Rent Due and New Renter Question
|
Jojogirl Bailey
jojo's Folly owner
Join date: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 1,094
|
08-18-2008 10:00
Just wondering what policies any of you have for rerenting a space where the rent has come due, the for rent sign has appeared and the space has been rented by a new renter before the existing one paid rent.
I am asking because i have had situations where someone never moved into a space after renting for 4 weeks, rent ran out space was rented by someone else, then the original renter came back and said oh, i was just going to start moving in. I told them the space was gone and i would help them find another space on our two sims.
This same person just rented a space where a long term existing renter had let the rent come due, but had notified me that they would be a bit late in paying. The new renter who had lost the original space had been shown a number of spaces that were available and empty, but chose to rent one that was full of stuff.
Just wondering the policies you all use in this type of situation...thanks! jojo
_____________________
Director of Marketing - Etopia Island Corporation Marketing and Business Consultant Jojo's Folly - Owner
|
Atashi Toshihiko
Frequently Befuddled
Join date: 7 Dec 2006
Posts: 1,423
|
08-18-2008 10:06
Probably not all that helpful for your scenario... but my solution is to not use rental boxes or other automated things. I handle the processes manually to a certain point. If a tennant is late with the rent, I try and contact them to find out if everything is ok. Especially if they've left their builds in place. Usually it's just a matter that they forgot, or they had a problem with the LindeX or whatever. This way, I don't have situations along these lines.
When a property is well and truly available, when the previous tennant has left and packed up and all, I will manually set the parcel for rent (using the built in 'forsale' process) and only then, can a new tennant choose to claim the spot. I recognize that this does not work for all cases, but I find for me, it's the best option.
-Atashi
_____________________
Visit Atashi's Art and Oddities Store and the Waikiti Motor Works at beautiful Waikiti.
|
Lindal Kidd
Dances With Noobs
Join date: 26 Jun 2007
Posts: 8,371
|
08-18-2008 10:06
Set a policy and stick to it. If you're using HippoRent, you can configure the box so that others can rent when a tenant is in arrears. I don't do this...but I HAVE decreased the number of days past due until eviction to 1 day.
If a renter is evicted by the box, I return their prims.
For gosh sakes, they get a notice 2 days prior, 1 day prior, on the due date, and an eviction notice the following day. What more do they need? People WILL take advantage of you to squeeze out two or three or four days of free rent.
_____________________
It's still My World and My Imagination! So there. Lindal Kidd
|
Xplorer Cannoli
Cache Cleaner
Join date: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 1,131
|
08-18-2008 10:08
Always take care of an existing customer first. They are always priority over a new customer. ESPECIALLY since from what I understand the existing tenant has contacted you and asked for a little reprieve until they can take care of it.
_____________________
Region Names for a Themed Shopping Experience:
New Region: Gifts
Accessories, Art, Avatars, Cars, Clothes, Clothing, Fashion, Fashions, Furnishings, Furniture, Gadgets, Games, Gifts, Hair, Jewellery, Jewelry, Mall, Men, Money, Music, Pets, Shoes, Shopping, Skin, Skins, Something, Women, X
Attractions: Explore our new park at HOME New Racetrack at CAR WEAPONS Region Now Open!
|
Ciaran Laval
Mostly Harmless
Join date: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 7,951
|
08-18-2008 10:11
Apologise and refund the new renter, offer them an alternative, maybe offer a couple of days free rent as a token of that apology but as the existing tenant informed you they'd be late and as they are a long term tenant, you should look after them. I need to come visit you soon and see what mischief you're upto 
|
Jojogirl Bailey
jojo's Folly owner
Join date: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 1,094
|
08-18-2008 10:13
Thanks guys....you are confirming what i actually did...LOL.
_____________________
Director of Marketing - Etopia Island Corporation Marketing and Business Consultant Jojo's Folly - Owner
|
Cristalle Karami
Lady of the House
Join date: 4 Dec 2006
Posts: 6,222
|
08-18-2008 10:15
If you get wind of someone being late on a payment before it happens, just lock the box or reserve it if the lease lapses. If they don't give word, I tend to favor the new renter over the older and will return the items IF more than a day has passed between the lapse of the lease and the new person renting.
_____________________
Affordable & beautiful apartments & homes starting at 150L/wk! Waterfront homes, 575L/wk & 300 prims! House of Cristalle low prim prefabs: secondlife://Cristalle/111/60http://cristalleproperties.info http://careeningcristalle.blogspot.com - Careening, A SL Sailing Blog
|
Cristalle Karami
Lady of the House
Join date: 4 Dec 2006
Posts: 6,222
|
08-18-2008 10:19
From: Lindal Kidd Set a policy and stick to it. If you're using HippoRent, you can configure the box so that others can rent when a tenant is in arrears. I don't do this...but I HAVE decreased the number of days past due until eviction to 1 day.
