Drug situation - How would you handle it?

Question

Scenario:

PS. This took place in Norway, not in USA. Norwegian laws are not accepting weed as legal. Weed is also not socially accepted by most people.

Apartment is a 2 bedroom flat, where both bedrooms are rented out separately to students.

Both tenants are new. One a 22 year old woman, and a 18 year old gay man.

The 18 year old man was 17 when the contract started, and his mother co-signed as a guardian.

Both tenants are polite and up until now they seem to get on well.

1 month into their contract you get a complaint from the 22 year old that the 18 year old's room smell of weed. Also a joint-bud was left in her room while she was out of the house.

It is unclear if the man was granted access to the woman's room, but the contract prohibits smoking in the house, regardless.

How would you handle the situation? Would you contact the parents? Would you give a warning or terminate the contract that has a 3 month notice? Would you contact the police?

Matt Ryan · Answer

I've had to deal with similar situations on a couple of instances. First, I never want to accuse something of anything, unless I'm certain I have my facts straight or have witnessed something first hand that I'm sure of. For that reason, there's usually some documentation I need to collect before I can do anything.

When I'm approached by a tenant with this situation, I ask them to document exact dates and times of when they've witnessed the problem, and specifically what they see/smell. This usually buys some time and in the event that one tenant is just trying to get the other tenant in trouble for one reason or another, it puts a little more burden of proof on the reporting tenant. I then approach the other tenant with this information. I've found the conversation goes better when I can cite specific times and examples of what happened. They still may try to deny it, but if I've got dates and times and specific examples, they know that I'm already starting to document a case against them.

I have successfully remedied this situation for me with a simple conversation with the tenant, warning them that if the behavior continues it would escalate into written documentation of a violation of their lease, which can potentially lead to eviction. Usually the tenant will shape up once they know I'm on to them. No legal advice here. Good luck!

Matt

Nathan W. · Answer

What does his sexuality have to do with it?

Linda Weygant · Answer

I had this same situation in one of my rentals.  I handled it by sending an email to all of the tenants as a friendly but formal reminder of rules notifications.  I made it seem like there were some other issues to take care of as well and included the pot issue in the middle of the list, so it looked something like this:

Hi Guys,

Just a reminder about some things:

1 - Don't forget (Tenant A)'s bedroom is right next to the laundry.  Please refrain from doing laundry after 10:00pm.

2 - Seems like the garbage didn't get out a few times and it overflowed.  Don't forget that garbage day is Tuesday.

3 - Just a reminder - there is to be no smoking inside the townhouse.  This includes tobacco, marijuana and vaping.  This is not negotiable.  Anybody found doing any of these activities will be evicted immediately.

4 - Parking - please don't park in a spot that isn't assigned to you.  Make sure your guests don't either.

*****

My biggest issue is that I won't take action against a tenant based solely on another tenant's say-so.  I never know if somebody is being a drama queen or is upset with another tenant over something else entirely unrelated and is just trying to get them in trouble or what.  I've discovered that tenants can be a bit like children with the tattling and lying and the bullcrap they try to pull.

If the first tenant files another complaint after that, you're going to be in the unfortunate position of pitting them against each other.  You'll need to use tenant A to gather and send evidence of tenant B's behavior to you and this will put them in an escalating adversarial position.  I would see if you can get somebody else over there to corroborate tenant A's story.  Do you have a friend in the area that tenant A could call the next time there is an issue and then that person could witness it too?

Andy Luick · Answer

Renting to someone so young is a part of the problem, I simply wouldn't do it unless I had a parent backing the lease.  Weed comes up a ton in our business....not just in the city but the suburbs as well.  We typically don't allow any smoking in most of our units so renters smoke outside...and the smell of weed in the city is fairly common.  It comes up now and again but most with us are smart enough to smoke outside.  We have a set of rules and regulations that all of our home share renters sign which prohibits smoking.  They get one warning from us....the next time, it's grounds for eviction and we get them out.  We personally interact a whole lot more than most landlords would.....we might have a pizza party when alllowing a new renter to get to know the rest of the house.

All of our rooms have separate keyed locks...as should yours.  I would probably warn the 18-year-old and give him written notice that next time, he's out.  I might even go ahead and give him the 90-day notice explaining why.....then have a chat with him and see how it sorts out.  Just because  you gave him the notice, you don't have to stick with it.  You could tell him that you are giving him a 90-day probation inside of the notice....and if there aren't other issues with him you can allow him to stay on.

Colleen F. · Answer

I don't get into tenant business but usually my tenants are roommates not separate leasors.  I would likely tell the tenant to talk to the roommate. I would remind everyone there is no smoking of any kind in the apartment.  If she has concerns she certainly can take whatever legal action is available to her.  I had a pot plant in a closet and since I saw it I asked for removal and reminded them weed was not allowed and if I saw it again I they would be gone. I try not to call parents until there is  a violation of the lease notified to the tenants. I only notify the parents if there has been legal action at the property and they are co-signers otherwise I talk to tenants directly.  Norway laws may have a bearing here, I am not sure how different they are.

Morgan Nilsen · Answer

thank you all for all the input. The tenant was informed that such behavior is unacceptable. A written warning was issued saying that if weed smoking occurs on the property in the future, the police will be involved and the contract will be terminated. The twnant appologized, but left me with the impression that he didnt give a damn. Hope my feeling about his response is wrong. I also contacted his family about the issue.

The relationship between the tenants seems to be unharmed as he understood why she filed a complaint.

Al Williamson · Answer

Yes, as others have said, reinforce your lease. Quote from your lease in your communication to tenants.

I suggest you send both tenants the same notice/reminder.

Best to you!

Drug situation - How would you handle it?

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