The Tenant from hell: PARTIES, Drugs, needles, animal faeces, & blood stains

We’ve all had nightmare tenants. We’ve seen the horror stories on TV. I just got rid of one in Edmonton that tops my list of bad tenants.

It was a young woman whom I was helping out. She was clinically depressed, leaving home for the first time, and had never had her own place before. My property manager warned me that she might be a challenge, but we both agreed she deserved a chance. We agreed to accept her as a tenant.

All for nought. It turned out this person was a human dumpster fire waiting to ignite. Within a very short amount of time – weeks- this young woman revealed her true character. She had loud parties, upset the neighbours, did drugs, broke doors, refused to answer the door, left piles and piles of garbage when she vanished without paying rent, left discarded needles from illicit drug use lying around, not to mention blood stains and animal poop. The carpet is so damaged it will likely need to be replaced. 

The damage deposit will not come close to repairing the unit. The cleaning bill alone so far is $600 and counting. And the unit is only 700 square feet. Here is what the cleaner’s invoice says:
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COMMENTS OR SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
Cleaning was completed on June 10, 2024. Upon entry into unit, there was an abundance of garbage, animal feces, and drug paraphernalia (bong and used needles). All appliances were cleaned and disinfected inside and outside, appliances moved and cleaned behind and around. Baseboards and walls were all washed.
This was more than a deep clean, it was a decontamination clean. There were animal feces throughout the unit, cigarette and joints in the bedroom, a used needle and a bong.

4 garbage bags were removed, food from fridge and cupboards. Light bulbs in the bathroom were replaced. Additional cleaning supplies needed to be purchased. Floors were vacuumed and washed as well as steam cleaned. Will need to return once more once carpets and repairs on walls are completed to ensure no dust is left behind.

I love the final line – the cleaner’s concern about dust. Such rich understatement.

Incidentally, this is a brand new building. The tenant was the very first person to live in this unit, which was pristine when she moved in. 

​My property manager contacted the mother – no response. She refuses to engage or help the young woman take responsibility for her actions. The father was tracked down too. He wanted nothing to do with his daughter or her damages bill.

Such is the life of a landlord. You take the good with the bad. Abusing trust in this fashion however, means I’ll think twice the next time an under-qualified, would-be tenant asks me to take chance on them.