New house, new tenant, new issues (smoking)

[Brandon Smith]

I've recently bought a larger second duplex, the current tenant has been there for 15 years. She smokes inside, pays a very low monthly rent, and doesn't use most of the space. Sucks on my end especially since I don't allow smoking and she underpays on her old month to month lease. Issue is that she's elderly, has many health issues including cancer, lacks financially, etc. so it puts me in a hard ethical decision since she's also basically on her death bed. 

I've recently thought that maybe sticking her in my other duplex soon would be a decent thought since my other tenant will move out soon. It is a smaller duplex so she could keep her same monthly rent, there's no stairs there making it easier on her, just overall a better situation, the only issue is the smoking. This makes it hard on me in general on what to do with this tenant exactly so I just simply don't throw her on the street knowing how hard her life already is making it that much harder. 

Regarding the smoking, I think it would be best to invest in an ozone generator already in general getting into the landlord business. If I would put her in the other duplex would it be as simple as using that ozone generator, then re-painting, and replacing the carpet? Between tenants you already paint and replace carpet so I'm thinking it wouldn't be a big deal.  Just in a bind and looking for opinions, I'd appreciate any suggestions, thanks! 

[Thomas S.]

It is a very simple business decision. As her new landlord you give her notice to terminate her lease and if she needs assistance her family can step in. You have no idea how long she may live and your business can not sit around waiting for her to die. Moving her to another of your units is no different than her having to move to some other landlords property so just do the right thing and give her notice to terminate.

If you do not have what it takes to put your business interests first and terminate then give her immediate notice to raise her rent to full market for the unit she is now in and let her decide if she wants to pay or leave.  

She is not a desirable tenant, you are not a social worker you are a landlord. You are not throwing her on the street she is simply moving. You have no responsibility to her, she is not your problem and her life is not your business.  

You need to decide why you are in this business and whether you have what it takes to make the decisions necessary to prosper or operate a not for profit charity.