Episode 180: When Enough Is Enough - my first eviction in SIX years, Part 1
Summary
I’m human and like you, sometimes it's easier to ignore problems, stick your head in the sand and just hope problems miraculously go away. Well, I did it. I ignored it, and I just had enough. For the first time in six years, I’ve had to give eviction papers to one of my longest tenants. They’ve ignored my letters, my requests, and my attempts to be reasonable. So today I will talk about what happened, what my eviction paperwork said EXACTLY, and what my final breaking point was that I was forced to give papers.
Listen to the full episode :
This Week’s Blog Post:
Facing an Eviction After Six Years
Hi friends! I’m Dr. Jen, and in this episode of My Life as a Landlord, I’m sharing something I haven’t had to deal with in six years—an eviction. Normally, my episodes are carefully structured interviews with frameworks and insights, but this one is real and raw. I’m recording this on the fly because it’s happening right now. I’ve always wanted to show that landlords are human too, and sometimes, enough is enough. This episode is part one of a two-part story because, as I record, the process is still unfolding.
When Things Started to Unravel
I first rented this unit in 2021 to a woman and her boyfriend. Everything was fine at the start. We did maintenance checks, they paid rent, and in 2023, I even hired her to clean the common areas. By 2024, though, things started to slip. Her boyfriend moved out, and I forgot to update the lease to reflect that. The cleaning stopped, and despite multiple attempts to meet, she stood me up every time. I didn’t deal with it right away—I just didn’t want the confrontation. But as the saying goes, you get what you manage.
The Breaking Point
By April 2025, my crew started noticing extra guests—a man, a teenage girl, and a dog—none of whom were authorized. Pets weren’t allowed, and tenants can’t hand out keys to guests. When I emailed her, she gave excuses, but by May it was clear these people had moved in. In September, things escalated. There were now two dogs and an adult male living there full-time. I tried to resolve it, offering to make everything official with applications and approvals. She agreed but did nothing. The final straw came when our cleaners reported fleas and pet hair in the laundry room. Those were the only animals in the building, and I knew it was time to act.
The Eviction Process
Because the lease still listed her former boyfriend, I first had to formally remove him from the agreement. Once that was complete, I served her an eviction notice for cause. I documented everything: unauthorized occupants, pets, health and safety risks, and material lease breaches. I served the notice on September 30, making November 30 the effective move-out date. She has ten days to dispute, but as of recording, I don’t know what she’ll do—leave quietly, fight it, or damage the unit. It’s an uncomfortable waiting game, but necessary. The goal of eviction isn’t revenge—it’s simply getting the unit back.
What Happens Next
If she doesn’t dispute the notice, she’ll be required to vacate by November 30. If she does, it could lead to arbitration or even hiring a bailiff—something I’ve never had to do before. It’s been humbling and frustrating, but also a reminder that even experienced landlords can miss signs or wait too long to act. Part two will come in early 2026, after everything plays out. Hopefully, she leaves peacefully, and we can turn the page.
I recorded this episode while waiting for jury duty in Maui, Hawaii. Why? Because real estate takes you places. Where do you want real estate to take you? Join me next week for Episode 181, where I talk California legalese and more with attorney Edwin Schwartz. I’ll see you there!