Any hope for habitual late tenants?

Question

My husband and I just got married and we have the worst luck in the world. We are honestly good people. My husbands felony charge when he was younger holds us back, he keeps loosing his job. My credit and his credit aren't so great because we knew nothing about credit cards in high school. We just got kicked out of our apartment because we are habitually late at paying rent but ALWAYS paid. This was due to the bad luck and circumstances that kept coming up. I know it's no excuse but we are now trying to start fresh. Our landlord has branded us as "horrible" tenants to our prospective landlords that no one wants to rent to us. She took us to court and we vacated the apt as agreed but she still hasn't dismissed the case and is telling everyone we owe her, we tried to settle with her, asking her the amount we "supposedly" owed and she said she has to wait for our water sewage bill. My husband and I have no place to stay but hotels. We desperately need help..is there any hope?

Thank you guys for your advice. Just so you know I have a GREAT job right now and AM working, my husband and I are young I'm 22 and he's 24. I am no longer using credit cards, I think I got them in the beginning of my freshman year because of all those ads. The only credit cards I have are store ones like, JC Penney, Target and Walmart and I am rebuilding my credit that way. I knew nothing about renting or credit cards and that's why I am where I am now. I also know that there are landlords that can be really cruel. I am currently speaking with a lawyer who herself even said that our landlord is ruthless. I have no family to stay with because I don't get along with my parents, it's a long story. My husband and I aren't low lives..we have dreams and goals and that's why we are looking for this second chance.

Update* 10/30/06..

Can my life get any worse? Today we received our final bill, totaling 2,500.04. Can landlords do this? I know that I was irresponsible when I was younger but do we deserve this crap?.

Eviction/Legal Fees. Total:$150
Concession Reversal: (defaulting on lease agreement. Total:$150
Application Fee: Concession chargeback for default on lease agreement for nonpayment of rent. Total:$70
Concession Reversal Total:$125
Late Notice Fees? Total:$234.50
Delinquent Rent Due Total:$812.93
Delinquent Late Charges Due Total:$150.00
Lease Termination Fee: Water/Sewer Total:$703.50
Unpaid Utility Charges: Total:$101.95
Unpaid Utility Charges: Trash Total:$1.56

Total: $2,500.04

That doesn't seem right to me. We paid Septs bill AND the Water/Sewer. I think we really got screwed over. Does anyone know ANYTHING about this?

Answer 1

Try your local Catholic Charities center. They should be able to assist you in getting back on your feet (you have to really want to).
Also try the Dept of Job and Family Services. They might be able to help out.

You also may qualify for free legal sevices, not sure what state you're in. Anyways, good luck to you. Hope things work out.

Answer 2

First your husbands felony charge is not the cause of him getting fired, unless he didn't tell them when he hired in. So it must be some other reason for his dismissal.
Second forget about credit if you have any Credit Cards pay them off and close the account (go to Debt Management).
Third learn what is a need and what is a want. There should be three bills you pay on time no matter what. They are RENT, GAS, & FOOD, any other bill like the phone or cable bill let them shut it off. A roof over your head, and being able to stay warm and eat is more important than anything else.
*The difference between NEED & WANT is this. I want a Corvette but I need a minivan to get to work and go shopping.
*P.S: I don't know what state you live in, but here in Michigan they have Family Aid Services to help families in hard times buy food and pay their rent. The rent part is called Section Eight, you should look into it.

Answer 3

If you are "habitually late" but always pay, then you need a cheaper apartment, preferably from an individual landlord with a small building or even a 2 or 3 family house. Pay them an extra month in advance so you can't possibly be late. Stay there for at least a year, pay every single month on time and you will have a good reference that will help you in the future.

To be honest, a felony charge when your husband was "younger" should not be affecting his job situation now. Is he lying and getting caught? Something else must be going on for him to keep losing his job like that.

If you don't actually owe your old landlady, you can threaten her with legal action if she continues to lie and tell people that you do owe her as it is preventing you from obtaining housing.

Who gives credit cards to high school kids? You need to be at least 18 to get your own card.

Answer 4

If you really want to change your circumstances you're going to need to work at it consistently. Get yourself down to the public assistance office, they may be able to assist in locating some temporary housing for you. It might be shelters, but it beats paying $40+ a night for a room.

Then, you need to both get jobs. Ask the state to assist you in getting your husband retrained (and yourself). Show up to your training *every day* on time and ready to do what needs to be done. Don't make excuses. Life is hard, and it's hard for a lot of people.

Then, when you are able to locate (possibly through government housing) a place to live, make sure the first thing you pay *every month* is your rent. Every single month. Skip cable and long distance. Buy phone cards if you need to call long distance. Don't get cell phones.

I've had plenty of bad luck, but the first two things we always did was make sure we had groceries (even if it was potatoes and hamburger) and paid our rent (now mortgage).

If your husband has not had any additional criminal history, speak with a legal aid attorney, some things can be 'sealed' or expunged, but my knowledge only extends to misdemeanors, I don't know anything about felonies. Ask for help. And then work your *** off to make your situation better and use the resources wisely.

If you get a second chance, don't squander it. You won't be likely to get a third.

Answer 5

Sounds like you're dug into a pretty deep hole. Credit cards in high school? How do you get credit cards in high school? Are you working? Maybe you could get a job that would at least keep you going. Why does he keep losing his job? Does he not tell employers about his past, then they find out and fire him? Or some other reasons?

The two of you need to take a real honest look at your situation, and see what you might be able to do to get your lives back on track. Right now things look pretty tough, but if you both work at it, you'll be able to straighten things out.

Do you have any family members you could stay with for a few months while you try to get back on your feet?

Good luck.