There are occasions when a landlord-tenant relationship might be contentious. A professional conversation and a little empathy are often all that is needed to settle these challenges. Situations that escalate may lead to landlord harassment charges against property owners. In addition, a landlord harassment case can wreak havoc on a company’s finances and time. Join us below to learn more about landlord harassment and the consequences it can have for property owners.
If you’re a landlord, you can’t threaten your tenants. Landlord harassment includes verbal threats, threats of physical harm, and actual physical contact. Keep in mind that verbal threats can be issued in person, over the phone, and in writing.
A Property Manager’s Responsibilities for the Safety of Tenants
Managers and other site workers should take care of any fire and safety issues, trip and fall hazards, trespass-prone areas, key control, and any threats to tenants, employees, the building, and the neighborhood. A safety plan should be in place for every residential property.
Property Manager’s Guide to Tenant Safety: Sexual Harassment Policy
property manager’s guide to tenant safety, one of the most important aspects of property management is creating a safe environment for your tenants. This includes implementing policies that protect them from sexual harassment. In this blog post, we will discuss what property managers need to do to create a safe environment for their tenants and post a written sexual harassment policy.
Sexual harassment is a serious issue that can have a lasting impact on its victims. property managers have a responsibility to ensure that their tenants are safe from sexual harassment. One way to do this is to post a written policy about sexual harassment and make sure it is easily accessible to all tenants. This policy should include definitions of what constitutes sexual harassment, as well as the property manager’s commitment to investigating any complaints of sexual harassment. Additionally, the policy should state that any form of retaliation against someone who reports sexual harassment will not be tolerated.
By displaying a documented sexual harassment policy, property managers can convey that they take this issue seriously and are committed to fostering a safe environment for their tenants. If you need help drafting a sexual harassment policy for your property, please contact us. We would be happy to assist you.
If you are a property manager and have experienced sexual harassment, or know someone who has, there are resources available to help. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) provides support and information to victims of sexual violence. If you suspect you have been harassed at work, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provides information on how to submit a complaint. Property managers can also submit a report with their local police station.
Cases of housing-related sexual harassment
Mild sexual harassment is still harassment. Unwanted intrusion into a tenant’s private life is one possible scenario, depending on the specifics of the situation.
A single female lives in a co-op flat. Do you have a date? Coworkers have also made other intrusive enquiries about her relationship. When do you plan to get married and start a family? When she complains about being asked such inappropriate questions, she is told to “lighten up.”
In rental housing, some men do experience sexual harassment, particularly gay, bi, or transgender men, but women are disproportionately affected. Gender inequality typically exacerbates the power dynamic between landlords and tenants. The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario made a remark about this imbalance of power in one case:
A super has authority over the residents. They have the potential to make a tenant’s living environment intolerable. Misuse of this authority has the potential to seriously impair a tenant’s quality of life. The expectation of peace in her family is shattered when an older guy in a position of authority sexually harasses a younger lady.
