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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To evict messy tennant with mental health issue?

26 replies

TalkToTheHand123 · 30/04/2025 12:36

Hi, AIBU to agree with the eviction process for a tenant who has mental health issues but who doesn't engage with support from professionals?

He smokes crack in the property, has cigarette ash and general mess all over the floors throughout the property. He blocks the toilet due to mental health issues.

OP posts:
Amiwrongamiright · 30/04/2025 12:38

To some level I think you do need to give grace to those who are struggling, maybe a bit of a hoarder or genuinely untidy but this is beyond that. You aren’t responsible for this person, if they don’t want to get help then I think for your sake you do need to proceed with eviction x

Original poster
TalkToTheHand123 · 30/04/2025 12:44

There is a level of responsibility to a degree which is he main issue I'm having. It's part of supported accommodation. Some saying we are responsible to help this individual as part of the job, but I feel there are limits which this tenant and case exceeds.

OP posts:
flipent · 30/04/2025 12:46

I don't think mess is a reasonable reason for eviction. But 'Smokes crack in the property' if that is true, then I would absolutely evict on the grounds of illegal activity.

AnneLovesGilbert · 30/04/2025 12:49

I’m confused, you’re not a private landlord but you work in supported housing?

You must have policies around how a flat has to be maintained, that tenants can’t consume illegal drugs? Why’s it your decision? I don’t think morals come into it as much as policy and safety?

PhilippaGeorgiou · 30/04/2025 12:49

So you are a support worker, not the landlord? If someone with mental ill health severe enough to warrant supported accommodation isn't worthy of support, what is the purpose of supported accommodation? Whether the support is your job or not is a matter for the job description and your management to resolve with you, but evicting someone from supported housing becaus ethey need support that people don't want to give them is awful. Evict them and they will be living on the streets.

Jellycatspyjamas · 30/04/2025 12:49

There is a level of responsibility to a degree which is he main issue I'm having. It's part of supported accommodation. Some saying we are responsible to help this individual as part of the job, but I feel there are limits which this tenant and case exceeds.

Presumable you work for an organisation who provide supported accommodation. If so they’ll have eligibility criteria for residents - does he meet that criteria? If so you’ll struggle to evict him, lack of engagement with professionals is part and parcel of working with very vulnerable people I’m afraid.

Serencwtch · 30/04/2025 12:49

If someone is assessed as needing supported accommodation then there is responsibility to offer that support.
If the support is refused & attempts have been made to find out if there is a reason & there is no change then that individual is not suited to that placement & it should be offered to someone else that would benefit.

Some things like drug use are illegal & cause problems for the wider community. In that case eviction is completely justified.

noctilucentcloud · 30/04/2025 12:50

Are his actions having a negative impact on other people within the accommodation? And do you have any rules re illegal drug use in the accommodation? And I guess a policy on warnings, termination of accommodation etc? All those things might guide you and make it feel less subjective

sesquipedalian · 30/04/2025 12:52

For smoking crack alone, he needs to leave. He may need support, but that does not include support to engage in illegal activity.

LIZS · 30/04/2025 13:30

Is he contravening the tenancy conditions? If you do evict will he be rehoused?

CagneyNYPD1 · 30/04/2025 13:35

Are you absolutely certain that he smokes crack in the property?

PhilippaGeorgiou · 30/04/2025 14:27

LIZS · 30/04/2025 13:30

Is he contravening the tenancy conditions? If you do evict will he be rehoused?

I don't get the impression the OP has the power to make that decision - either to evict or to rehouse.Their issue appears to be more that they don't consider it their job to support this person. That is a management issue.

Locutus2000 · 30/04/2025 15:11

YABU for using AIBU to determine if someone should lose their home.

AquaPeer · 30/04/2025 18:10

This isn’t a AIBU this is a following your company policy situation.

AquaPeer · 30/04/2025 18:10

This isn’t a AIBU this is a following your company policy situation.

NeedAUsernameGenerator · 30/04/2025 18:13

When I worked in supported housing we would evict for any drug use, including cannabis. It was part of their agreement.

Missey85 · 30/04/2025 18:15

I'd evict them for smoking crack nevermind the rest

Luddite26 · 30/04/2025 18:16

Smokes crack.

Icecreamandcoffee · 30/04/2025 18:18

Most supported accommodation comes with the condition of no drug taking/ possession in them and accommodation is withdrawn for drug taking. Many people in supported accommodation are recovering from addiction issues and having someone bringing drugs into the property is not helpful to the recovery of others.

FishfingerFlinger · 30/04/2025 18:20

why on earth are you asking mumsnet this? ask your manager!

Icecreamandcoffee · 30/04/2025 18:21

Your company/ charity will have a policy on drug taking in supported accommodation and it is likely you will be advised to follow the policy on this.

Original poster
TalkToTheHand123 · 01/05/2025 10:47

I'm part of a management team who make decisions on customer tenancies and their support.

Our policies are not as black and white. We are supposed to support challenging customers and be empathetic to drug use, but up to a certain point.

A used crack pipe is regularly being noticed on the mantle piece which to me suggests there is some drug usage by the customer. Some neighbours report some anti social behaviour by the customer.

Most of the members of the team are quite sympathetic and I am to a degree, but the lack of effort from the customer is making me feel this invidivual should be evicted.

It's not just necessarily the eviction dilema, I was just wanting thoughts as to how much you can put down to mental health for the sort of behaviour and effects.

If the tenant leaves for a non eviction reason, someone will have to clean the property, which isn't very nice for them.

OP posts:
Locutus2000 · 01/05/2025 10:51

TalkToTheHand123 · 01/05/2025 10:47

I'm part of a management team who make decisions on customer tenancies and their support.

Our policies are not as black and white. We are supposed to support challenging customers and be empathetic to drug use, but up to a certain point.

A used crack pipe is regularly being noticed on the mantle piece which to me suggests there is some drug usage by the customer. Some neighbours report some anti social behaviour by the customer.

Most of the members of the team are quite sympathetic and I am to a degree, but the lack of effort from the customer is making me feel this invidivual should be evicted.

It's not just necessarily the eviction dilema, I was just wanting thoughts as to how much you can put down to mental health for the sort of behaviour and effects.

If the tenant leaves for a non eviction reason, someone will have to clean the property, which isn't very nice for them.

A used crack pipe is regularly being noticed on the mantle piece which to me suggests there is some drug usage by the customer. Some neighbours report some anti social behaviour by the customer.

So you don't actually 'know' anything. How would your team feel about you discussing customers on social media?

Original poster
TalkToTheHand123 · 01/05/2025 10:54

There is lots of other evidence, which I won't go into, but basically 100% drug use.

I think they would be ok about it since I'm not giving names and addresses etc.

OP posts:
PhilippaGeorgiou · 01/05/2025 11:40

I'm part of a management team who make decisions on customer tenancies and their support.

I cannot believe that a member of a social care management team is asking for opinions from any social media site, never mind MumsNet; and doing so even in the widest terms here ("There is lots of other evidence, which I won't go into..") in my opinion indicates that it is not the client who needs "evicting", but at least one member of the management team. This is without a doubt gross miscinduct and deserves dismissal. Managers, real managers, do not hold votes on social media as to whether thery should throw vulnerable people out of their home.

I seriously hope this is a goady wind up, and not some seriously unprofessional manager posting during working hours.