EOC WEEK 7

The 1990 movie “Pacific Heights” starring (Melanie Griffith)as Patty Palmer, (Matthew Modine) as Drake Goodman, and (Micheal Keaton) as Carter Hayes is a great example of what can go wrong if you don’t cover your butt as a Landlord. Melanie Griffith and Matthew Modine play a young couple who see their purchase of a San Francisco Victorian triplex in upscale Pacific Heights as an opportunity to invest in their future, as well as create a home. Micheal Keaton plays a tenant from hell taking advantage of California’s lenient laws towards tenants. I use the word tenant loosely, because he never really pays the proper considerations to occupy the space; nor signed a lease. Drake being in a rush due to a colossal mortgage, and feeling a good judge of character takes Carters’ word at face value, avoiding the necessary steps in verifying Carters’ credentials. Right from the start red flags where shown indicating that there was more to Carter than he let on. Using deception and manipulation to gain access to the unit, once inside the unit Carters’ real motives start to un-fold, using tactics of noise pollution and breeding cockroaches to infest the other tenants unit is only a glimpse. Another rushed decision by Drake put Carter in a position of power, establishing history depicting the landlords as the slum lords. Drake and Patty stressed by the unwanted tenant, struggle with what to do, as their relationship feels the effects.
If your find yourself in a similar situation purchasing a rental property, I suggest you watch this movie not to scare you from the thought of owning real property, but on what no to do in selecting a tenant. There is a reason why certain steps are taking in processing a tenant’s application for rental, especially someone you don’t know, or even someone you might know.