5 Strategies to Handle a Hoarding Tenant

In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association recognized hoarding as a mental disorder, which means they have protected status. If you have a hoarder living in your rental property and have concerns, you need to act carefully, so you do create any problems with the Fair Housing Act or face discrimination charges.
Accommodate First
Eviction should not be your first step, since hoarding is a disability. Whether you choose to handle an issue on your own or use professional Dallas property managers, like Dallas Specialized RPM, here are some top ways to deal with hoarders.
·         Understand the difference between hoarding and bad housekeeping. A hoarder will have piles of what looks like junk, usually with little space for walking. These are usually distinct piles while poor housekeeping can just be garbage scattered everywhere.
·         Pay a visit. On the visit, you or your Dallas property manager, if you have brought her or him along to help you follow the laws, can decide if the hoarding is damaging the property, blocking emergency exits, or interfering with sprinklers or ventilation. Safety is of prime concern. Be sure to document everything.
·         Conduct a tenant strategy session. Talk to the tenant--be respectful and talk about how to bring things back up to code within a reasonable time frame. Put it in writing and have both parties sign it. 
·         Enforce the lease agreement. If the tenants do not fix the problem within the time frame, you can consider eviction. If the hoarding is damaging the property or violating the law, it is breaking the lease and is grounds for eviction. Your property management company in Dallas can help you.
·         Conduct inspections regularly. Even after the tenant has complied with the agreement, you or your property management team in Dallas should Inspect the property regularly to make sure the tenant does not begin hoarding again.

Specialized RPM can handle all of your leasing situations. Find out how they can help with your leasing process for your investing success. http://www.realpropertydfw.com/

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