can i report a aggressive tenant who harasses a cancer patient

by Annabelle Leannon II 4 min read

Tenant Harassment: When Problem Tenants Get …

4 hours ago  · Harassment of Tenants. It is a crime for a landlord to harass a tenant. If you believe are being harassed by your landlord, you can go to the police. If you are a tenant in New York City and your landlord is harassing you, you can go to the New York City Housing Court. Tell the Court Clerk that you want to start a harassment case against the ... >> Go To The Portal


Can a landlord require a cosigner for a cancer patient?

Still, the landlord demanded the tenant either give power of attorney to her adult son, or provide a cosigner. While cancer does not always fit neatly into the definition of a disability under the Fair Housing Act, it likely will be treated as one if the landlord perceives an applicant or tenant as a person with a disability.

Is it a crime for a landlord to harass a tenant?

It is a crime for a landlord to harass a tenant. If you believe are being harassed by your landlord, you can go to the police. If you are a tenant in New York City and your landlord is harassing you, you can go to the New York City Housing Court. Tell the Court Clerk that you want to start a harassment case against the landlord.

What to do if you are a victim of Landlord harassment?

If a tenant feels they have been a victim of landlord harassment, the tenant has several options: Document the Incident: The tenant should document any alleged incidents that occur including the date, time and nature of the harassment. File Complaint: In many cities, a tenant can file a complaint with their local government.

Is cancer a disability under the Fair Housing Act?

While cancer does not always fit neatly into the definition of a disability under the Fair Housing Act, it likely will be treated as one if the landlord perceives an applicant or tenant as a person with a disability.

What happens if a landlord harasses you?

If a Judge finds that the landlord is harassing you, the court can order the landlord to stop and pay a fine. If you are a tenant outside New York City and your landlord is harassing you, this is a defense to an eviction case.

What are some examples of harassment?

Harassment is anything that the landlord does to try to force you to move out. Examples of harassment: 1 trying to hurt you 2 threatening to hurt you 3 stopping your heat and hot water or other services after you file a complaint 4 leaving your apartment in an unlivable condition 5 taking you to court for nothing over and over again 6 removing the door or changing the lock of the apartment without giving you a key 7 offering you money to move in an abusive way (like cursing, coming to your job, calling at odd hours, or lying to you)

What happens if you write a letter to your landlord saying "stop offering a buy out"?

If you write a letter to the landlord saying stop offering a buy-out and the landlord doesn’t stop, it is harassment. For 180 days the landlord/owner can’t offer you a buy-out unless you tell him or her in writing it’s OK, or the Court says it’s OK.

What is landlord harassment?

Landlord harassment and tenant harassment are sometimes used interchangeably to refer to a tenant feeling harassed by their landlord. Harassing a tenant with the intention of making their living situation so uncomfortable they want to move or terminate a lease agreement is illegal.

How to stop harassment from landlord?

A harassed tenant should also take the following steps to protect themselves: 1 Keep a log of every encounter you have with your landlord. Make sure to take note of the time, date, and what was said. 2 Write a letter to your landlord asking for the harassment to stop. Send the letter with proof of mailing and keep a copy of the letter. 3 Ask a witness to be there for landlord interactions. Witness accounts and video recordings of your interactions can be used in court as long as they were done legally. 4 Keep copies of all rental agreements, letters, notices, photos, names of witnesses, notes, and any other evidence used to support your claim. 5 Call the police if you feel like you are in danger or your safety is threatened

What is a three day notice?

Lying or intimidating a tenant. Giving a “three-day notice” or other eviction notice that is based on false charges. Using fighting words or threatening bodily harm.

What to do if you are harassed by a landlord?

Pro tip for landlords: If your tenants are accusing you of harassment, you will benefit from following these same tips. Take detailed notes of all your interactions. Use software designed for landlords to keep excellent records.

What happens if you butt your head with your tenant?

If you find yourself butting heads with your tenant, as long as your tenant is not violating any lease terms, you have to let them live in the property throughout the duration of the lease. Both renters and landlords need to be aware of what constitutes true harassment.

Is retaliation against landlord illegal?

There are additional protections for tenants against landlord retaliation. If a renter has asserted his rights to stand up against harassment or filed a complaint against a landlord who isn’t making repairs, most states consider any retaliation from a landlord in response to these actions as illegal.

Is landlord harassment a problem?

Landlord harassment is considered such an issue in major cities of these states that specific laws and protections were created to protect renters and punish violators. See San Francisco, Santa Monica, CA, and NYC for examples of tenant protections against landlord harassment. Getting accused of harassment is a serious issue ...

What are some examples of harassment by tenants?

Here are some common examples of harassment by tenants: A tenant refuses to pay rent and claims repair issues or uninhabitable living conditions. The landlord constantly receives noise complaints about a tenant. A tenant frequently sends the landlord threatening emails or texts to their landlord.

What does it mean when a tenant is harassed?

Harassment does not simply mean “verbal abuse, ” it can also mean a tenant is disrupting a landlord’s life.

What to do if you don't want to evict a tenant?

If you don’t want to evict the tenant or they are sending you empty threats, try talking to them about the situation.

What happens if a tenant doesn't leave you alone?

When a tenant just won’t leave you alone and is a constant nuisance, you may have grounds to evict them. In addition, a lot of times, tenants will try to “get even” with their landlords by threatening to withhold rent, keeping a security deposit, breaking the lease, or filing a lawsuit.

How long do you have to give a tenant notice to move out?

The same eviction process applies for every situation. First, you should give the tenant proper notice, usually 30 days, depending on your state laws, and make sure they move out on time. If you want your tenant out now, you can consider a few options to get them to leave.

Why is it important to build a good tenant-landlord relationship?

