Rent

Jeff - the ex-tenant who has moved back in temporarily - asked yesterday if he could get me to write up a rental agreement. I still have his "old" one from before, but I said okay, it's apparently for use for his lawyer. HOW it is going to be used, I have no idea, but that really doesn't matter.

While doing so - and writing in the monthly amount to be paid - he continued on with his rather unending statements about how much it's going to cost him to retain this lawyer. Supposedly, he has til' November to come up with 5k. I'm not so gullible as to believe much of what anyone says anymore. People I don't know very well? Could be lying through their teeth.

The last time I was looking for the lawyer route, I was told all kinds of extremely high prices - but that it could be paid off in payments. HIGH payments, yes, over a span of 10 months is what one of them stated.

The man has given me no choice. I mean, I have been waiting for him to talk to me about the rent, as there has been no agreement from me that this is a free ride here. I am sorry that life is hitting him squarely between the eyes with his girlfriend breaking court orders and not allowing him to see his own son, but I have MY problems, too, and most of it is directly related to my finances. To think that this guy is feeling that he's going to stay here this month, next month and half the next month after that - for free - is off the wall. Throw me a bone, give me SOMETHING to work with here. Instead, I am hearing constant statements about how much money this lawyer is going to cost.

I'll bet he isn't sending a letter to the loan company that is carrying his vehicle title with such statements: "Hey, I'm going to have to put you on hold for 3 months while I get my personal stuff taken care of". Guaranteed, they'll come and haul that sucker off.

So, I have no choice but to confront him on it. If he feels he simply cannot pay rent - albeit the fact he's working 6 days a week and taking in very good money with OT - then he can find a new place to live. Most people aren't handing out free rooms right now that I know of, especially in this economy where many folks are finding renting out rooms is a lifeline that is helping them stay afloat. My situation exactly. I would love to be in a better position and help him out - but my circumstances dictate my actions in this particular case.

What makes it even worse for me is that I terminated the ad, told people the room is rented and thought I had this all behind me. I hate having to be the guy that is always giving out bad news, I really do.

I was outside for a little while. Those stupid dogs next door started yelping the second I walked out there. I'm going to start logging the day and time they are barking and doing more video of them sitting there, barking away in case this ends up becoming a court matter.

My next plan of attack, as ugly as it may be - is to block their view of my yard with that black plastic. It only need be high enough so they can't see, that might, just might, help quelch this stuff.

Well, I'm off to read some world news and then get a start on the day.

Happy Saturday!
ben