Staying level-headed with the natural ups and downs that come with real estate is crucial (especially in times like these), and having a clear purpose and plan is now even more helpful than ever before.  

As you grow and expand and your business gets bigger and you gain more connections and insights you will naturally fall into other categories.  

What scares people about the Southeast is natural disasters (hurricanes) and wages are not particularly strong.

So in the event they obtain money through a house sale (maybe their aunt wills them a house and they sell it) or there's an insurance claim (they slip and fall somewhere and win a lawsuit) your friend will get paid due to the lien being in place though liens do expire after a few years (so you will need to file to extend the lien at expiration)Also, I'm told a lien of this nature shows up on their credit report and is 'a thorn in their side'. 

These laws may also may be a source of funding for the cleanup.Also, I wouldn't leave it up to a construction contractor to determine the nature and level of effort for the cleanup that would be required.

Most likely the state where the property is located is where lawsuits would be brought if they are something for personal injury like a trip and fall or something of that nature because the “cause of action” arose in that state.

The business plan should have been developed to do it with natural lease turnover.

To make this even worse, many landlords and investors feel compelled to sit on their money to ensure they have adequate reserves to weather the financial storm in the event that their tenants cannot perform.

I don’t think, personally, there is a “wrong” answer, as long as you’re operating like a business, with separate personal and business accounts, have adequate insurance (from an umbrella and the property policies in my opinion), and consult legal advice in your state/county on issues that are gray areas.Good luck to you.

(I do not stand by the following information, please perform your own due diligence to confirm its accuracy)Affordable Housing Acquisition FundThis fund aims to ensure the following:Tenants shall have safe & habitable living conditionsProperty owners will not face financial hardshipsPrevents a mass exit in the affordable housing market that results in 2008 V2.0Applicants must adhere to the following guidelines:Owners may not sell the property without notifying HUDHUD must approve of the buyerHUD retains the ability to disclose to the buyer the seller's intent either to sell or transfer the propertyHUD will only allow the following buyers: Non-profits, public housing agencies, Co-op housing, community land trusts, or a state/local gov't agency specified by the Secretary of HUDHUD will provide purchase assistance to eligible buyers up to the full purchase amountThe agreed-upon sale price between buyer & seller may not exceed Fair Market Value (FMV)It must comply with the Cranston-Gonzalez Natural Affordable Housing ActTenants are only subject to just-cause evictionsTenants may not be discriminated against based upon the same criteria in the previous postResidents of affordable housing shall be provided the following free, voluntary services:Healthcare, employment/education assistance, childcare, financial literacy educationTenants shall elect a resident board/council that will control the living & operating conditions of the property (HOA-esque?)