Is there something I can do legally to stop the harassment that I am getting from the other tenants?
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Is there something I can do legally to stop the harassment that I am getting from the other tenants?
I am being called names by the other tenants just because they do not like my tanktop; there is nothing wrong with my tanktop and it doesn’t reveal anything . They are also making fun of my daughter’s clothe;s she wears skirts all the time and they are of the appropriate length and covers everything. They are constantly staring at us and it in generally making us feel uncomfortable.
Asked on August 15, 2011 Idaho
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
IF the harassment rises to the level of "disorderly conduct" or "preventing your quiet enjoyment"--i.e. effectively preventing you from making use of your rental premises--you may be able to get the landlord to order them to stop (on pain of eviction); landlords have an obligation to prevent anything within their control from impairing the quiet enjoyment of tenants, and other tenants--at least to the extent they are engaging in disorderly conduct (which is generally prohibited)--are within their control.
However, note that this is a fairly high standard to reach, and there is no recourse for behavior short of it, no matter how annoying; the law does not require people to be nice to or respectful of each other. Also, the landlord will very likely be resistant to taking action, since that will cost it time, money, effort; damage the relationship with other tenants; etc. Therefore, if this is serious enough that it's worthwhile to you to hire an attorney to try to force the landord to act, you should to that--or at least consult with an attorney in detail in person, to evaluate your options. If it's not worth going to a lawyer, while you can try telling the landlord about it, it may not be worth taking action on.
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