing with these bad tenants in Sacramento, it’s wise to keep in mind that the reason for late rent payments may be fairly innocent, something like mere forgetfulness.
You could meet with these tenants “to discuss their situation and why the rent is always late. You could also do things like waive late fees and other penalties if they promise to pay any late rent in full.” Another effective tactic is to send out payment reminders. Though it takes a little extra effort and time, it could be an easy fix for the problem. Alternatively, if it fits into your budget arrange in the contract to reduce the rent by $25.00 dollar if they pay on time. The point is be creative until you get a better situation. Some money is better than No money.
4. Don’t Renew the Lease
When the methods outlined above for dealing with bad tenants in Sacramento don’t produce results, you still may not have to resort to eviction. I was very happy with BPE Law group. https://www.bpelaw.com/
An option you have at this point is simply to refuse to renew the lease. Just be aware that this typically isn’t an immediate solution and that you need to “understand your local laws related to tenant protections before you do this. Usually, you can send your tenant a letter that informs them that their lease will not be renewed once it expires. You may need to give them 30, 60, or 90 days’ notice, depending on your state and local laws.”
Visit https://www.DarrenBuysSacramentoHomes.com/ or click here to see if selling your home is best for you https://youtu.be/0ULfAybPjCY
5. Consider a “Cash for Keys” Agreement
Another last-resort solution, short of eviction, for dealing with bad tenants in Sacramento is the “cash for keys” agreement. It will cost you, but it will also get a bad tenant out of your hair and solve the problem. “A cash for keys agreement is a legally binding contract, whereby you pay a tenant a lump sum of money, and their lease is canceled, and they have to move out of your property.” During my past career as a real estate broker in Sacramento I worked the Foreclosure markets. After banks foreclosed their policy was to offer cash for keys for the tenant or owner to move out. It worked like 99% of the time
But, you may be wondering, why should you pay a bad tenant to move out? For the simple reason that it makes financial sense. Also, write it off for taxes
“It can easily cost $3000-5,000 to evict a tenant and take months to do so. California is a strong advocate for tenant rights. If you can just pay $1,000 and have a bad tenant move out within a week, you’ll be able to save a bunch of money – and start renting your property to a more qualified tenant right away.”
But Be Careful . . .
Another new law for Landlords in 2025 – AB 2801 – requires Landlords to take pictures before a tenant moves in, after they move out (and before any work is done), and again after the work is completed to charge them for cleaning and damage from their Security Deposit. To be most effective, the required photos should be date stamped. Additionally, landlords may not require any fixed cleaning costs in their Rental Agreements. But now, before and after photos are becoming law. I say “becoming law” because there is a phase-in period.
Before and after work is completed photo requirements:
Beginning April 1, 2025, Security Deposit deductions must be accompanied with before and after work pictures showing each item you charged for. The before-work pictures must be taken as soon as the tenant vacates – but before any work is done. Then photos must be taken of the same items to show the work after it is completed.
Example: Dirty oven, cleaned oven. Gross drawers and cleaned out drawers, broken window and new glass, broken window blinds and new blinds.
Before occupancy photos are also required:
Beginning July 1, 2025, Security deposit deductions must include before occupancy photos as well as the before and after photos when the tenant moves out and work is done. I think marketing photos work well for this as long as you take those extra pictures of the oven, sinks, tubs, toilets, yard…
Until now, many landlords used the same marketing photos for multiple vacancies. AB 2801 will necessitate taking new photos each time you have a vacancy – and they should be date-stamped pics or have another way of proving when they were taken.
Automatic Cleaning charges are prohibited:
AB 2801 also prohibits automatic charges for cleaning and/or carpet cleaning unless those charges are reasonably necessary to restore the property to its condition at the beginning of the tenancy.
Some landlords have been charging for cleaning as if it were required every time. I have seen leases with long lists of pre-agreed cleaning charges with tenants. That policy functions as a non-refundable security deposit which is illegal. Landlords should remove that language from their lease. Here is a link to AB 2801
Whatever method you choose to deploy in dealing with bad tenants, make sure you’re aware of all the legal ramifications and implications. Tenant-protection laws are far broader than they were just a few years ago. Your best bet is to consult an experienced Sacramento investor to get help understanding exactly what you can and can’t do as a landlord. So for assistance dealing with bad tenants in Sacramento, contact us today at (916)300-7962.
Real Estate Market Update
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If you feel you have had enough of the rental business and want to retire, call me today at (916) 300-7962. I buy homes cash and fast in all areas of Sacramento. I mainly buy homes cash with tenants inside and still residing in the home. This can be helpful to eliminate vacancies and keep your cash flow to the very end without interruptions. SPECIALIZE IN BUYING SQUATTER AND TENANT OCCUPIED, FIXERS, MOBILE HOMES AND HOMEOWNERS EXPERIENCING DISTRESS & STRESS. PRIMARY AREAS ARE: SACRAMENTO, S. SAC, OAK PARK, FLORIN AREA, DEL PASO HTS, NORTH HIGHLANDS, CARMICHAEL, CITRUS HEIGHTS AND ORANGEVALE.
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