If a renter is evicted by the box, I return their prims.
For gosh sakes, they get a notice 2 days prior, 1 day prior, on the due date, and an eviction notice the following day. What more do they need? People WILL take advantage of you to squeeze out two or three or four days of free rent. QFT. This is precisely why I favor new renters over older ones that let their stuff lapse for longer than a day. I also keep the 1 day arrearage, and no one else can rent while in arrears. They get enough notice that it is only on them if they get their place rented out from under them. I will reserve a box if I know someone is going to be out of town or has internet connection problems. But even then, that has limits.
_____________________
Affordable & beautiful apartments & homes starting at 150L/wk! Waterfront homes, 575L/wk & 300 prims! House of Cristalle low prim prefabs: secondlife://Cristalle/111/60http://cristalleproperties.info http://careeningcristalle.blogspot.com - Careening, A SL Sailing Blog
|
Sassy Romano
Registered User
Join date: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 619
|
08-18-2008 10:20
From: Lindal Kidd For gosh sakes, they get a notice 2 days prior, 1 day prior, on the due date, and an eviction notice the following day. What more do they need? People WILL take advantage of you to squeeze out two or three or four days of free rent.
I guess it's too bad that some *may* even have the occassional RL issue that crops up to deal with that takes them away from SL for those crucial 4 days. You're right, too bad, they suck, kick them out, move on.
|
Lindal Kidd
Dances With Noobs
Join date: 26 Jun 2007
Posts: 8,371
|
08-18-2008 10:23
From: Sassy Romano I guess it's too bad that some *may* even have the occassional RL issue that crops up to deal with that takes them away from SL for those crucial 4 days.
You're right, too bad, they suck, kick them out, move on. Sassy, I used to feel the same way. But you know, you can pay up to four weeks in advance. There really is no excuse. If there IS...some sort of unexpected crisis, say, then I'm willing to listen. It just isn't...that...hard...to pay your frickin' rent on time! After all, *I* have to...LL does not accept excuses on tier day.
_____________________
It's still My World and My Imagination! So there. Lindal Kidd
|
Cristalle Karami
Lady of the House
Join date: 4 Dec 2006
Posts: 6,222
|
08-18-2008 10:25
From: Sassy Romano I guess it's too bad that some *may* even have the occassional RL issue that crops up to deal with that takes them away from SL for those crucial 4 days.
You're right, too bad, they suck, kick them out, move on. How long is the landlord supposed to wait, Sassy? Yes, we all know that rl takes precedence. But if your place means that much to you, log in or otherwise contact your landlord. Replying to the box notice will send a message. That's all it takes.
_____________________
Affordable & beautiful apartments & homes starting at 150L/wk! Waterfront homes, 575L/wk & 300 prims! House of Cristalle low prim prefabs: secondlife://Cristalle/111/60http://cristalleproperties.info http://careeningcristalle.blogspot.com - Careening, A SL Sailing Blog
|
Sassy Romano
Registered User
Join date: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 619
|
08-18-2008 10:50
Cristalle, Linden, I know where you're coming from and maybe i'm just thinking of the extreme cases but there are certain RL situations that would just take you away from SL for more than 4 days or where it wouldn't at the time be the most important thing in the world. Yes paying in advance is great...if you know you're going to have a RL issue that may prevent you doing so. Anyway, i'm not here to argue so have a great SL day, as usual i'm just trying to figure out which hair to wear today. 
|
3Ring Binder
always smile
Join date: 8 Mar 2007
Posts: 15,028
|
08-18-2008 10:54
From: Jojogirl Bailey Just wondering what policies any of you have for rerenting a space where the rent has come due, the for rent sign has appeared and the space has been rented by a new renter before the existing one paid rent. I am asking because i have had situations where someone never moved into a space after renting for 4 weeks, rent ran out space was rented by someone else, then the original renter came back and said oh, i was just going to start moving in. I told them the space was gone and i would help them find another space on our two sims. This same person just rented a space where a long term existing renter had let the rent come due, but had notified me that they would be a bit late in paying. The new renter who had lost the original space had been shown a number of spaces that were available and empty, but chose to rent one that was full of stuff. Just wondering the policies you all use in this type of situation...thanks! jojo i once took a rented a spot that had someone else's stuff in it. the landlord wrote me and said that the current person had been long term, and that it would be cordial of the landlord to find out if they intended to stay, which they did. she offered me another spot, but i wanted bottom floor, so i simply did not rent there. i was not offended. as a landlord, i think it's important to be loyal to your current residents first.
