Did you know... April 22, 2019

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & A RESIDENTIAL LEASE

A victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking may terminate a rental agreement without penalty if specific steps are taken.  Any prepaid rent must be refunded, and the deposit must be accounted for as if the entire term of the lease was fulfilled.  Additionally, the landlord may be required to remove a tenant from a lease if a co-tenant provides a domestic violence restraining order against a co-tenant.  In a recent Fair Housing sex discrimination case, a landlord was fined $20,000 for failing to remove a tenant and change the locks.  The tenant who filed the request was a mother of minor children and had a court protection order.

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Nothing found herein should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a legal opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of law. You should not rely solely on this information. We encourage our clients to work with a lawyer experienced in commercial and/or residential real estate matters as they can be complicated and confusing.