Tenant is Multiple Harassing Text Messages to the Landlord
My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Kansas
I am a landlord who rents two apartments to my ex of about 5 years; we broke up 11 months ago. They have a lease through the end of July 2019; it was an 2-year lease. They frequently (as recent as 3 weeks ago) send harassing texts and emails suggesting that I kill myself and offers ways that I should do it. I have bipolar depression and have had multiple suicide and self-harm events throughout the course of my life. My ex, of course, knows this about me; her messages are very upsetting to me.
If I didn't have a lease in place with her, I would just block her from being able to contact me. However, she sometimes needs to contact me for legitimate tenant issues. Is this kind of harassment grounds for lease termination? The hostility is related to our previous intimate relationship - not our landlord/tenant relationship.
Thanks in advance.
Re: Tenant Sending Multiple Harassing Text Message; Tells Landlord to Commit Suicide
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dianekvg
Is this kind of harassment grounds for lease termination?
Does your lease say that harassment of that sort is grounds for termination? If not, then likely the answer is no. You may wish to consult an attorney in your state who practices in landlord/tenant law to see if there is any case law that might support terminating the lease in this circumstance if your lease does not provide for it. Perhaps you can offer her a chunk of cash for early termination of the lease just to get her out and be done with her.
Also you speak of "they". Is there someone else on the lease besides your ex? If so, who is that?
Re: Tenant Sending Multiple Harassing Text Message; Tells Landlord to Commit Suicide
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Taxing Matters
Also you speak of "they". Is there someone else on the lease besides your ex? If so, who is that?
No. It's just her. "They" is just being used as a singular pronoun here.
Re: Tenant Sending Multiple Harassing Text Message; Tells Landlord to Commit Suicide
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dianekvg
If I didn't have a lease in place with her, I would just block her from being able to contact me.
If you didn't have a lease you could give her 30 days notice and be rid of her.
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dianekvg
Is this kind of harassment grounds for lease termination?
Doubtful.
But check out the Kansas landlord tenant statute as there may be causes there for which you can terminate the tenancy. No guarantees.
The residential statute runs from 58-2540 through 58-2573.