House sitter or long term rent ?

Lynnmor wrote:
This morning I'm shopping for a replacement shower head, drain cleaner, drain tool, dishwasher cleaner and assorted floor cleaners. This is after just four months (last month not paid) of a renter with great references. But that is just this morning, I have been at it all week. Enjoy your day, and forget about being a landlord!

I only keep the property because it is next door and selling it might bring worse problems.

Ah yes, the reference. In the rental business they are about as good as a reference in the employment arena. You can bet when they rent again, your property will not be on the list of references. They will just say they stayed with friends or traveled for those 4 months.
If they give you as a reference and you say they were terrible, be prepared to be sued. Their idea of a good renter and yours (and mine) can vary immensely. To some renters, paying only half the rent 20 days after the full amount is due is being responsible. Leaving the floors dirty is a heck of a lot better than tearing them out and you were going to have to clean the place anyway (wink wink). That showerhead was a danger to everyone, they did you a service by breaking it and if you had decent plumbing, it wouldn't clog up just because they shaved the dog and washed all the fur down the drain. And why should they pay the last month's rent, the security deposit will cover it.