Unstable tenant harassment and slander

[Jessica Young]

Is there any course of action for a tenant who repeatedly texts purposefully disrespectful things about how much they hate the rental and constantly tells you how much they regret renting it? 

It's gotten to the point that my tenant is now accusing me of misleading her, saying I "took advantage of" her and am overcharging for rent. She had 2 walkthroughs and the lease discloses no upgrades will be made/as-is condition. 

I used the happy clause 3 times and she CHOOSES to stay. But the texts go on and on.   

Even small repair requests are a nightmare drama she draws out forever.  She seems extremely mentally unstable. 

I've also come to find out that she slandered me to at least one handyman, to multiple neighbors, and to a friend who is her acquaintance. This is an out of state condo that I plan to live in within a couple years, so I feel like she's out there laying a foundation I'll have to work against to prove I'm not some rotten slum overlord, which I assure you I am not. 

If she feels she made a mistake, which she keeps telling me, do I have to just tolerate the constant complaining about it? She's only been in there 2 months and it feels like 20. 4 more to go. 

Is it out of line to ask the other person on the lease, with who I have no contact, if her mental state is ok? I'm not being funny. I'm worried. 

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Jessica Young:

She may be mentally ill. You can't fix that. Nearly 400 rentals, 13 years, and two of my toughest tenants were mentally ill and so difficult to deal with. The last one was seven years ago. She came from a very wealthy family in Texas but was in a car accident that affected her brain. It got so bad that I tracked down her family, found the family attorney, and begged him to get her out! 

Even if your Tenant is just a mean-hearted person, you shouldn't engage, respond, or allow it to continue. I would contact her one time with a clear notice that you will not allow her to continue acting this way towards you. She will either remain professional and polite or you will terminate her lease. Then stick to your word.

There is nothing in the law that requires you to put up with this behavior. If she persists, you give her a 30-day Notice to Termination and move her out. If she refuses to leave, you hire an attorney and file for eviction. File a no-contact order, claim you feel threatened, play it up and do what you can to get her out. If you don't take action, it will only get worse.