Domestic Violence Takes Two
I am not talking about emotional abuse in this article, I am referring to physical abuse in this post. Punches with a closed fist kind of abuse. Emotional abuse is a definite two-way street.
Although domestic violence is typically a male being the aggressor against a female, it is very likely a 50/50 proposition. Both males and females can be at fault. I have seen too many females slap or punch a male in the arm and everyone thinks it’s funny. It is not. Physical abuse is a two-way street, but likely more one-sided with the stronger person being the abuser. The stronger person does more damage, and can take a hit better. No different than a boxing ring.
I know the court system is against males in a domestic violence situation, and that is because they are typically the abuser. It makes no difference. I do not wait for a guilty verdict. Get rid of the abuser as soon as possible, preferably that day. I often tell my renters, “if you want to fight, drive a mile away and beat the snot out of each other, then come back home”. I do not care. When you are in my rental, no domestic violence will occur, or you will be moving. Your warning is at lease signing. You are already on your second chance, even before you have had a first chance.
In my rentals, I have only had females or neighbors call the cops. If you only have a single-family home, you may never even hear about the police calls. I get a report every morning from the cops about all the incidents from all the multi-family housing in my rental area. I know what goes in in my multi-family properties. Everything related to a police incident I am informed.
The Victim Has Rights
There should never be a penalty for your tenant to call the police for help, or to report their neighbor. I encourage calling the cops for anything the tenant needs. I pay taxes for the cops to answer the phone, the tenants can call as much as they want. No one will penalize a landlord when their tenant calls for help.
When you have a domestic violence incident in your rental, the victim typically has the right to move out. They can move out immediately, without notice. In Minnesota, you can keep the tenants deposit to help cover the expenses of moving out early.
A small tip. If a tenant knows they do not get anything from their deposit back, they may not care how it looks when they move out. You may want to offer some money back if they return the unit in great condition.
When A Domestic Violence Incident Occurs
When someone is arrested at my apartments and taken to jail, I never want to see the abuser at the apartment again. I want that person out. Now. Permanently. If they have to come back to get their belongings, they can get a police escort.
A cop knows that a domestic violence call is the most dangerous call they have. If it is dangerous for a cop, think about how much danger your other tenants may be in. Or you, if you happen to be in the hallway at that same instant. Losing a neighboring tenant will cost you a bunch. Get rid of the problem tenants, and do not let the problem tenants drive away your good tenants.
Once the abuser is out of the apartment, if the victim cannot afford the apartment by themselves, they need to move too. Get both of them out as quickly as possible. Let them break the lease, or have them sign a mutual agreement lease termination.
Unless the victim has filed an Order for Protection (OFP), or somehow legally prevented the abuser from coming back, you can be assured the abuser will be back.
If the ‘victim’ still wants the abuser back, rest assured you will have more trouble in the future. When that happens, you need to end the lease as soon as legally possible. A lease non-renewal is generally legal in most states, and you do not need a reason to do it.
When the Neighbors Call the Police
If the neighbors call the police on your tenants because they hear violence, and someone gets taken away, terminate the lease. Right away. There are no victim rights here, you and your neighboring tenant that called the cops are the victims. Let the fighters have a 30-day notice and move them out.
The last thing you need are tenants that fight and disturb other tenants. When a neighbor calls the cops, they are at their wits end. Neighbors will tolerate a lot from each other. It’s likely they have heard the abuse many times, and got sick of it. Or it was much worse this time. If you do not stop the violence, it’s likely the good neighbor will leave.
Change the Locks
When the victim wants to stay, they may want to change the rental door lock(s). In my one incident where the victim really wanted the abuser gone, I changed the locks. The rest of the victims moved out willingly to stay with the abuser.
The local police told me that if the abuser asks for the new keys, I have to give them a set. They are on the lease, and by law I need to give them keys. That is why the victim needs to get an order for protection. Once that is issued, there should never be a time when the abuser should be back without a police escort and notification. You can open the door for them, and re-lock after they leave.
The abuser should be able to get all their belonging out in within a few trips.
Victim or Enabler of Domestic Violence?
When a victim gets hit the first time, that should be a clue to move out or legally protect themselves. I see so called victims living with an abuser all the time. When you see a background that shows a pattern of abuse, and the same woman is living with the same guy, she is no longer a victim. She is an enabler. At some point, she needs to use the countless programs that are available and get out.
It may not be easy, but at some point, you have to be independent enough to stand on your own two feet and get a life.
If you rent to tenants in this type of relationship, it will be a problem. Avoid them.
Low Credit Scores have More Violence
This is not my scientific fact, but my own experience. Virtually 100% of my four domestic violence incidents were committed by low credit score tenants. Well under a 600 score. Most had decent income, well enough to afford the rent with 4x+ the rent in income.
I harp on credit score all the time on this blog. There is a reason. Most of my rental drama comes from my low credit score tenants. Domestic violence is another piece of drama I do not need.
Have you ever had a domestic violence incident in your rental? Have you ever known someone that would not break out of a physically abusive relationship?