BUT, that's VERY last minute, they want to meet an hour from now to get the keys, and if that means they will be moving after dark, and making noises late into the night, disturbing other occupants, that would be an issue.

Hey all, I have decided to move over to the Dark Side and become a Real Estate Investor lol.

Just a shot in the dark, but the owner may be paying taxes and maintenance on the property during a "redemption period" and waiting until that period ends to do anything with the property?

@Dustan Marshall - For going to see the property once a month, we have in our lease that we may perform monthly inspection of the smoke alarms.

Start some other way, you'll be crawling in the dark 6 months later and probably have your head filled with misinformation.

However we still smell cigarette smoke, so it must be in the carpet.

(It was tobacco smoke, just to be clear.)Thanks in advance for your recommendations.Joffrey

Jimmy HongLooks like a smoking deal!

Example is last tenant had and outstanding water bill and had taken down the smoke det.

I have tenants with no hobbies except smoking and drinking, but they pay their rent every month.