As landlords, we all have that vision of a dream tenant. In our imaginations, they’re usually bright, cheery, and follow all your agreements to a T, including paying for their rent on time! However, we know this reality is hard to come by, especially when you’re faced with the tedious task of dealing with hoarders in South Carolina.
Hoarding may not seem like a pressing issue immediately especially if your hoarder tenants are just starting the habit. As a landlord of a South Carolina property, it’s important to know that you are knowledgeable enough to know when hoarding is starting to become a pressing issue for your tenant, in order to address this problem immediately. We’ve assembled a series of tips to help you deal with hoarders, which will be especially helpful if you own a property in Spartanburg, SC.
Familiarize Yourself With The Dangers Hoarding Brings
Even though you’re likely not a hoarder yourself, it’s crucial to recognize red flags before they become a bigger problem. Remember, it’s the tenant’s responsibility to keep the unit safe and clean, which isn’t the case when they become hoarders. Here are some warning signs to be cautious of:
More Pets Than Their Space Can Handle
Complaints Of A Bad Smell
Problems With Pests
Hoarders typically aren’t great at disposing waste properly, and may be prone to leaving empty food containers and trash simply lying around the house. Be on high alert if or when pests invade the property.
Excessive Cluttering
Assess These Factors And Exercise Caution
While this may not be known to some landlords, please note that hoarding is a mental health condition recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. Approaching anyone mentally ill with a serious problem needs to come from a place of understanding and compassion. Your tenant may be manifesting this behavior due to trauma and simply needs to be spoken to kindly.
Work With Your Tenant Regarding Cleanup
When it’s time to approach your tenant regarding their hoarding problem, make sure that the both of you agree on an appropriate timeline regarding cleanup. As much as possible, make sure that the tenant is still accommodated within their own property during the cleanup process and doesn’t worry about potential eviction unless they don’t comply. To speed up the process, the both of you may consult the tenant’s personal contacts and your own maintenance team to clean out the property accordingly.
If all else fails and they remain difficult, you can then turn to eviction. This can also be the first step if your tenant is hoarding dangerous explosives or weapons, hindering emergency exits, and causing extensive damage to the property due to neglect. Despite all these factors, it’s best to let this be your last resort.
Although hoarding seems like a nightmare to resolve as a landlord, it can still be resolved with proper action and open communication between you and your tenant. It’s entirely possible that solutions might not present themselves to you right away, but when approached rationally, you may come to a solution yet.
For more tips to address hoarding and other similar issues, you can get in touch with us at Sell My House Fast – GSAP, where we buy houses fast in Spartanburg, SC. With our no realtors, no fees, no repairs, and no commissions policy, we can get started on accommodating you with no frills. You don’t even need to worry about cleaning out your property, since we can do that all for you! All you have to do is to provide us with your details on our website and get an instant offer from there. Come work with us online today.
