Make sure you are asking for a good sized deposit, and when renovating, use materials that are hard to damage (LVP on the floors, higher sheen with the paint, higher quality faucets, maybe solid doors).

They are supposed to return tenants Security Deposit within 14 days if no claims for damage are submitted by the landlord.

After many years of brain damage most reputable sponsors move to the city's adjacent cities to invest their time and energy. 

Smells can do significant damage to the property that would be a violation of most lease agreements...and you end up losing good residents and keeping the bad ones. 

I was going to strip these units down to the studs anyways to fully rehab them, but it appears the fire has damaged some of the trusses in this unit.

We will sue for the commission amounts, damages and my lawyer will "make an example out of him for his egregious conduct."

I would rather lose privately by giving cash for keys + security deposit, than win publicly and have 6 months unpaid rent + damages

I owned a duplex that caught fire and was badly damaged.

His "past" is just as damaging  to his reputation as someone who's a convicted sex offender.Just something to think about.

If not, you may want to consider civil court and seek monetary damages which may not be collectible but can at least motivate the tenant to leave.