Renter's urine and other body odor

Started by BonnieG1 • 12 replies • 1880 views

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BonnieG1 (Nebraska)
Posts: 1,186

Posted:

A couple (both are mentally handicapped) moved into one of our units late last year. They are renting from the husband's father who is his son's guardian.

The wife has had a strong urine smell. I have tactfully talked to her about this a few months ago. (Her Father-in-Law advised us to talk to her kindly about it. She did tell me that she recently had surgery to correct this problem.

Now she has another odor coming from her. It is hard to explain, but I have smelled it before on my mother.
Although my mother always had time for us children, she was a lousy housekeeper and that is putting it mildly.
My mother had an odor similar to the odor this resident has. I can just walk down the hall a few minutes after she has walked down the hall and smell the odor.

Since it is not our PM's responsibility to talk to our owners/residents about personal hygiene, it falls in my lap as President.

Have any of you on this site had a similar problem, and if so how did you handle it?

PitA
Posts: 311

Posted:

No, I do not think anyone here has had a similar 'problem'.

It is NOT your job as President of the Board of Directors of the XYZHOA, Inc.

Sheez

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Bonnie,

To be honest, I don't think it's your job to talk to the individual about personal hygiene either.

Put some automatic air fresheners in the hallways and consider that the end of the Associations responsibility.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

I totally agree with PitA & Tim, Bonnie. It is not your job.

There's a man in a condo unit here who's a heavy smoker and I always know when he's been in our elevator--phew. But the odor subsides pretty rapidly. Similarly, we used to have a heavy weed smoker--elevator smelled like skunk for a few minutes after he was in it.

Tim's idea to have an air freshener in the hall is a good one.

If odors constantly emanate from their unit into your common areas, your nuisance clause could come into play. At that time, imo, you could contact the father and have him clean the unit. If he refused, you'd call him to a hearing and order him to get it cleaned. Along with our general nuisance clause, we have a specify one about noxious odors emanating from condos.

If the couple is neglecting cleaning that unit to the extent you're positive they have cockroaches that intrude on your common areas and into other units, I believe you also would be able to have the father pay for fumigating it.

It does sound like he's cooperative, so requests to handle these problems if (when?) they occur, may work just fine.

PitA
Posts: 311

Posted:

The association is very fortunate that its' president has time to deal with B.O. as well as B.S. in addition to the routine management and maintenance issues.

BonnieG1 (Nebraska)
Posts: 1,186

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By TimB4 on 05/05/2015 7:21 AM
Bonnie,

To be honest, I don't think it's your job to talk to the individual about personal hygiene either.

Put some automatic air fresheners in the hallways and consider that the end of the Associations responsibility.

That sounds like a good idea. Thanks Tim.

BonnieG1 (Nebraska)
Posts: 1,186

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KerryL1 on 05/05/2015 7:46 AM
I totally agree with PitA & Tim, Bonnie. It is not your job.

There's a man in a condo unit here who's a heavy smoker and I always know when he's been in our elevator--phew. But the odor subsides pretty rapidly. Similarly, we used to have a heavy weed smoker--elevator smelled like skunk for a few minutes after he was in it.

Tim's idea to have an air freshener in the hall is a good one.

If odors constantly emanate from their unit into your common areas, your nuisance clause could come into play. At that time, imo, you could contact the father and have him clean the unit. If he refused, you'd call him to a hearing and order him to get it cleaned. Along with our general nuisance clause, we have a specify one about noxious odors emanating from condos.

If the couple is neglecting cleaning that unit to the extent you're positive they have cockroaches that intrude on your common areas and into other units, I believe you also would be able to have the father pay for fumigating it.

It does sound like he's cooperative, so requests to handle these problems if (when?) they occur, may work just fine.

This couple has had a cleaning lady come in before to clean but I don't know if she is still coming. We haven't seen any cockroaches. Our units are sprayed regularly.

People call me when they notice the odor. I do agree with you that Tim's idea is an good one. The reason I post on here is for the help that I receive and not for nasty comments that some posters post.

JebbyJ1 (California)
Posts: 26

Posted:

I am shocked that you brought it up to her. That seems so out of bounds. What in the world made you think that was a good idea!?!

BonnieG1 (Nebraska)
Posts: 1,186

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JebbyJ1 on 05/05/2015 1:37 PM
I am shocked that you brought it up to her. That seems so out of bounds. What in the world made you think that was a good idea!?!

If I remember correctly someone mentioned it to her father-in-law who advised we talk to her about it then they told me. I didn't say anything until I actually noticed it myself when I was sitting by her one time. Her father-im-law is the owner of the unit and would be responsible if her leakage caused an extra clean up fee.

PitA
Posts: 311

Posted:

Her father-im-law is the owner of the unit and would be responsible if her leakage caused an extra clean up fee.

Precisely.

Unless the President volunteers.

KimR4 (Florida)
Posts: 33

Posted:

What if this adult couple did not have a mental health condition? Would you have approached the wife about her personal hygiene? Some things are none of the hoa's business.

AnnH5 (Florida)
Posts: 304

Posted:

If the resident has a medical condition, the odor issue may be unavoidable. If there are other issues (self neglect), you could contact your local social services and ask for a welfare check. While that is not within your scope as a member of the Board, it is within your scope as a caring and concerned human being. It may turn out that this resident requires and qualifies for help (assistance, equipment) that she currently does not have.

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