Nightmare situation. Hostile Tenant and Mold

[Vincent Plant]

I had a leak under the kitchen sink in one of my properties. It actually leaked through the kitchen floor and onto the basement floor. When the tenant told me about I immediately filed an insurance claim. She went on and on about how her kids were sick from mold and took it upon herself to stay in a hotel.

Insurance acted quickly and had a restoration co. go in and tear out basement drywall, clean, and dry it all out.

Because of the way the tenant behaved I demanded mold testing so I can have written proof it was remediated. Well that backfired because the results came in bad and I had to tell her that the place might be unsafe according to the results. She had her renters insurance move her into a hotel.

Now, the restoration co is working to remediate but they say that there are more areas in the house that have mold and likely ALL her possessions will have to get wiped and cleaned.

This tenant was living a disgusting lifestyle. They found moldy cat bowls and terrible living conditions in there.

My question is what do I do? I know they are going to keep testing and no matter what they will find more mold. My insurance only covers up to $10,000 for mold. I’ll burn right through that at this rate.

Her lease ends 7/31 and I already served her with a notice to vacate (which is unrelated to this). She’s contesting that she will have to leave.

Am I able to determine the house unsafe and end her lease early?

Should I get a lawyer?

[Nathan Gesner]

First,  you should never use the mold remediation company to test for mold. It's too easy for them to find something and then generate a nice insurance job.

Second, you can tell the tenant you don't have the money for renovations and that the property is uninhabitable. Get her out, then clean the place up.

Third, if you have evidence that her lifestyle is causing at least part of the problem, you should document that and use that as leverage to get rid of her.