So my mother is a landlord, and she wants to kick out a tenant that isn’t paying rent.

I asked her if she was seriously going to kick someone out to the streets, and she said that the tenant has family and they could seek help from them.

My mother threatened the tenant saying that if they don’t give back the key, she would go to the civil guard.

I need some ideas about what to tell my mother to try to stop her from putting someone on the streets. Any help is appreciated.

  • redtea
    17·
    1 year ago

    Is it possible to help negotiate an agreement? Why have they stopped paying rent? Have they stopped paying all of it? For how long? If they’re in a debt spiral, they may need some help managing their bills. If it’s employment, showing some compassion might make them eager to pay back rent as soon as they get another job. Might take some upfront effort, but this could be a far more sustainable business model than evicting them and finding someone else. The world economy is fucked: hay no guarantías que la próxima será mejor… (i hope that last bit means ‘there are no guarantees that the next one will be better’!)

  • mrshll1001
    14·
    1 year ago

    Are there any renters unions in your area? Getting the tenant involved with them might help them legally or practically. In the UK, we have Acorn which do a mixture of direct action (ie literally blocking Landlords from accessing the property) and supporting tenants with navigating the legal system and understanding their (somewhat limited) rights as renters.

    If there’s something comparable in your local area, perhaps approach them with the consent of the tenant? If there’s not then perhaps there’s similarly minded people which you can help to start organise and bring into the fold?

    • redtea
      16·
      1 year ago

      This isn’t a terrible idea in general, but I wouldn’t start practicing my revolutionary organising against my own family. I suppose it depends on what they might be able to offer. If they could help with the negotiating that I mentioned above…?

      • Valbrandur
        61·
        1 year ago

        but I wouldn’t start practicing my revolutionary organising against my own family.

        Does the family have to know it was OP?

      • mrshll1001
        3·
        1 year ago

        I understand that, I suppose it depends on your relationship to your family and how much you’re beholden to them for your personal safety. Since I’m an adult and live independently from them, I would absolutely feel comfortable doing this. My sister has recently become a landlord, and if I hear her say something similar to OP’s mother, or if it appears that she’s mistreating them I have no qualms about explicitly stating she’s in the wrong and openly moving against her.

        If OP is in a more delicate situation wrt their relationship with their parents, then I think there’s scope for quietly (or even anonymously) getting in touch with e.g. renter’s unions and asking a member to reach out the tenant. Or maybe dropping some literature through the door of the property for the tenant to read.