ALS tenant needs a ramp

[Darlena Jones]

Hi everyone - Thanks in advance for any help.

I recently bought a duplex and inherited tenants which have been fine.  This is a C property, rent is $550/month.  I was told that one of the tenants is disabled (husband of a husband/wife team).  Today, the wife called and said that they needed to move since he can't climb the 5 steps until the front door.  He has ALS.  A dear friend of mine died of ALS in May so I have a soft spot.  They could stay, however, if they had a ramp.

I know I'm not obligated to build a ramp; the cost and burden should be on them.  But, we own a construction company and can easily build a ramp.  They have no means/way to build a ramp and I just can't imagine adding to their huge burden of a horrible disease.

Am I being too emotional about this?  Please tell me to build the f'ing ramp and not worry that I'm being a bad landlord by not making them pay for it.

[Michael Olesky]

@Darlena Jones Seems like a no-brainer since it is an illness that hits home for you and you have the ability to easily and cost effectively build one.  Guess it also depends on the cost for you to build it, can't let the ship sink.

If they don't have the money to build a ramp, how would they have the money to secure a new home and move?

I don't think it would make you a bad landlord, it's not bad to pay for accommodations for good tenants, just bad to let bad tenants take advantage of you.  For me, things like this are more about how I'll feel about myself in the future, will I feel taken advantage of if I do it, will I feel like I should have helped when I didn't?  

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if anyone here thinks you are a good or bad landlord, just matters what you see when you look in the mirror.

Wish you the best!

Mike