_____________________
it was fun while it lasted. http://2lf.informe.com/
|
Xplorer Cannoli
Cache Cleaner
Join date: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 1,131
|
08-18-2008 11:10
From: Lindal Kidd Sassy, I used to feel the same way. But you know, you can pay up to four weeks in advance. There really is no excuse. If there IS...some sort of unexpected crisis, say, then I'm willing to listen.
It just isn't...that...hard...to pay your frickin' rent on time! After all, *I* have to...LL does not accept excuses on tier day. I believe LL gives 7 days for an avatar to bring their account to zero or clear their account. Actually LL is different because they charge you based on what you used, not what you are planning to use. I will give an example, I had a customer yesterday in fact, that was in the hospital for unexpected surgery and was in the hospital for over 2 weeks. It was a long term customer and I let her lapse for nearly 2 weeks. I definitely agree that people should take more responsibility and pay more in advance, but you can hardly blame them when estate managers can up and leave at any moment. Yes, you do have people that do take advantage...but I'd rather have satisfied customers with long term relationships than a revolving door for anybody willing to part with a Linden$.
_____________________
Region Names for a Themed Shopping Experience:
New Region: Gifts
Accessories, Art, Avatars, Cars, Clothes, Clothing, Fashion, Fashions, Furnishings, Furniture, Gadgets, Games, Gifts, Hair, Jewellery, Jewelry, Mall, Men, Money, Music, Pets, Shoes, Shopping, Skin, Skins, Something, Women, X
Attractions: Explore our new park at HOME New Racetrack at CAR WEAPONS Region Now Open!
|
Ann Launay
Neko-licious™
Join date: 8 Aug 2006
Posts: 7,893
|
08-18-2008 11:25
From: Sassy Romano Cristalle, Linden Someone got promoted!
_____________________
~Now Trout Re-Re-Re-Certified!~ From: someone I am bumping you to an 8.5 on the Official Trout Measuring Instrument of Sluttiness. You are an enigma - on the one hand a sweet, gentle, intelligent woman who we would like to wrap up in our arms and protect, and on the other, a temptress to whom we would like to do all sorts of unmentionable things.
Congratulations and shame on you! You are a bit of a slut.
|
sable Valentine
AU United
Join date: 30 Apr 2006
Posts: 1,275
|
08-18-2008 12:08
I agree that paying rent a few weeks or in my case a month or so in advance will save alot agony. A very long time ago, I had a neighbor that was hospitalized for a month and of course that got him behind on his rent. Of course when he returned he was very upset. His experience taught me to pay in advance because RL does happen.
|
Lindal Kidd
Dances With Noobs
Join date: 26 Jun 2007
Posts: 8,371
|
08-18-2008 12:09
From: Ann Launay Someone got promoted! I was hoping nobody'd notice. 
|
MoxZ Mokeev
Invisible Alpha Texture
Join date: 10 Jan 2008
Posts: 870
|
08-18-2008 12:38
From: Xplorer Cannoli I definitely agree that people should take more responsibility and pay more in advance, but you can hardly blame them when estate managers can up and leave at any moment. QFT! I just rented a parcel paying my first month's rent up front. Actually I do believe that all rent must be paid a month in advance on this particular parcel, and I have to say that this makes me nervous. It would piss me off highly if the landlord were to up and sell out before my month was up. For all the homework I've done on this landlord, it's not going to matter should this happen for whatever reason. I personally prefer the option to pay weekly. But I truly do understand the double edge.
|
3Ring Binder
always smile
Join date: 8 Mar 2007
Posts: 15,028
|
08-18-2008 12:46
as a landlord, if i had to suddenly close down shop, i would refund every renter for the days they had remaining. i can't imagine why anyone wouldn't do it that way.
_____________________
it was fun while it lasted. http://2lf.informe.com/
|
Cristalle Karami
Lady of the House
Join date: 4 Dec 2006
Posts: 6,222
|
08-18-2008 12:51
From: 3Ring Binder as a landlord, if i had to suddenly close down shop, i would refund every renter for the days they had remaining. i can't imagine why anyone wouldn't do it that way. Unfortunately, some take the money and run.
