The March issue of Units Magazine has a shocking expose—well, if you’re in property management, anyway. Even the most seemingly-normal tenants can be hoarders, people who cannot throw anything away and whose apartments fill with years’ worth of clutter and trash.
There are of course several problems with this scenario. One is that hoarding can be a form of mental illness or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and may indicate a need for help. The other, from a management perspective, is that residents must keep their apartments safe and sanitary. Pests can be a huge problem, not just for the hoarding residents but for the units around theirs’, and a stuffed apartment can be a serious fire hazard for someone attempting to escape.
How will you find a hoarder out? The most common way seems to be from technicians who enter an apartment to perform installations or maintenance. If you want to keep an eye out, try scheduling regular apartment inspections. Most hoarders do not wish to be found out, and so will be discreet about the situation. There are warning signs, however: refusing or repeatedly rescheduling maintenance appointments, foul smells or sudden pest infestations, or regularly retrieving things from the dumpster or street.
If you find out that one of your tenants is hoarding, confront the situation immediately. The Units article suggests focusing on the safety and health reasons for cleaning out an apartment, and avoid making accusing statements or even using terms like “hoarder.” Because hoarding is increasingly recognized as a manifestation of mental distress, it can be treated as a disability. Consider giving your resident extra time to clear things out—say, 45 days rather than 15—and make it clear which parts of the lease are being violated and therefore qualify for termination if the situation is not addressed. Be specific in what you require for a unit to meet safe and sanitary conditions. And be sensitive: see if it’s possible for the resident to get help from friends, family, or even a therapist. It’s better for everyone involved if the behavior doesn’t continue.
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Can you sue if a hoarder damaged the home? Or file claim against their renter’s insurance? What if you had planned an inspection a year ago, but had to cancel it because you had a family emergency?
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your shopping bigens long before you get to the advertisement, realtor, or visiting potential home stages. your shopping bigens with understanding how must rent, lease or mortgage you can afford, how much living space you need, what amenities you’d like to have, parking for yourself and guests, outdoor space, the type of neigborhood you’d like to live in and where (city or suburbs), how close the location is to schools, shopping, restaurants/entertainment, public transportation, major roadways and of course work as you mentioned. additionally, most condo and townhome communities have homeowner’s associations .are you okay with that? the most important is being able to afford the cost of being in your own place (considering ALL expenses involved).you didn’t say whether you’ll be living alone or sharing space. either way, your homework bigens on paper.i hope you find what you like and you’re happy with your decision.
Good points, Maulina. Apartment hunting is much easier when you know what you’re looking for, and what your limitations are. Thanks for sharing your insight, and please do pass along any other tips or advice you might have!
Julia
MyNewPlace.com
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