Tenant with Mental Disablilty

[Greg B.]

Hi guys. I haven’t been around much lately. Got other things going on right now. Thought I would share a story that may be able to help one of you.

June 2012 I had a 1/1 apartment vacant for rent. It was one of three units in this building. I bought this building as an REO in 2007 and cleaned it up. I always had good renters in this building.

I interviewed and accepted a mid 30’s single female on full disability. She had a couple of minor citations but otherwise was clean. Her past landlord gave her a decent recommendation, not glowing but decent. As in “You will always get your rent check on time.” I allowed her to move in and all was well.

About 2 months later the other tenants started complaining about her and her guests. I began investigating and she was inviting some real bad characters, druggies, thugs, felons, etc. I gave her written notice that these guests and others like them were not welcome around the building. Then I found out one of her disabilities was paranoid schizophrenia. On her meds she was a great person. Off her meds and she was very dangerous.

Also, because she didn’t work she had lots of idle time to invite and entertain guests. After I gave her notice about her guests my building began being subject to vandalism. The water spigots were torn off, exterior light fixtures being broken, breaker boxes being tampered with, cars being vandalized. The other tenants were being harassed. She and another 4 year tenant kept getting into confrontations that involved the police. That tenant moved out.

I called the local police for help. I received nothing but a “good luck.” I called the drug task force and told them about the late night traffic and the drop offs at the mailbox. I got a nice “thank you.”

This girl was arrested 2 times and held in a hospital both times. During those times people, bad dudes, were coming and going in and out of her apartment. The police would do nothing. I changed the locks once at her request and then she gave them a key to the new locks.

Every direction I turned I was told that she had more rights than I did and I could not discriminate due to disability. I have already had negative dealings with local MHMR in my other profession so I would not receive help there. A lawsuit would drain me because she would get legal aid through MHMR.

Her lease was to expire August 8, 2013 and that was my only hope of getting her out. I gave her 90 day notice of non-renewal. In mid June she handed me the keys and moved out. I was so relieved. I thought I would have to evict in August.

I got the unit cleaned up pretty quick but her guests are still coming by looking for her. I have not been in a real hurry to rent it out again. I am concerned that one of her friends will rent from me and then she will be back over at the apartment.

I know this is long, sorry. I don’t know how I could have seen this coming. A landlord cannot discriminate against the disabled so does that mean that the disabled get free reign? I had no basis to reject her application, she qualified on every point. Then, I couldn’t evict because of disability and I had no proof the bad guys were doing anything wrong. Her parents kept alleging that I was interfering with her life. It was a tough, lonely 6-8 months of hell.

I have found other methods of making my money work. I have most of my rentals on the market and will profit nicely when they sell. I had a good run of 6 years without any major problems. I had this one and another serious one in the last year. Renting is good when it's good. It can turn bad real quick.

The only words of wisdom I know that I can share is be careful who you rent to.

Good luck guys.