Is it legal for my landlord to have a maintenance man working for him who is an habitual sex offender and who also has keys to my home?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Is it legal for my landlord to have a maintenance man working for him who is an habitual sex offender and who also has keys to my home?
My landlord did not notify me that our maintenance man is a habitual sex offender. Should I have been notified? Also, he holds a key to our house and knows my floor plan and where my child’s room is at.
Asked on September 1, 2010 under Real Estate Law, Ohio
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
The landlord has a duty to maintain your safety while you rent his apartment. The obligation to do so varies from state to state with regard to sex offenders and what the obligation of the landlord is legally to the tenants when he is aware of the situation. It also varies on the facts. In other words, that the sex offender lives down the hall, probably. That the sex offender used to reside in your apartment, probably not. Here, though, is a situation that would make the hair on the back of my neck stand up as well. Allowing him access to apartments with children by giving him keys does not seem to be a prudent gesture even though it may not be against the law per se. I would speak with an attorney in your area as soon as you can on this matter as soon as possible. Technically you can not install locks in the apartment without giving your landlord a key so act quickly on this issue. Good luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.