Landlords have some legal responsibility to protect their tenants from criminal activities occurring on the property, especially if similar crimes have occurred in the past, and are likely to occur again.
Landlord must also protect the rest of the neighborhood from their tenants committing criminal activities such as illegal drug activity. Rental property owners are constantly being sued by tenants injured as a result of criminal acts committed on the property. There are some measures that landlords can take to protect themselves from lawsuits and ensure the safety of their tenants:
Unless the lease provides otherwise, there is an implied warranty or obligation by the landlord that during the lease term, the tenant is entitled to "quiet enjoyment" of the property. Even if the tenant's disruption is caused by a third party such as another tenant or a neighbor, it is the landlord's duty to take action. If the landlord does not, then the tenant can terminate the lease. The landlord may be required to compensate the tenant for moving.
If there is any kind of illegal activity on the property, the landlord must take action immediately either by evicting the person committing the illegal activity and/or calling the police. If the tenant advises the landlord that there is illegal activity nearby the landlord should take reasonable measures to try and report it to the proper person or authority to protect his tenants. If the landlord does nothing, the tenant can terminate the lease.
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