The Rental Network
March 2014

Nat and Linda Holzer

Address
5400 N. Mesa, Ste. D
El Paso, TX 79912

Contact Us
Phone: 915.581.4900
Fax:915.581.1026
Toll Free: 1.888.404.4900

Email: Rentalnet2@aol.com
RentalNetwork-ElPaso.net
RentalNetwork-ElPaso.com

Our Services
  • Out of State Property Management Company Referrals
  • Maintenance and Make Ready Services for our Owners and Referring Agents
Best Practices

Check Your Insurance: Events can happen - flood, extreme heat, earthquakes, fire, and more! It is important to check your insurance to obtain the best coverage possible and ensure that it is current.Review now with your insurance agent before a disaster/emergency occurs.

If An Emergency Occurs: Please be patient and avoid tying up critical phone lines and our time. Our first priority during any emergency is to handle the situation, taking any necessary measures for the safety of your property and your tenants. Then, we will contact you as soon as we are able.

Our Associations

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The Problem of Hoarding
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There are people who have great difficulty discarding anything; they are termed hoarders. Hoarding is the obsession to collect and retain too many belongings. Most people throw away or recycle junk mail, egg cartons, greeting cards, gum wrappers, empty food cartons, and other paper products; hoarders have lost the ability to dispose of items they use. In addition, many collect not only material things but accumulate animals; very often, numerous cats are associated with hoarders.

This can be a costly habit for property owners if someone with this disability rents their property. Tenants who hoard can cause great property damage, infestations of pests, fire danger, and other health risks. It can also endanger the tenant's safety and that of other residents or neighbors.

It may not seem logical but it is more than just a bad habit, it is a crippling disease. Researchers estimate that 1 in 50 people are hoarders, with symptoms often developing early in childhood and progressing with age. That means there are millions of hoarders. Of course, this is not limited to renters; homeowners can have this same disability. What makes this more difficult for investors is that hoarders are a protected class under Fair Housing. Therefore, it is not always simple to remove a tenant who hoards from a property.

It is important to recognize the difference between collecting and hoarding. Many people compile an unusual amount of a certain item or items. Their residences may seem cluttered because of this practice. However, there are three ways experts generally identify a hoarder.

  1. There is accumulation and failure to discard a large number of possessions that appear to be useless or of very little value.
  2. They clutter their living space to the point that they cannot live in it properly.
  3. They have significant distress or impairment caused by the hoarding.

As your management company, we find the best practice is to avoid hoarding by good screening. However, it may not always be possible to spot because a common trait of a hoarder is secrecy. In addition, they could have symptoms but the illness may develop over the course of their tenancy. If it does become evident that a tenant has developed this debilitating problem, we know that we must handle it carefully to avoid creating other serious problems.

It is important to remove the tenant from the property in order to protect the property, the resident, and others affected by their illness. However, it is important to take sensible actions because hoarders are a protected class and the wrong steps can lead to liability.

  • First, we have to determine if a tenant is a hoarder and document their actions. Setting up a property inspection and assessing the situation is the first step. It is extremely important to comply with state law when setting up any property inspection.
  • If a tenant is a hoarder, it is important to consult legal counsel early to determine the best course of action because they are a protected class. Seeking the advice of an attorney early is particularly important if the tenant becomes difficult about moving from the property or is any type of hazard to themselves or others.
  • If a tenant is on a month-to-month tenancy, a property owner or manager can issue a standard notice to vacate. This can work if the tenant is reasonable about moving and does not see the action as retaliation.
  • If the tenant poses a health problem or has excessive animals, it may be possible to enlist the assistance of the health department or animal control.
As your management company, we cannot contract for work with a non-licensed party if a state or federal agency dictates that a licensed contractor is compulsory or the company is not "accountable." In short, we would not be performing our best management for you and your investment. If you have questions on this important subject, let us know and we will be happy to discuss them with you.

The material provided in this newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only. It is NOT legal advice.
Although we believe this material is accurate, we cannot guarantee that it is 100% without errors.


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