Landlord Harassment

Landlord harassment is the willing creation, by a landlord or their agents, of conditions that are uncomfortable for one or more tenants in order to induce willing abandonment of a rental contract. Such a strategy is often sought because it avoids costly legal expenses and potential problems with eviction. This kind of activity is common in regions where rent control laws exist, but which do not allow the direct extension of rent controlled prices from one tenancy to the subsequent tenancy, thus allowing landlords to set higher prices. Landlord harassment carries specific legal penalties in some jurisdictions, however, enforcement can be very difficult or even impossible in many circumstances. However, when a crime is committed in the process and motives similar to those described above are subsequently proven in court, then those motives may be considered an aggravating factor in many jurisdictions, thus subjecting the offender(s) to a stiffer sentence.

Types of harassment

Various methods are employed in cases of landlord harassment:
* Withholding maintenance on the property, such as garbage collection, landscaping, or repair of broken fixtures
* Verbal and written complaints, imagined or exaggerated, of tenant's supposed improper conduct (see notice to quit)
* Deliberate defacing of the rented facilities or the property of the tenant
* Creating a nuisance for the tenant, for example by generating loud noise
* Intimidation and threats of physical or financial injury directed at the tenant
* Physical assault or other direct criminal activity directed against the tenant

ee also

*Just cause eviction controls
*Leasing
*Tenant rights

External links

* [http://www.smartlandlord.co.uk Useful information on landlords: The Way Ahead] a good source of information for landlords and their rights (United Kingdom)
* [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library2/doc10/hasb-07.asp Housing and Anti-Social Behaviour: The Way Ahead] a summary of research initiatives and legal steps regarding housing problems (United Kingdom)
* [http://www.salford.gov.uk/housing-harassment Are you being harassed by your landlord?] at Salford City Council web-site (United Kingdom)
* [http://www.sftu.org/harass.html Your Landlord Can't Harass You] anti-harassment advice at "San-Francisco Tenants' Union" web-site (United States)
* [http://www.pickalandlord.com Your Landlord Can't Harass You] A place where you can let people know about landlord harassment(United States)