What would you do?

[rosebron]

We had to re-possess our rental house from a couple last week. Because of the situation, we are in debt again for $2400 and our mortgage pay-off plan and retirement savings are on hold and our emergency fund is below $1000. I've used up the business EF already to pay the mortgage three times!!!

The man has health issues and the lady has not worked since January (I'm not sure why). The judge was kind but firm. It was very rough on them and very rough on us. I had to put on a poker face and that was tough!! But it came down to me being unwilling to pay for someone to continue living in our house. I still wonder if we did the right thing even though I know that we did.

What would you have done??

[leezza]

same as you, you can't be expected to take care of someone else.

leezza

[FrugalMomof3]

I would have done the same as you, so dont feel bad

[annymoll]

I would have done as you did, as well as sought out a civil judgement for the rent owed you. Some people do this as a way of life. It is not fair to put other people in financial distress because you do not, will not, or cannot provide housing for yourself.The government assists low income families with housing. It is not your job.

[sueh]

I guess I am the crazy one. I would have let them stay and tried to work something out with them to may payments.
I guess becuase I went through this several years ago. I was a SAHM and my ex was a LOSER! Everytime I would get a job he would do something to make it so I couldn't go back. We didn't pay rent for a whole year. My landlord was more than wonderful through this whole ordeal. He never called once until December. He asked me what was going on and I told him my story. My ex left me a week before Thanksgiving and I just went back to work full-time. We made arrangements that I would have to pay extra to be able to stay.
I have been here for 8 years and in the last 4 years I have'nt missed a payment.
The main thing is you have to take care of you.

[rosebron]

Sueh: in your case, the landlord probably owned the house outright. We dont.
Plus, we worked with them for almost 10 months. The mortgage is over $1000 each month. The bank would have taken back the property and we and them would have lost a house. Because of our frugality and our business emergency fund (which was set up initially for maintenance and repairs, not rent), we have been able to get by. The tenants were not unwilling to pay, they were unable to do so. I think that when it comes down to it, I was unwilling to continue paying for someone else to live there. Plus, they have not taken care of the property!! Cleaning alone is ging to exhaust whatever security deposit that they had.

[SammeyG]

I think that I would have done the same. Eventhough that I have a big heart it would be hard for me to do as well. I have had several people that have lived with my dh and I on and off over the last several years. The last was my mother. It has gotten to the point that now my dh and I are considering bankruptcy. Because they couldn't help pay for there share of the bills.