Image Courtesy of Funnyordie.com
Although we can all laugh at the intense confrontation between Will Ferrell and his "landlord" on Funnyordie.com, in the real world, this type of situation is not so amusing. In fact, it can be a source of great anxiety and, in extreme situations, can even turn deadly. In India, a dispute over non-payment of rent led a tenant to axe his landlord to death. A similar incident occurred in Riverton, West Virginia, where a landlord fatally shot his tenant after a shoving match regarding an eviction escalated.
These situations show why it is so important to keep your relationship with your tenants professional. People who are desperate due to economic difficulties or in a highly emotional state are more prone to make irrational decisions. Screaming, fighting or threatening will only escalate a situation and can put you in harm's way. Do your best to stay calm. If you are truly concerned about a situation or feel unsafe, let the authorities handle it.
Moral of the story: don't lose your cool, or you could lose your head, literally.
Have you had a landlord/tenant conflict? How did you handle the situation?
This is a good topic!