# 32 Tenant Horror Stories > Landlords share 32 stories of tenants who caused massive damage, skipped rent, and even burned down properties. - Title: 32 Tenant Horror Stories · BuzzFeed | Shortify - Summary: Landlords share 32 stories of tenants who caused massive damage, skipped rent, and even burned down properties. Landlords describe tenants who destroyed… - Keywords: tenants, landlords, rent, eviction, property damage, rental disputes, home repairs, legal issues, property management, tenant behavior, entertainment, culture - Source: BuzzFeed — https://buzzfeed.com/arsheenkaur44/tenants-horror-stories - Published: 2026-10-19T18:01:02+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: tenants, landlords, rent, eviction, property damage, rental disputes, home repairs, legal issues, property management, tenant behavior, entertainment, culture ## Tenant destroys property A tenant cut drywall, hid dead fish in walls, and sealed them back up after evicting. > Guy gets evicted, and instead of just trashing the place, this fucking guy cuts out chunks of drywall, puts dead fish inside the walls, and seals them back up. ## Bedbugs and hardwood damage Tenants ripped out 100-year-old hardwood trim and sold central air conditioning units after moving out. > They ripped out and sold 100-year-old hardwood trim, removed the central air conditioning unit and sold that, too, and generally fucked the place up. ## Rent nonpayment for seven months A tenant stayed rent-free for seven months after evicting, complaining about neighbors and allergies. > We followed the proper protocols to evict him, but he kept getting the judge to grant him extensions. He ended up staying rent-free for seven months. ## Tenant moves out with trash Tenants left a microwave full of rotting hot dogs and scattered food items after eviction. > They waited until the very last minute to move out, left a bunch of their stuff behind, and filled a microwave with hot dogs that they left to rot. ## Dead fish and personal items Landlords found dead exotic fish, used condoms, tampons, and needles in a bedroom after eviction. > The first thing I saw when we walked through the door was a fish tank full of dead, exotic fishies. In the bedroom, we found used condoms, used tampons, and used needles just lying around. ## Coca-Cola employees evicted A tenant who worked for Coca-Cola Co. was evicted after claiming the landlord was a slumlord. > After I got the judgment against them, I tried to garnish the man's wages and was told he worked for Coca-Cola Co. ## Security deposit never paid A tenant never paid security deposit despite being a student and needing a second home. > She never even paid the security deposit, but I was a student, busy with school, and needed someone in that second home so I wouldn't have to cover the expenses myself. ## Kitchen island removed A tenant removed the kitchen island and moved it outside by the pool for an outdoor serving area. > I had a tenant remove the kitchen island and move it outside by the pool because they needed an outdoor serving area. ## Parking space dispute A tenant demanded parking space for free after being charged extra for it, leading to legal action. > He then started posting propaganda all over the property about the injustices I'd supposedly committed by not giving him a parking space for free. ## Restaurant destroyed A tenant ruined a restaurant with their dogs, trash, and stolen items after moving in. > They TRASHED the place. Their two gross, big, ugly dogs shit and peed everywhere; they put holes in the walls, and they took plates and cups from the restaurant's original collection out back to use as target practice. ## Drug dealer tenant A tenant was a drug dealer who caused damage to the property after being evicted. > The young man was a drug dealer. They had literally smashed the front doorframe out of the wall, and the locksmith had been called in to repair the damage. ## Roach infestation Tenants complained about roaches despite previous cleanings, leading to a trashed unit. > We got the issue resolved, but they kept complaining about roaches. Fast-forward to October 31, when they both moved out. We got the keys and went to check the unit, only to find it absolutely trashed. ## Complaints about neighbors A tenant complained about homeless people, bad smells, and barking dogs despite no issues. > His complaints included too many homeless people in the area, the restaurant across the street smelling bad, and the dog next door barking when its owners came home. ## Plumber's putty in drains A tenant packed plumber's putty into sink and bathtub drains, causing water damage. > One particular asshole decided to pack plumber's putty into the sink and bathtub drains, then turn on the taps before he left. ## Dog separation anxiety A tenant's dog had severe separation anxiety and caused damage after the tenant was out for 12 hours. > The problem was that Brayden was a bartender and would be out of the house for up to 12 hours at a time. Once, he was gone for TWO DAYS! ## Mobile home fire A tenant's mobile home caught fire, leading to a costly eviction and repairs. > My mom's worst experience was with her longtime boyfriend's daughter. Her apartment caught fire, so my mom let her rent an old mobile home. ## Rapist roommate A tenant had a roommate who was a rapist on parole, leading to eviction. > Kevin's unnamed roommate was a rapist who was out on parole. Great, right? The condo was directly across the street from a school, and it turned out Kevin was violating sex offender legislation. ## Spider complaint A tenant called the landlord about a spider on Christmas Eve, leading to a misunderstanding. > At 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, they called because there was a spider. My dad called them back when we got home from church and asked what they wanted him to do about it. ## Live duck in apartment A tenant kept a live duck that shit everywhere and squawked constantly. > The first thing she did was get a duck. Yes, a LIVE duck. It shit everywhere and squawked constantly. ## Rats and food waste A tenant let rats breed, leading to a colony of rats and food waste. > She also seemed to think old takeout containers were a great way to decorate a home. So, we had a colony of semi-domesticated rats, old food scattered everywhere, and, yes, her two children living in the middle of all this. ## Key takeaway Landlords describe tenants who destroyed properties through neglect, illegal activities, and extreme behavior, leading to costly repairs and legal battles.