Massachusetts Landlord's 2-Year Fight With Professional Tenants

A Landlord's Nightmare: The Story of Professional Tenants

Leo Behaj, a first-time landlord from Albania, found himself in a nightmare after renting his home in Reading, Massachusetts, to a couple he believed would be responsible tenants. Instead, the pair turned out to be professional renters with a history of scamming landlords, costing Behaj nearly $100,000.

Behaj and his wife bought the property with the intention of moving in when their children reached high school, hoping to take advantage of the local school district. In 2021, they found a couple interested in renting the home temporarily. The couple claimed they wanted to keep their children in the desirable district, which made Behaj feel confident about the decision.

However, things quickly went wrong. The tenants began complaining about needed repairs and stopped paying rent. As Behaj later learned, this was not the first time the couple had engaged in such behavior. They had been involved in 12 eviction cases over the past 20 years, according to reports.

“They’re professionals,” Behaj told NBC10 Boston. “These people have a PhD. They have everything for how to screw the system.”

The couple, Bryan Coombes and Nicole Inserra, became central figures in Behaj’s legal battle. Coombes represented himself during court proceedings, seemingly knowing exactly what to do to delay their eviction. During the two-year battle, Behaj was forced to take a second job as an Uber driver to cover his mortgage payments on both properties.

Financial Losses and Legal Challenges

Behaj eventually lost $95,000 in legal fees and unpaid rent before selling the house to pay off his debts. Meanwhile, Coombes and Inserra were given $13,000 in rental assistance funded by taxpayer dollars. Federal court records also revealed that the couple had filed for bankruptcy five times, with a combined nine bankruptcy cases between them.

Coombes denied being a professional tenant, stating that he uses the law to his advantage when landlords fail to fix issues. “I don’t avoid paying rent. I use the law to my advantage when people don’t fix things that are supposed to fix things,” he said.

A Pattern of Exploitation

This is not the first time Coombes and Inserra have targeted landlords. NBC10 Boston tracked down the first family they had issues with 20 years ago. Peter Amato’s parents rented a duplex to the couple in 2004, but they immediately stopped paying rent. Complaints about lightbulbs, asbestos, and lead paint allowed the couple to stay without paying. After months of financial strain, Amato’s parents gave up and paid $20,000 to get rid of them.

The couple is now facing another landlord in Burlington. Bob Lee, an attorney working on the case, described their strategy as simple: stay on the property as long as possible, paying the least amount of money. The current homeowner has lost nearly $100,000 in rent, legal fees, and repairs, and even borrowed money from friends and family.

Understanding Professional Tenants

Professional tenants, also known as professional renters, exploit loopholes to avoid paying rent. According to a 2024 survey by the National Multifamily Housing Council, 58.5% of respondents reported an increase in nonpayment of rent due to fraud in the past year.

Their goal is to overwhelm landlords with complaints and legal proceedings, delaying eviction for as long as possible. Coombes and Inserra have used bankruptcy as a tactic to prolong court cases, though their filings were eventually dismissed. Josh Burnett, a bankruptcy attorney, noted that it was clear the couple never intended to succeed with their cases.

How to Spot Professional Tenants

Landlords can take several steps to screen potential tenants and avoid falling victim to scams. In addition to credit checks, criminal background checks and proof of income can help identify trustworthy renters. Asking for references from previous landlords is also important, as Behaj discovered when he spoke to a reference who may have been impersonating a landlord.

First-time landlords should ask plenty of questions to understand their tenants better. Trusting their instincts and continuing to search if something feels off can prevent future problems.

By learning from cases like Behaj’s, landlords can better protect themselves from professional tenants and avoid financial ruin.