TENANT IS A HOARDER (by TERRY [ID]) Sep 9, 2021 4:45 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by Bill [NC]) Sep 9, 2021 4:59 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by Nicole [PA]) Sep 9, 2021 5:44 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by Vee [OH]) Sep 9, 2021 6:25 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by TERRY [ID]) Sep 9, 2021 7:37 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by Still Learning [NH]) Sep 9, 2021 8:33 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by Roy [AL]) Sep 10, 2021 6:10 AM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by TERRY [ID]) Sep 10, 2021 4:16 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by TERRY [ID]) Sep 10, 2021 4:16 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by TERRY [ID]) Sep 10, 2021 4:16 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by TERRY [ID]) Sep 10, 2021 4:16 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Sep 10, 2021 6:36 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by TERRY [ID]) Sep 10, 2021 9:29 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Sep 11, 2021 1:46 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by melinda [MD]) Sep 11, 2021 7:04 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Sep 13, 2021 2:54 PM
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by TERRY [ID]) Posted on: Sep 9, 2021 4:45 PM Message:
I'm a landlord and have had a tenant for 16+ years. The situation is hoarding. The apartment is 'full' but not as bad as you see on tv, it's clean and there's room to get around, etc. There is a 9x12 ft deck outside the kitchen....as written in the lease agreement, all the areas outside the apartment are to be maintained and clutter free. One of the tenants works at a thrift store and he is bringing home things that are donated and have most recently he has been been storing them on the deck, i.e., gun cabinet, metal filing cabinets, folding tables and misc stuff that has been donated, I'm sure. I'd like to know what my rights are, do I give him 30 days to clean up his mess inside and outside, I kind of hate to give him a 30 or 60 days notice to move because he has been an excellent tenant, but, I just don't know what to do. Please advise, thanks for your help.
--70.158.xxx.xx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by Bill [NC]) Posted on: Sep 9, 2021 4:59 PM Message:
Fire Hazard? --75.138.xxx.xxx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by Nicole [PA]) Posted on: Sep 9, 2021 5:44 PM Message:
After 16 years, I assume you have at minimum a cordial relationship with the tenants.
So ... SPEAK TO THEM IN PERSON. Many will say never, ever, do that but I disagree. Speak to them with respect, and a non-confrontational tone. A normal, every day conversation. If they want to turn confrontational, not just say their piece, turn around and leave. Probably won't change anything but a notice showing up on the door or in the mail is putting them on the defensive right away ... and your goal isn't to "win" it's to get them to cooperate.
Tell them what you expect. Tell them you "must" follow up your discussion with a "legal letter". During that discussion, tell them on ___ day you will need to hire someone to remove the items and they will not receive compensation and will also pay for the labor. In all my municipalities, there are ordinances against all this type junk ... seldom enforced unless complaints are made. They don't necessarily know that.
Tell them it's against the lease. Tell them it's against the ordinances. Tell them it's against your requirements as a property owner. --98.237.xxx.xx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: Sep 9, 2021 6:25 PM Message:
Rewind the calendar 15 years and enforce the lease, today - give 60 days notice the area will be cleared of clutter for safety and rodent control. --76.188.xxx.xxx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by TERRY [ID]) Posted on: Sep 9, 2021 7:37 PM Message:
Thank you Nichole from PA, I agree with you 100%, but I am NOT GOOD at this type of face-to-face conversation. I think I will have to put my big girl panties on and just get after it. This "stuff" needs to go back to the thrift store. --75.174.xxx.xxx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by Still Learning [NH]) Posted on: Sep 9, 2021 8:33 PM Message:
Thrift store hoarding, my concern would be bed bugs or cockroaches. --75.67.xxx.xxx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by Roy [AL]) Posted on: Sep 10, 2021 6:10 AM Message:
Hoarding thrift store junk is one thing, but some hoarders will not even dispose of their own stinking kitchen garbage. This is where I would draw the line. Foul smelling kitchen garbage brings in rats and thousands of cockroaches. --68.63.xxx.xxx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by TERRY [ID]) Posted on: Sep 10, 2021 4:16 PM Message:
Thank you all for your comments. I'm feeling a little better today as the tenants (brothers) 1 brother is the one that has lived here for 16+ years, that works at the thrift store (with the collecting/hoarding problem), the other brother is the logical one, anyway, they got all the junk cleared off of the deck last night. I'm going to send them both another text complimenting them on their work and how nice the deck looks. I could see thru the slider that some of the junk on the deck went inside the apartment and some went into the back of the pickup truck.... the next hurdle is bringing it to their attention that all the neatly stacked boxes to the ceiling is a fire/safety hazard. I think I should call the fire department for some information... --75.174.xxx.xxx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by TERRY [ID]) Posted on: Sep 10, 2021 4:16 PM Message:
Thank you all for your comments. I'm feeling a little better today as the tenants (brothers) 1 brother is the one that has lived here for 16+ years, that works at the thrift store (with the collecting/hoarding problem), the other brother is the logical one, anyway, they got all the junk cleared off of the deck last night. I'm going to send them both another text complimenting them on their work and how nice the deck looks. I could see thru the slider that some of the junk on the deck went inside the apartment and some went into the back of the pickup truck.... the next hurdle is bringing it to their attention that all the neatly stacked boxes to the ceiling is a fire/safety hazard. I think I should call the fire department for some information... --75.174.xxx.xxx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by TERRY [ID]) Posted on: Sep 10, 2021 4:16 PM Message:
Thank you all for your comments. I'm feeling a little better today as the tenants (brothers) 1 brother is the one that has lived here for 16+ years, that works at the thrift store (with the collecting/hoarding problem), the other brother is the logical one, anyway, they got all the junk cleared off of the deck last night. I'm going to send them both another text complimenting them on their work and how nice the deck looks. I could see thru the slider that some of the junk on the deck went inside the apartment and some went into the back of the pickup truck.... the next hurdle is bringing it to their attention that all the neatly stacked boxes to the ceiling is a fire/safety hazard. I think I should call the fire department for some information... --75.174.xxx.xxx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by TERRY [ID]) Posted on: Sep 10, 2021 4:16 PM Message:
Thank you all for your comments. I'm feeling a little better today as the tenants (brothers) 1 brother is the one that has lived here for 16+ years, that works at the thrift store (with the collecting/hoarding problem), the other brother is the logical one, anyway, they got all the junk cleared off of the deck last night. I'm going to send them both another text complimenting them on their work and how nice the deck looks. I could see thru the slider that some of the junk on the deck went inside the apartment and some went into the back of the pickup truck.... the next hurdle is bringing it to their attention that all the neatly stacked boxes to the ceiling is a fire/safety hazard. I think I should call the fire department for some information... --75.174.xxx.xxx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Sep 10, 2021 6:36 PM Message:
Terry,
Glad you got it fixed but realize the problem did nto go away, it just moved over.
