Harassment by Landlord

by Mary Anne Ragragio


Posted on 2019-09-23 23:17:01


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The relationship between a tenant and a landlord is not always pleasant. Sometimes it happens when a tenant is being harassed by their landlord or property manager. Unfortunately, tenants also experience harassment, intimidation, invade your privacy, threats or sometimes physical violence from their landlord or property manager. There are different ways of how a landlord harasses their tenants. Sometimes just because of some disagreement regarding tenancy that’s why some landlord does unexpected actions in the way they can against their tenants.

It would be good and important that tenants should also be aware of the possible harassment a landlord might possibly do, and be ready for some preventive measures on how they can protect themselves.

 

What is considered harassment?

It is when a Landlord or Property Manager willingly create an action or situation where a tenant will feel uncomfortable to make them decide to abandon the property, break the lease or move out. Or it is the too much use of actions by landlords in an attempt to intimidate a tenant. This kind of strategy is usually sought because it will avoid expensive legal expenses or possible problems regarding eviction.

 

There are many examples of landlord harassment, of what is not acceptable conduct, and here are some of them:

  • Refusal of maintenance request on the property that required by law.
  • Disconnecting electric, water supply, phone line without providing proper notice.
  • Harassing tenant when rent is not paid or any balance on payment.
  • Causing an inconvenience for the tenant like making a loud noise.
  • Intimidation and threats of physical or damage to the tenant.
  • Verbal and written complaints of something unreal or too much of a tenant’s supposed behavior.
  • When a landlord or property manager attempts to enter a tenant’s property unit without any legal reason or emergency situation.
  • Making undesirable sexual comments or sexual advances.
  • Do or say things that discriminate against you about your race, religion, familial status, sexual orientation, disability or ethnicity.   

 

How can a tenant protect themselves from the landlord or property manager's harassment?

  • Try to communicate with your landlord first in a calmly and professional way. All types of conversation can possibly be fixed if both will coordinate with each other. It will help remove any misunderstanding if ever there is. But if the same harassment doesn’t stop despite the effort to help fix the problem, you may send your landlord a letter to request to stop the harassment. It would be better if there is a proof of mailing.
  • It is important that tenants keep copies of all documents like rental agreements, all letters, notices, photos and everything that you can possibly use to support your complaint.
  • Record all of your experiences of harassment done by your landlord or property manager. You may take note of the time, place and date of the encounter.
  • Better if there is evidence like pictures, videos of the harassment encounters, and witnesses who can testify and proof of the harassments.
  • You may call and notify a police officer of the encounter of harassment, threats or attempt of physical to protect yourself. This can be used as evidence.

 


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