Have To Evict A Tenant-sec. 8

[Beals]

What is the best way of going about Eviction? My tenant is destroying my property. I owe $90,000 on a nice, decent, pretty home and they are rapidly destroying it and I have to get them out. Last incident happened about a month ago when she set the stove on fire. Now accidents happen, but she never even told us about it! and she didn't want us(me and my husband) to find out! Then, I had to have insurance assess the damage and then she harasses us about us doing an "insurance job"! This person I think is clearly not in a right frame of mind. I mean who would do that? Not tell us, not even apologize, but then get mad at us and accuse us to doing an "insurance job".  I mean how else are we going to pay for the damage?  It come to over $7,000 dollars in damage. She/they have section 8 housing. We will face serious financial set-backs, but hopefully not too bad, if we can fix it up asap, and then hopefully get a new(and better) tenant in there. I need suggestions and support. What do you think? The fire is not the only thing they've "destroyed".  She's paid her little rent though, and we're lucky to receive the section 8.  I'm hoping if we have to get her out, I still can be in good standing with sec. 8. and still get another renter.  

[Thompson]

First thing I would do is bring the matter to the attention of your tenant's Section 8 case worker. Perhaps they can intervene....but if not, then you can probably evict IF you can prove a breach of the lease agreement. If you go that route, you should definitely hire an attorney that specializes in evictions(costs around $500). Of course, you'll want to keep Section 8 apprised of the situation. Evicting a Section 8 tenant is pretty much the same as any other tenant as far as the process goes, unless you are in a rent controlled area.

Incidentally, you're now experiencing the drawbacks of the Section 8 program. You're not likely to get the best tenants -- although it's nice having most of the rent paid by the government. But to avoid this kind of thing in the future, you may be better off renting outside of that program. the same risks apply(tenants will not take care of the property the same as an owner would), so be sure to screen all tenants carefully(Section 8 or not).