Question for LandLords: Have you ever had a tenant pass away?

[Trivers]

Several years ago, I got into the landlord business with a small office building with a mix of both commercial and residential tenants.

Just received a phone call that one of the business tenants, a sole proprietor, sadly lost his battle with cancer.

His business had just renewed for another year. And there was no verbiage in the lease about death of the business owner.

How does the law deal with residential rental vs. commercial rental? Isn't a LLC or corp business consider a living entity? I have no idea who the next of ken are.

Any ideas what I should do?

Thanks

[Trivers]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

You could lock the executor out, but that's kind of a dick move.

Have you considered a career in the law?

Never. I rarely meet an attorney that enjoys their job. By the time they make partner, they are trapped in the lifestyle trap and can't make a career change.

[Trivers]

Well, we changed the locks and put a note on the office door this AM

Some of the family came by later in the afternoon. Guy had written his own obituary. They wanted to get the file off his computer. I stated no problem.

They need wanted to take stuff and the computer. Gently shared that they couldn't until executor settled the matter of the lease balance $$$ and agreed to supervise removal of assets from office. They are meeting with the attorney who wrote the will later this week.

Weird walking into a dead person's office. When he left a week ago, he had no clue that was the last time. His office is very organized.

I then walked back to my office containing three desks with piles of paper. If I died tonight, they would need big grain shovels and a dumpster to clear it out.

Hummm.