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Updated almost 8 years ago,

User Stats

309
Posts
213
Votes
Adam Christopher Zaleski
  • Investor
  • Pueblo West, CO
213
Votes |
309
Posts

How to legally discriminate against stupid people

Adam Christopher Zaleski
  • Investor
  • Pueblo West, CO
Posted

I have an all-star tenant that I wanted to keep. Let's call him Mike. Mike wants to re-new the lease for one more year, but one of his roommates graduated and is moving out. In order for Mike to stay, he recruits his childhood friend "Billy" to move in. Billy just finished 4 years in the service and one year of college. His is a 23 year-old college sophomore. Billy is at the average maturity level of a 23 year old, which is good because it's much better than an average 20 year old. However, Billy makes really weird comments about claiming competence in areas that he knows nothing about. Based on first impressions, I would never rent to Billy. However, I convinced myself that it would be ok because the all-star tenant "Mike" will oversee his activities.

I never mentioned anything to my wife about it. However, when my wife met Billy she made it a point to discuss his comments and behavior. She had similar concerns as me. I told her that I had the same feelings about Billy.

During the first month Billy broke an outside light fixture. He told me that he could fix it and knows how to do the wiring. However, based on the conversation he didn't actually say anything that made me confident that he knows what he's doing. I told him not to touch it and I would replace it. However, I haven't replaced it yet.

He told me that the shower was leaking and he wanted to fix it. I told him not to touch it and I fixed it by replacing the old caulk.

Billy really wanted to go on the roof to help me clean the gutters. I told him that he is never allowed to go on the roof to fix anything because if he fell off the roof he could sue me. Instead of saying, "I understand" he kept on begging me to go on the roof and claiming that he wouldn't sue me. It was weird.  

Billy was using the garden hose during the entire winter and not disconnecting the hose. It's very common for the temperature to be 10-20 degrees below freezing in Colorado at night in the winter. This caused an inside pipe to freeze and burst. The total bill is $800 to replace the drywall and pipe.

Do I simply charge Billy for the pipe and drywall repair or do I refuse to rent to people like Billy in the future? I never told Billy to "not use the garden hose in the winter" However, I just thought it was common sense.

If I refuse to rent to people like Billy in the future, how do I legally document when I feel like someone doesn't have the ability to take care of a property?

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