Possible drug dealing tenant

[Sandra Sunshine]

I just purchased my very first home in March. It’s a two-family and I fixed up the downstairs and moved in this April. Upstairs tenant has been there for 4years with various sketchy roommates. He has refused to provide any names of tenants and to not smoke in the apartment. NO lease was in place. I know I should have evicted him, but was afraid that he would retaliate against me. I am a single woman living downstairs from a very aggressive, angry person. He may possible be dealing drugs as he seems to behave like he is a drug user and I have had people tell me he is dangerous and a dealer. He FEELS dangerous to me.

Unfortunately, he has already contacted the Board of Health for a variety of reasons, regardless of the fact that I am 100% willing to make any improvements immediately. He has yelled at me, yelled at my neighbors, he has threatened to be my enemy. Currently, I am afraid to live there. I stay with friends, live in my car and go there about once a week. Always lock myself in and have friends around if I want to do any work in the yard when I am there. I have served a Notice to Quit regardless of the retaliation law that protects those who call the Board of Health and served a NO Trespassing warrant out of fear. From the 6 different lawyers I have spoken to, it seems he may win and I don’t know what I will do. It seems CRAZY to me that my rights can be so trampled, and I cannot even enjoy my first home.

The comings and goings of the many young men, for 5-10 minutes a time has stopped. He goes in and out all day, which is why I stay away, his presence is HUGE. I was there last night and he left 6 times between the hours of 9pm and 11pm. His vehicle is VERY loud. Transfer others coming and going to HIM coming and going every half hour.

I have considered talking to him, but I am afraid and I believe he is unpredictable. His rent is way low and I am sure he will try to keep it, but I can only pray that he wants to maintain a low profile. The day I was there last week, he bagan to scream outside about me moving his trash bins and began to stomp up and down the stairs and through the apartment. I packed up and went to the police, who were afraid that a visit would make it worse for me- what is that all about. Why are people like him SO protected. What can I do??? I’m in Massachusetts with very tenant oriented judges. HELP.

BTW-I believe he sabotaged my sewer pipes to call the BOH the first time. Leaves had been stuffed down the pipes-they came up through my tub when the upstairs washing machine drained. Granted roots were an issue-but how did the leaves get in there? Luckily I had the situation remedied within 24 hours-he still called.
This is amongst many other issues this man has created and he has attempted to set me up to make illegal landlord proclamations, which I have not really fell for- I got educated real fast. He was really banking on intimidating me and my ignorance- I probably did make some mistakes early on.

I am looking for any advice to get this man to NOT want the drama, because my suspicion is he is trying to keep his record clean. Legal and smart tactical advice is what I need, because this is affecting my blood pressure, my work and state of mind.