Hit with a HUD violation, now what?

[Scott Goulet]

Hey BP, just a acquired a occupied triplex in Gainesville fl a month ago, hired a property management company, and they said they couldnt take on clients whose tenants have pitbulls (even mixed breeds, that have part-pit bull in them). Note to make, this dog is a "registered emotional support animal". 

So what the property management company suggested was post notice to the tenants door regarding the condition of the unit (needs alot of repairs) and asked him to vacate. So the tenants agrees to vacate as of the end of April and everything seems to be great. 

Today i recieved a call from HUD saying that the tenant placed a complaint on me that we kicked him out due to him having the dog and not due to the fact that i needed to make repairs to the unit. The tenant is looking for $2500 in resitutions for making him move.

Has anyone gone through this? what are my options? Do these things normally cost alot more than that in the end? 

Ive never had an issue with tenants like this before. 

Any help is very much appreciated. 

thanks, Scott G 

[Brad Larsen]

@Scott Goulet Scott - you are screwed. There is no "winning" against HUD no matter how right you are. Offer to pay the tenants $1,000 to **** off til the end of time. You will spend 10 x fighting it and HUD will find other things wrong. Make the PM Company file an insurance claim with their E&O carrier on the matter or they can split the cost with you. I have been through the HUD / TREC / IRS audits and there is almost always more they can find if they want to. Those losers have the crap job of justifying their own existence by making examples and charging fines. Sorry to put it so blunt, but get out of this as just cost of doing business the cheapest manner possible. The tenants know the game and you are the victim on this side. Just remember, what comes around goes around so find ways to offset the cost.