My Downstairs Tenant Thinks my Upstairs Tenant is doing Drugs

[Nick R.]

This is my first post on BP! I'm a fairly new property owner and have found myself in an interesting position. My business partner and I have a total of 6 units and I received a call tonight from one of my tenants who lives in a duplex of ours. They claimed that the other tenant in our apartment may be doing drugs. They can smell "smoke" and have found some suspicious items in the yard all while there is a lot of traffic in and out of the apartment. Has anyone ran into a similar situation and if so, do you have any advice??

[Arlen Chou]

@Nick R. we live in a very litigious society, so you should proceed with caution.  You need to do something to prove to the complaining tenant that you are WILLING to take action, but at the same time not antagonize the upstairs tenant. 

I would suggest that you tell your complaining tenant that if the they feel that something is happening at the unit, that they need to contact the police directly.  Tell them that the police are best equipped to handle this type of situation and that once appropriate steps have taken place, you will then be able to discuss this matter directly with the upstairs tenant.  IF they actually contact the police, your tenant should be able to provide you with an incident report.  This document will then allow you to approach the upstairs tenant without seeming to take sides.

These actions will essentially keep you neutral in the situation.  Keep all of your documentation!

Good luck!

-Arlen