It’s important to build a good tenant-landlord relationship so that your rental business can succeed. However, you also have the option of telling the tenant to stop contacting you and to only send requests for maintenance or rental-related questions in writing.

Can a bad tenant make their way into your rental?

Unfortunately, no matter how thorough your screening process may be, bad tenants have a way of making their way into your rental unit. If you’re tenant is harassing you or intimidating you, make sure to handle the situation properly.

What to do if tenant threatens you?

If a tenant threatens you with legal action, ask to speak with the attorney they claim is representing them. Get the lawyer’s phone number and give them a call. Lawyers have an ethical obligation to follow the law, and cannot encourage a tenant to pursue a course of action that is not justified.

Can a landlord use profanity?

You can remind them of this fact, but use a non-confrontational manner. It is not appropriate for the landlord to use idle threats, or profanity, when dealing with problem tenants.

Can you hire a mold remediator to test your house?

The claim that mold is in the house. This is a big one these days and while it is possible do not hire a mold remediator to test your house for mold. They will always find something and try to get you to spend a fortune. Hire a house inspector that does not do repairs or remedation. c.

What is harassment in a rental?

Harassment is the use of aggressive methods by the landlord in an attempt to pressure or intimidate a tenant. A landlord may perform these actions to disrupt the tenant's quiet, peaceful enjoyment of the rental unit, force the tenant to move from the unit or force the tenant to refrain from pursuing a legal right they have. 1 .

What are some examples of landlord harassment?

16 Examples of Landlord Harassment. There are endless ways a landlord could harass a tenant. Some examples include: Illegal Entry: Advance notice is usually required before a landlord can enter the tenant’s apartment. Emergencies are an exception to this rule. Entering a tenant’s property without warning or prior approval could be considered ...

How long does it take for a landlord to give a tenant a notice to quit?

In most states, this is 30 days before the rent increase will take effect. 3. Sending Tenant Notice to Quit for Violating Lease Terms: If a tenant is violating the terms of their lease, the landlord has the legal right to send the tenant a notice to quit the behavior.

What is an improper notice?

Improper Notice: Landlord-tenant law requires landlords to give a certain amount of notice for events such as entry, nonpayment of rent or evictions. 4 5 If the landlord does not give the proper notice, it could be considered harassment.

How much notice do you need to give a landlord to raise rent?

Raising Rent : Most states will require a landlord to give a tenant at least 30 days’ notice before the landlord is allowed to increase the tenant’s rent. 3 Demanding more money without the proper notice could be a form of harassment.

How much can a landlord be fined for harassment?

A landlord could be fined between $3,000 and 11,000 for each harassment offense they are convicted of. In addition, they are unable to increase the rent on a tenant who they have been convicted of harassing until the Division of Housing and Community Renewal lifts this ban. 1  If a landlord in New York is convicted of a felony for physically injuring a tenant, he or she could face jail time, as well as a fine. 11 

What is physical harassment?

Physically Threatening the Tenant: A landlord could try to pressure a tenant using physical harassment. This could include using their body to block a tenant’s exit from a room, getting in a tenant’s face or even putting their hands on the tenant.

Who is liable under the Fair Housing Act?

Facing these facts, the Court, in a December 2019 decision, held that a landlord or management company may be liable under the Fair Housing act for intentionally discriminating against a tenant by:

What was the N word used in the case of Francis v. Kings Park Manor?

In Francis v. Kings Park Manor, a Black man, Donahue Francis, was subjected to a “brazen and relentless campaign of racial harassment, abuse, and threats,” including repeated use of the N-word, by the man who lived in the apartment next door.

Can a landlord discriminate against you?

You may know that federal law prohibits a landlord, real estate agent, or property owner from discriminating against you on the basis of your race, gender, religion, ethnicity, and other protected categories.

Does the law forbid landlords from discriminating against tenants?

It may adopt some of the arguments that the lone dissenting judge made in the first decision, the primary of which is that, while the law forbids landlords themselves from discriminating against tenants, it does not impose on them a duty to prevent tenants from discriminating against or harassing one another.

What to do if your tenant is hurt?

If you believe that your safety is jeopardized and that your tenant might do something to hurt you, you should contact the police and ask for protection. Save the police report in case you eventually need to ask for a restraining order to keep your former tenant away.

How to reduce the risk of eviction?

While you can never be one hundred percent sure that there will be no unpleasant surprises, there are a few things you can do to at least reduce the risk, including the following: Run a thorough tenant background check (check their criminal background, eviction report, credit report, etc.)

What is a cease and desist letter?

The cease and desist letter serves two purposes: to make your tenant stop harassing you, as well as to be a piece of evidence if you take the matter to court. With a cease and desist letter as proof, you can show that you tried to solve the problem in question before taking it to court.

How long do you have to send notice of termination to a tenant?

Send your tenant a written notice—you need to send the Notice of Termination at least 30 days before the eviction day and include the reason for eviction. Deliver a copy of the Application and the Notice of Hearing to the tenant at least five or ten calendar days before the hearing is scheduled.

Is tenant harassment common?

Even though it’s thought to be less common, the tenant-harassing-landlord situation can still turn into quite an issue. The good news is that there are ways to handle this problem and protect both your property and yourself. The relationship between a landlord and a tenant is often somewhat intricate, and most landlords make peace with ...

Can a landlord find a perfect renter?

The relationship between a landlord and a tenant is often somewhat intricate, and most landlords make peace with the fact that they can never find a perfect renter. But you need to know how to differentiate between those usual “imperfections” and nuisance and harassment.

Can a tenant become a stalker?

Your tenant might turn into a stalker, but you don’t know how to stop them . You might have a problem with sexual harassment or any other form of abuse. Whatever the case, we can protect you. That’s not all—there’s so much more you can use our app for, from problems with credit cards to overdue bills.