LETHBRIDGE – The evidence starts outside with garbage, shattered glass and a boarded up window.
It is just a taste of the damage done inside a Lethbridge home.
Homeowner Timothy Pearce was in shock when he saw the trail of devastation left in his rental property.
“Nothing has been touched since the tenants left the premise,” he said.
The destruction happened on New Years Eve. No room was spared, holes in walls, empty liquor bottles and drug paraphernalia are scattered on the floor. The damage totals about $8,000 dollars.
“The carpet is totally destroyed, stains and just filth.”
Pearce bought and lived in the house in 2013. Last year, he married and moved in with his wife, deciding to rent out his home.
“I thought it would be a good way to invest for retirement.”
On Christmas Eve, Pearce arrived at the house to find the front window smashed in. He told the tenants they were being evicted, but had no idea what he’d find once they left.
“This was probably one of the most shocking developments. When I found this, I was almost brought to tears. I mean, how could someone do this?”
Liz Toles owns My Life Realty, a property management company. She say there are steps landlords should take to try and protect themselves.
“The big thing is screening the tenants, finding a tenant who is going to care for your property,” said Toles.
“Having a really accurate move-in inspection report complete with photos can really give a landlord a leg up if there is damage to the property.”
Unfortunately for Pearce, a first time land lord, it’s a hard lesson that comes too late.
“The previous renters had asked them to come in. There was no background check done on them and they were not the right individuals to have in here.”
Pearce says he’s taking it one step at a time, but unfortunately most of the expenses caused from the damage will come out of his pocket.
He hopes to rent the house again someday, but will keep a much closer eye on who he’s renting it to.
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