So Who's on Third?

Dennis is a little weird, but basically a good guy. His girlfriend is nice enough, but a lot weird, in several ways.

They had a roommate for awhile. She seemed normal. We couldn't figure out what she was doing with the two of them. Then she wasn't their roommate anymore.

Now they have a different roommate. The first account of any conversation with her went something like:

G: So she's his girlfriend (points to girlfriend and Dennis)
RM: yes
G: and you're their girlfriend? (points to roommate)
RM: (in a bitchy voice) NO, I am her girlfriend (points to first girlfriend)

So L is telling me about the conversation and I have to ask about the first roommate. Was that situation what we thought it was? Sort of.

Turns out Dennis invited that girl home to be their roommate/third partner. For whatever reason it didn't work out. So he invited the second girl home, same scenario. Only now Dennis' girlfriend and her girlfriend sleep together and drive around in my Miata. Dennis paid for the Miata and sleeps on the couch.

And that is where being a basically nice guy gets you in my apartment complex.

Making Amends

We used to have a tenant who was on meth. L talked with him a few times about either cleaning up, or moving out, and generally being a better tenant. The guy finally moved out, owing us a bit of money. L said he was sorry to see him go, as he seemed like a nice guy who just got in with some bad people, and he would have liked to see him get his act together.

Fast forward to the other night. The guy called, and is apparently coming off rehab and is in Narcotics Anonymous. Not sure off the top of my head what the "steps" are, but if they are close to AA they have something to do with accepting responsibility, making amends, etc. Long story short, he called to find out how much money he owed us so he could begin repaying his debt.

I am glad that he has taken steps to get clean. I sincerely hope it works out for him, even if we never see a dime.

Which Tony Did You Get?

We have a tenant who is bipolar. L used to complain about him because he was always calling for some weird reason. L was gone for awhile and I had to collect rent. T would call and ask if I was coming by, and he was always on time, and nice about it. I couldn't figure out why L didn't like him. That's when he told me that T was bipolar. Now we crack jokes about how schizo T always calls L, and normal T always calls me.

T collects disability, and doesn't work. He pays his rent on time, but in small bills. I asked L if he thought T was dealing, but he said no, he just works for cash. He's actually really smart, just can't work a lot of regular jobs because of his diagnosis.

"Really smart" apparently doesn't do him justice. L was talking to him the other day about his business idea. T has cash money, a lot of cash money, and is willing to invest in the business. So L was talking to me about it and says nothing is for sure yet, and of course he will get an agreement signed that lays out the terms.

My thoughts, in about this order: What kind of jobs does he do again, to have that kind of money sitting around? If he has that kind of cash around all the time, no wonder he is paranoid. And why the hell didn't Larry get something signed right then? You know, in case generous T isn't there on the day L is ready to go into business?

Intro to the Slumlord Chronicles

L and I own some rental property. Not a lot, just one house and 12 apartments. The tenant of our house is great - mostly pays his rent on time, and in return he is very low maintenance. The apartments, on the other hand, are filled with an assortment of losers and weirdos. We currently rent to two registered sex offenders and a junk man who looks like Charlie Daniels (if Charlie Daniels wore sweat pants and flip flops), among others. Sad thing is, the tenants we have right now are not bad, relatively speaking. While they are not problem-free, they do pay their rent, and they generally offer something in the way of entertainment value.

In fact, things have been pretty quiet over there for most of the summer so far. The most interesting thing to happen recently was on the 4th of July. C and B decided to set off fireworks, which was fine. They managed to catch one of the trees on the fence row on fire. Apparently it wasn't an all out blaze, just smoldering, but the sad thing is that it didn't occur to either of them to get the hose and put it out. Luckily, L was there and noticed it.

Anyways, mostly a decent group of tenants right now, but that could change at any time.