_____________________
Affordable & beautiful apartments & homes starting at 150L/wk! Waterfront homes, 575L/wk & 300 prims! House of Cristalle low prim prefabs: secondlife://Cristalle/111/60http://cristalleproperties.info http://careeningcristalle.blogspot.com - Careening, A SL Sailing Blog
|
3Ring Binder
always smile
Join date: 8 Mar 2007
Posts: 15,028
|
08-18-2008 12:54
i know Cristalle. it's crap. just crap.
_____________________
it was fun while it lasted. http://2lf.informe.com/
|
Jojogirl Bailey
jojo's Folly owner
Join date: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 1,094
|
08-18-2008 15:13
Thanks for all the replies. I was able to get the new renter to take another space I had which was one of the few left in the area they wanted. I also decided to send out a group notice to my merchant group to remind them to be aware that as soon as their rent is due, the for rent sign goes up. We have a custom made system and im fine with it working that way. I have also had some long term renters who have had issues and generally have contacted me to let me know there was an issue, to the point of having someone else im me that their computer was down. I would rather keep a long term renter and offer them so needed assistance esp if they let me know than do the revolving door as well. One of the missions on Etopia is to build community, so I think trying to be helpful to those who are already established in the community is in line with those goals.
_____________________
Director of Marketing - Etopia Island Corporation Marketing and Business Consultant Jojo's Folly - Owner
|
Joss Noel
is clueless!
Join date: 25 Mar 2007
Posts: 201
|
08-18-2008 21:11
I used to be quite lenient when someone was overdue, but not any more. They get enough warnings, and you can tell if they have logged in or not. I had one renter, sweet girl, always paid her rent on time, was panic stricken if she went even 1 prim over her allowance, etc, etc. Then, one week, no rent. Her profile said she was on holiday, but would be checking in. So I sent her a notecard asking her to let me know her plans, and let it run a bit, assuming she'd just gone on holiday and forgot.
A few days later, she IM's me to say she was just using the place as a stop gap and had now bought some land, and could I return all her items as she was far too busy to come and get them herself!!
Now, if they rent is overdue, I evict them and return their stuff. I evicted one person last week - and two days later she rented another property from me! I don't let anyone else rent whilst in arrears though.
One thing I don't really understand. Some people pay rent for a week, you go through the motions, adding them and their 19 friends to the NDE doors(!!!), etc, then they just disappear. What's the point of renting somewhere if you're not going to use it??
|
Ordella Halley
~HERETIC~ Fashion&Design
Join date: 19 Mar 2007
Posts: 53
|
08-19-2008 00:24
From: Xplorer Cannoli I definitely agree that people should take more responsibility and pay more in advance, but you can hardly blame them when estate managers can up and leave at any moment.
Yes, you do have people that do take advantage...but I'd rather have satisfied customers with long term relationships than a revolving door for anybody willing to part with a Linden$. Yeap, true that, but you won't run right? I would hate my little shop in "Clothing" vanish *giggles*. Now, on a serious tone, renting for a long time from Xplorer and never had problems... true, I don't really remember if happened so I didn't payed that little plot. One thing I would say to the OP, and this happened to me. Set up your rentalboxes to block payements when arrears, until you manually unblock them. If people will come and see a due and rentable box, they WILL pay it if they want the place. The fact that the old renter wants to stay has no importance, since technically the box was free to rent. If the box is free to rent they have just as many rights as the old renter, no matter how old he is. RL issues do happen and you may want to let the renters a few more days. So, as a precaution block payements until you know for sure the old renter won't extend rent. Put new people on a waiting list and notice them when they can have the space. That way you will avoid most problems, you take care of old renters and you don't cheat out new renters from their acuired space either.
_____________________
"I don't see how an article of clothing can be indecent. A person, yes." Robert A. Heinlein 
|
Tegg Bode
FrootLoop Roo Overlord
Join date: 12 Jan 2007
Posts: 5,707
|
08-19-2008 02:27
It depends on the current demand, the tennant, their previous history and value to me. If I get a message somehow, I'm pretty understanding and so far it's worked ok, I just reserve the box for them for a extra few days. If I have other good empty spots I don't worry so much but if there are few then may just boot them if they don't respond to IM's and it's a good spot and other potential tennants are looking. Most of them know they won't get good land elsewhere as cheap so they pay well and in advance up to 6 weeks.
_____________________
Level 38 Builder [Roo Clan]
Free Waterside & Roadside Vehicle Rez Platform, Desire (88, 17, 107)
Avatars & Roadside Seaview shops and vendorspace for rent, $2.00/prim/week, Desire (175,48,107)
|