Dealing with a Hoarding Tenant: Airbnb Income Loss and Family Conflict

The Hoarding Dilemma

• 🏠 The speaker and her husband are renting the top level of their second house to her mother and younger sister at a reduced rate.
• 💡 They also rent out the basement as an Airbnb, which has been a good source of income, especially near ski resorts.
• ⚠️ The mother has become a hoarder, leading to a significant cockroach infestation in the house.
• 📉 This infestation has resulted in negative Airbnb reviews and the need to halt Airbnb operations, impacting income.

Navigating Difficult Conversations

• 🎯 The core advice is that the tension is the path; uncomfortable conversations are necessary.
• ⚖️ Two primary paths are presented: either the mother must move out for extermination and repairs, or she can stay under strict new rules including no hoarding and regular cleaning.
• 💔 The speaker acknowledges the emotional difficulty, especially concerning her 11-year-old sister, but emphasizes directness.
• 🚫 Doing nothing will lead to further property deterioration and eventual displacement.

Strategies for Resolution

• 🧹 Concrete steps include hiring a cleaning crew, increasing trash service, and implementing regular property inspections.
• 🤝 The suggestion is made to offer to pay for six months of counseling for the mother, framing it as a condition for staying.
• 🗣️ The speaker's husband, initially acting as a mediator due to the speaker's difficult history with her mother, is encouraged to step back, allowing the speaker to lead the difficult conversations.
• 📝 It is recommended to write down all rules and consequences and present them in a formal conversation.

Historical Context and Support

• 📈 The mother has a history of being a problematic tenant, including being politely asked to leave previous apartments and a legal dispute over a security deposit.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The speaker's motivation for helping her mother and sister stems from love for her sister and a desire to pay it forward, despite the financial and emotional toll.
• 💬 The speaker's husband is supportive of helping the sister but is frustrated by the ongoing issues, such as a broken fridge due to the hoarding.
• 🫂 The speaker is advised to take the lead in these conversations, acknowledging the difficulty of