Section 8 Tenant Problem
We are new in this business. We have a section 8 tenant we suspect of selling drugs out of the unit. Another tenant in the building is fearful. How do we handle this situation? Should I place an anonymous call to the police? I am not 100% sure they are selling.
Thanks!
csoldier
my suggestion is that you visit the police station that is near the property. Ask to speak to the local community officer or the captain if the area is small. You do not have to make a false accusation. Let them know that you are a property owner and you need some assistance in watching the location for suspected drug activity. They will work with you without involving you.
If they catch activity being conducted out of the property they can lock up the knuckle head tenant. You can take action if he misses any rent payments or if the arrest is listed on the police blotter in the local paper. I hope that your lease is structured so that you can evict for illegal activity or for conducting a "business" from the property. Or, the local community officer can "notify" you as owner of the property after the arrest has taken place. Good luck.
I know a landlord who used two different tactics on two different properties. On the first one, he told the tenants that the police were set up in the building across the street looking for illegal drug activity, and ask if they have noticed anything going on. Shortly after that, he got a notice from the tenant that they were moving. Another time, he sent notices to all of the tenants that he volunteered his building as a training building for drug sniffing dogs, and that if approached by a police officer, to please cooperate in every way.
Oh.....and if it gets worse.... if you as the owner file a complaint for this activity with the local magistrate, you can send it to the housing authority counselor and they will IMMEDIATELY begin throwing them out of the program....forever! I,ve seen it done. Their records must be clean.