Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    daniel_1's Avatar
    daniel_1 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Apr 10, 2009, 11:27 AM
    Landlord law
    Can a landlord be held responsible for a tenants actions?
    daniel_1's Avatar
    daniel_1 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #2

    Apr 10, 2009, 11:34 AM
    Landlord law
    Can a landlord be held responsible for a tenants actions? My neighbors tenant threatens me and scarres my wife and kids. He harasses me, spits at me, and never stops bothering me. The Massachusetts court say he is doing nothing wrong. Can his landlord who was told about his actions be held responsible?
    excon's Avatar
    excon Posts: 21,482, Reputation: 2992
    Uber Member
    		  
    #3

    Apr 10, 2009, 11:40 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by daniel_1 View Post
    Can a landlord be held responsible for a tenants actions? My neighbors tenant threatens me and scarres my wife and kids. He harrases me, spits at me, and never stops bothering me. The massachusetts court say he is doing nothing wrong. Can his landlord who was told about his actions be held responsible?
    Hello d:

    Maybe.. But, the neighbor has to do something actionable before the landlord MIGHT be liable... And, you'll have to be able to PROVE the landlord was put on notice, and you won't be able to do that if he was just "told".

    So, probably not.

    I don't know what you mean by "court", unless he's been charged and acquitted of some offense against you. Do you mean the cops won't arrest him??

    excon
    excon's Avatar
    excon Posts: 21,482, Reputation: 2992
    Uber Member
    		  
    #4

    Apr 10, 2009, 11:42 AM

    Hello again Dan:

    You only need to ask once.

    excon
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
    Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
    		  
    #5

    Apr 10, 2009, 12:09 PM

    In your case, I don't think so. A personal dispute between neighbors is not within the provence of a landlord. If the tenant was committing some illegal, criminal act and the landlord was aware of it and had done nothing and then you were damaged in the course of that criminal act, then you might have a cause of action. Not from what I see.

    However, Harassment is illegal in most places (though not necessarily criminal). In MA this is covered by this statute:
    CHAPTER 164 OF THE ACTS OF 2000

    But to get someone prosecuted under that statute you will need to prove the threats are part of a pattern.
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Dealing with a landlord that's never been a Landlord [ 15 Answers ]

I have had numerous landlords in my lifetime with all of them the same. They abide by the laws for tenant and landlord. Especially when they have a tenant that pays on time and respects their property. I am currently renting from a landlord that has never been a landlord and seems to think that...

My Landlord [ 3 Answers ]

I just have a question about my landlord. I asked my landlord to come and fix a foul smell in my house and he said it came from a leaky pipe. He fixed the pipe but I also asked him to remove the carpet in there cause it stunk like mold and he said no just let it dry and it will be OK. Well it has...

Does my landlord have the right? [ 1 Answers ]

I lived at my previous address for 9 months. For about 6 of those months our neighbors gave us a hard time. They would throw garbage on my porch, block my car in, and yell threats. So I decided to move out. When the landlord got to the apartment I tried to explain to him the situation and he...

Landlord [ 2 Answers ]

What can I do if I have renters who will not pay their rent . No rental agreement was signed it was verbal agreement !:confused:

Am I a Landlord? [ 7 Answers ]

I invited my 25 year old daughter and her small children to come to my house and live after they were homeless in Florida in the fall of 2004. They arrived in March of 2005. Since moving in she and her small children have ruined my carpet, walls and one toilet. They are slobs and she hasn't...

View more questions Search