Managing the intricacies of tenant relationships is a crucial part of property management for landlords. Regrettably, disputes can arise between the landlords and tenants can occasionally get out of hand to the point where any action performed by one party could be construed as harassment, which is against the law and can have detrimental effects.When a landlord sets up unfavorable circumstances to entice a tenant to violate the terms of their lease or vacate the property they currently occupy, it is known as landlord harassment. The law defines a specific set of actions as landlord harassment, and landlords who engage in these practices may be subject to consequences.Even though it can be challenging to prove landlord harassment, more and more legal jurisdictions are identifying this behavior and applying the proper sanctions when the law is concerned.
There are various types of harassments and so it is important to seek legal advice, especially if you are uncertain on what to do. There is also a separate legal advice for renters with mold issues, which could also lead to harassment such as in scenario where the landlord says offensive words because you raise a certain issue or concern.
Below are some examples of landlord harassments
- Not doing out maintenance duties in a responsible and timely manner.
- Removing amenities that were originally permitted, including access to the pool or landscaping services.
- Notifications of inappropriate behavior those are fictitious or overstated.
- Notices of improper behavior that target a specific renter while ignoring infractions from other tenants.
- When landlords believe they are unable to wait for the right moment and strategy to increase rent or decide not to renew a lease, it is common for them to engage in landlord harassment. Many of these cases take place in places with tight rent controls, when landlords are looking to replace long-term renters with higher-paying newcomers.
When landlords take such drastic measures, they frequently do so to save money on eviction fees and to minimize the trouble of having to properly and legally remove a tenant. 7. There is never a good justification to harass tenants, not even if they are breaking the terms of the lease or the landlord has chosen not to renew the agreement when it ends. Seek legal counsel from a tenant rights attorney if the harassment worsens or persists. Look for local legal assistance organizations that provide housing-related services if you can’t afford a private counsel.
