Yikes, how would you like this guy to be your tenant?

Question

I can't help but feel for the poor landlord who ended up with this guy:

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/03/30/hoarder-evicted-from-friendship-apartment/

Ibrahim Hughes · Answer

According to the news report "records show he has done this to at least a 1/2 dozen properties in the city" (I may be paraphrasing). This was obviously a case where no one screened for crazy when they should and could have :)

Mark Yuschak · Answer

This can be tough to screen against especially when the prospective tenant is moving from an apartment. If the prospect is moving out of a house, I make it part of my screening process to drive by the current home (assuming it's in the area) to see how it is up-kept. If the outside looks horrendous, the inside likely is too.

Leigh Fodor · Answer

Thanks Melissa, that will be my next step to follow up if our current tactic doesn't work. We had someone tell us to approach her ourselves from a stand point of our insurance and if she can't clean our rates may go up and so will her rent. He suggested offering hands and trucks to help her, this way we can hopefully deal with this in a civilized manner not in a argumentative way. We'll see....

Melissa W · Answer

Sometimes the codes department will help with this type of thing. I've had tenants who were slobs - not really hoarders, but had clothes, toys and junk all over the floor. The codes department made them clean it up so that emergency crews could get into the house if needed.

Ryan Mullin · Answer

Its extremely hard to screen for "crazy" ..EXTREMELY HARD.. but just like everything else its a numbers game..

Leigh Fodor · Answer

Thank you Jeff S., those were not avenues I had thought of. I really appreciate it!

Leigh

Jeff S. · Answer

Whatever you do, you run the risk of losing your tenant, Leigh Fodor. Maybe that would be a good thing for all. I wouldn’t try to play amateur therapist here.

Colorado springs has an Adult Abuse or Neglect Intake Line and they might advise you on how to approach her, or they might have an interest in her themselves. There’s also the health department.

If I thought there was imminent but non-emergent danger, which you don’t indicate, I would call the fire department (but not through 911). They might be able to provide a referral for you too. Good luck.

Jeff

Leigh Fodor · Answer

So does anyone have any advice of how to approach this subject with a hoarder? I have a tenant that is a hoarder, but thankfully not this bad. She pays on time and, besides the mess, is a good tenant. We are just to the point of getting very concerned about our unit.

We have asked her politely several times to clean, but that is not something a hoarder really understands. Just not sure how to approach this subject with her because it is a disease.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Leigh

John Tiffany · Answer

Unfortunately there are risks you take when you rent out properties.

Jeff S. · Answer

Last year, we funded the hoarder home I wrote about here. It was terribly sad to see the way the homeowner lived, but at least he was alone and separated from his neighbors. He also took the majority of his belongings when he left.

I feel less sad for this guy; an obviously ill jerk, who took advantage of his landlord and with no regard for the health or safety of his neighbors.

Clearly, a lesson in tenant screening but I also fear that Health and Safety will now rake her over the coals demanding an expensive toxic waste mitigation.

Jeff

Yikes, how would you like this guy to be your tenant?

Yikes, how would you like this guy to be your tenant?

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