My lease is clear: No outside storage other than furniture made to be used outside.
I've had my share of hoarders. They do not "see" clutter. AND they will never get rid of anything - demonstrated by your guys carrying it inside and now you have a truck full of junk.
Have you been inside? Odor is hardest thing to fix. Is odor under control?
The other is a hoarder will stay a long time because they CANNOT move all that stuff
AND they will be quiet, never calling the LL for repairs. Which means the kitchen sink may be leaking and your kitchen is totally rotted thru. But they will not complain and risk you seeing their mess.
We just had one where the tub had dropped 4 inches due to rot. We did not notice it because the shower curtain was always pulled. They did not notice because they did not bathe.
Think for a moment. You called them "Excellent tenant". Think again. A hoarder that must be reminded to clean is "excellent"?
Also, a reminder that the 2 Minute In Home Visit prior to final approval will help avoid hoarders in the future.
Hang in there! LLing takes guts.
BRAD
--73.102.xxx.xxx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by TERRY [ID]) Posted on: Sep 10, 2021 9:29 PM Message:
Hi Brad from Indiana - Thank you for your comments, all of what you said is true. Yes, I do go into the apartment occasionally to make repairs, the last time I was in there was June of last year to remodel the bathroom. The apartment seems to be clean for two bachelor's living in there, it doesn't look like what I've seen on the TV show Hoarders, (both tenants are clean, well groomed, and gainfully employed, rent is always paid on the 1st, no problem, the apartment is full, there is room to get around, the hallway to the 2 bedrooms and bathroom is clear of debris and the ww carpeting is clean and vacuumed, the living room looks like any other (couch and 2 recliners), with bookshelves with CD's DVD's, etc., the dining room is another story, it has no kitchen table or chairs, just neat and orderly boxes stacked to the ceiling with storage shelves in front of the boxes with stuff and then in front of the shelves is stuff that he brings in and it piles up in front, there is a walkway to the sliding door and deck; the kitchen and peninsula are clean but cluttered, you can tell there is some cooking that goes on in there, sink is clear of dishes and stove is clean.
I'm not quite sure how to address the "inside" clutter with the tenant. I reviewed the 16-year-old lease agreement and there is nothing that I could find that addresses this issue. One of the lease agreements I have is from when I purchased the property in '05 that was from the property management company, nothing in there about exterior clutter. I know I have a "community guideline" agreement from another property management company that does address this issue, but it was from a different property that I owned.
I will have to sleep on this issue and figure things out. Thanks for your thoughts, much appreciated. Mr Landlord.com is my go-to place for expert advice when I get myself into a jam! Thanks everyone --75.174.xxx.xxx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Posted on: Sep 11, 2021 1:46 PM Message:
Terry - you are the keeper of the standards because you are the leader. If you are not up to the challenge of leading, then it would be wise for you to hire out the management task.
It appears though, you are not pleased with the tenants standards.
I would recommend some kinda balance with such a long term tenant. Nice job retaining them, now you need to RETRAIN them. That might not be that easy --24.101.xxx.xxx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by melinda [MD]) Posted on: Sep 11, 2021 7:04 PM Message:
Just cleaned out the house of a mini-hoarder. She found herself a fella and he Is going to take care of her. So she moved out and left just about everything except most of her furniture. Don't understand someone leaving toys, food and household items. Hope this new guy has plenty of money. --24.233.xxx.xx |
TENANT IS A HOARDER (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Sep 13, 2021 2:54 PM Message:
Terry,
Good to know. Let us help you step up your management. Managing closer will keep things going well and reduce your stress.
June last year is too long between visits. Change your thinking to "It WAS OK when I saw it 14 months ago but I don't know what it looks like now".
Managing is an active spirit. Takes time and energy.
Things change. People stop taking their meds, or someone moves in, or the CLEAN roommate moves out, or a family member dies -which is usually the reason the folks on the TV shows start hoarding or have massive weight gains.
Get inside NOW and take some pix for your files.
AND
have them sign a new lease.
1. I don't trust anyone else's lease
2. In 16 years A LOT of things have changed. You need a lease that covers 2021 problems (NO OUTSIDE STORAGE, Vaping, grills, text communications, Early Lease Termination Fee, 60 days notice to vacate, exits must be clear and accessible, smoke detector disclosure, Lead hazard Form, Lead pamphlet, Flood disclosure ...)
3. I hope the rent has been increased. Don't be shy about raising it. It is what it is - market rent.
Stay strong!
BRAD --73.102.xxx.xxx |
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