Remember, there are two sides to every story. Even in stories about landlords and tenants! I know, I know, it sounds like something straight out of an upside-down fairytale, but there are genuinely nice landlords out there (while some renters are more akin to evil stepmothers).
Case in point, Jerry Ciro Ucci uploaded photos as evidence as to why rent and security deposits can sometimes be sky-high. The pics are… shocking, to say the least and perfectly illustrate what absolute pigs some people can be. Scratch that, pigs are cleaner.
Jerry’s post went viral as some people saw the landlords’ and property managers’ side of things for the very first time. Scroll down and feast your eyes. You’ll cringe. You’ll wonder how these tenants could live like this. You might even gasp. Be sure to let us know if you’ve ever seen people trashing homes like this in the comments below, dear Readers. Bored Panda spoke with a landlord-tenant lawyer who goes by the pseudonym Morosct on Reddit. We talked to them about security deposits and what landlords can do if they ever find themselves in situations like Jerry’s, so scroll down to read what they said.
A landlord shared photos of what one family did to his property
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
At the time of writing, Jerry’s post got over 25k likes on Facebook and was reshared 49k times. Some internet users even shared the story with law enforcement and suggested that the family be brought to justice.
Bigger Pockets has some simple but to-the-point advice for fresh-faced landlords. Even if you believe in the inherent goodness of mankind, you can’t deny that there are some rotten apples out there. Apples that could spread the rot to your property. So it’s important to screen out potential problem-causers.
Two things that you should look at are the tenants’ incomes and credit scores. A poor credit score is more closely linked to risky behavior than a high credit score. Of course, there are always exceptions. But you want to do business with individuals who pay their rent on time, not those who always make excuses.
“Couldn’t pay rent but could always afford butts”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“The living room/trash bin“
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Bathroom #1. Where all the rabbits were living“
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Puking off the balcony on to the downstairs businesses trash cans”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
According to Morosct the lawyer, the steps that landlords in Jerry’s situation should take depend on the jurisdiction and the actual state of the apartment upon moving out.
“An apartment that is merely dirty with trash or debris on the floor, a landlord has no real recourse because typically a security deposit can only be retained by a landlord for damage outside of what is called normal wear and tear,” the lawyer told us. “Dirty appliances, dirty carpets, garbage, etc. is not something that may typically be retained. However, it’s important to note that some jurisdictions do provide that those things can cause a deposit to be retained so landlords and tenants should be aware of the specific laws regarding security deposits in their state.”
“Got trash?“
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Soiled diapers lay where ever the kid was changed!”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Petrified mix of poop, right next to where they slept!”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Trail of trash continued”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Destroyed 100 year old floors with layers of urine and poop”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“If, however, there is substantial damage like holes in the walls, broken windows, broken doors, damage that is outside the scope of normal wear and tear, the security deposit can be retained. But if for instance, your security deposit is 500 dollars and the landlord determines in good faith that there is 800 dollars worth of damage, then the tenant may be liable in a small claims or civil action for the deficit,” Morosct pointed out.
“The shower, also a trash bin/litter box”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Sink that looks to be a great ashtray as well”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Hardened poop in the kitchen”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Mix of poop, food and who the hell knows what in kitchen drawers…”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Windowsill with some sort of jellied something?”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
But are there situations where landlords would be forced to contact the authorities? Morosct the lawyer said that it all depends on the situation. “If the damage is willful and intentional then the tenant may be guilty of a crime, but again that is all very dependent on the specific laws of the jurisdiction. More likely than not, the landlord should contact an attorney to find out the specific recourse they have in their given jurisdiction.”
“Freezer snacks!”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Not sure what we have here?”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Ahh yes the room the dog was locked in! The black spots are a mix of diarrhea, and urine!”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
We also wanted to find out if there are any steps that tenants can take to prove to their landlords in advance that they’re looking after their property. “I’m not sure that there is much a tenant can do to prove they would treat their apartment well. Some jurisdictions allow for landlords to require references from other landlords, while others don’t, and others also allow references but prevent landlords from using negative references or referrals from being the basis of denying a tenancy.”
“Rabbit toilet!”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Actual toilet”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“More extremely dirty diapers”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Another poop filled diaper….. let’s just toss that under the sink! Out of sight out of mind rite?”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“As far as tenants are concerned, and I’m quite biased to the side of the tenant, the security deposit is, and should be, the only assurance they need to give. It is money that you get back if you leave the apartment in good condition and without unpaid rent. If the apartment is in bad shape then the landlord may be able to retain all or part of that deposit,” the lawyer told Bored Panda.
“Tampons and more dirty diapers. Mmmmm”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“I found one hiding filled with poop stuck behind a dresser…”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“This folks is a broken drug pipe of some sort”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Bahhh just dump that soda on the wall. Don’t worry the property manager will clean that up in 6-7months”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Anything goes with playdoe apparently?”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Yummo. Hairy toothpaste balls! My fav”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Someone practicing their addition”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“The flies are also our pets! The more the better!”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“More up and coming artistry”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
“Is that poop on your hands, best thing to do is wipe it off on the trim!”
Image credits: Jerry Ciro Ucci
Everyone should be given a chance to redeem themselves. After all, we all have the potential to make serious mistakes in life due to desperation or factors outside of our control. However, landlords also have the right to look through tenants’ criminal records and refuse to rent to them.
Also, keep in mind that just because a person has incredibly positive landlord references doesn’t make them a good tenant. They don’t reflect the whole truth and can be faked, so they should be taken with a pinch of salt. Did I say a pinch? I meant a cartload.
Landlords should also check whether potential tenants got back their previous security deposits. And why. Previous behavior is an indication of future behavior. Keep that in mind. Because you wouldn’t want to have the same thing that happened to Jerry happen to you now, would you?
Here’s what people thought when they saw Jerry’s photos
from Bored Panda http://bit.ly/2SJTP5K
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