What do you do with slobs?

Question

So we got a new set of tenants, did the background check, credit check, everything came back OK. We popped over after 4 weeks to deal with an issue and I could not believe it. Now mind you, these are younger tenants, high-end furniture, nice car, etc.. but the place looked gross already! Garbage on the counter, not vacuumed yet, bathrooms were gross. No damage as I can see but omg!

I want to have an open mind here and say, maybe they are still "moving in" and that's why it looks so bad, but I can't help but think this is not the case. We told them we were coming and in the past, the tenants would go out of their way to clean up, not these two. It was really weird, almost like they could care less. My husband had to walk over dirty underwear!

My question is, is there any recourse for removing a tenant if they are "slobs?"

David Faulkner · Answer

I understand and was that way at first as well ... you need to separate out your emotional attachment from the business. If you are not able to then being a landlord long term with this sort of stuff (and more) will surely drive you insane. One tip if this really bothers you is next time when you are screening tenants, look at the car they drive up in ... is it clean and well kept inside and out. It doesn't need to be a fancy car, but you can tell a lot about a person on how they keep their car. Also, "forget" to ask them something or have some details on their application that they need to fill in ... stop by their current residence (listed on the application) to get this critical info. If you are really bold ask if you can use their restroom. If throughout the course of conducting your screening you should happen to see how they are living before they move in then that wouldn't be a bad thing.

Once they move in, though, so long as they are not causing damage to your place or taking away from the quiet enjoyment of their neighbors, and they are paying rent on time, then you do nothing. The only other time when this may become an issue is if they complain about roaches, mice, bugs, etc. I once had a tenant complain about roaches and when the exterminator went for an inspection I had him snap pictures ... there were dirty dishes stacked a foot high in the sink ... crumbs and food wrappers all over the floor, etc. Gee, what a surprise they had a roach issue. I showed them the pictures and said I wasn't paying for the exterminator. Beyond that, though, I did nothing.

One other tip is when they move out, take pictures of the condition they left it in. Also, take lots of pictures after it is cleaned and keep records of the cleaning invoice. The pictures of it clean and the cleaner's invoice will also help you next tenant if you run into the same issue, retain some cleaning fee, and they decide to contest it stating the unit was dirty and not professionally cleaned when they moved in.

Account Closed · Answer

Ok, I agree. I think because we just bought the place and it is brand new, so I still have a great deal of attachment to it! I guess everyone lives they way they want to. Ugh...

thanks for the response!

Michael Lucero · Answer

I totally hear you, it may not feel good, but I think it feels better to have tenants paying on time with no vacancies. It's a personal call, you could make things awkward by questioning them, especially when you don't have any apparent authority to do so, unless of course they are causing damage. Or, talking to them could work wonders and they completely change their ways, sometimes people just need a little push to make a change. If you think the cleanup costs will be higher as a result, such as to remove smells/stains, you could tell them.

I had tenants a few years back that were incredibly dirty. It literally smelled like garbage when I walked into the place, the toilets had um stuff...running down the side, couldn't see the countertop cuz of trash, the list goes on, it was awful really, but they paid on time. I knew I would have to keep more of their deposit to clean the place, which I did, but I could have told them this while they were still living there, to hopefully help curb their cleanliness. But then of course I run the risk of them marginally cleaning up, and then expecting me to not charge extra for cleaning. At the end of the day I didn't say anything until they moved out and they were ok with the extra costs. It was hard for my wife to see it this dirty, because it was our first home we lived in after we got married and was on the nicer/newer side, but I told her the same stuff I'm writing here, there isn't much strong-arming I think you can do, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to ask them.

Michael Lucero · Answer

If they pay on time and aren't damaging anything, I'm wondering why you care.

You could talk to them, person to person and simply ask them to keep it cleaner or question why it's so dirty. Mind you, if they aren't damaging anything, I don't see what recourse you would have or why they should listen to you. If you think their dirtiness could lead to damage, you should let them know that you do not consider the way they are living normal wear and tear which could result in damage that they will have to pay for.

Account Closed · Answer

I was thinking of adjusting the lease moving forward with a clause about this (cleanliness). Also, I will see how things go, if they don't seem to get any better (and my guess is they won't), then I just send them a DNR just prior to the end of the lease.

Account Closed · Answer

Yes, it's difficult to watch for sure. Just going to go with the flow for now unless, on top of the gross mess, the rent is always late.

Ugh..

Thomas S. · Answer

If they were on M2M you would have the leverage to saying keep it clean or we will non renew. That is what I would do.

As is you will have to live with pigs and non renew when their lease ends. You could threaten them at that point and use a M2M but pigs never change. You will need to get rid of them before the place becomes infested.

What do you do with slobs?

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