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  1. #1

    Default Being Harassed, Need to Break Lease

    My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: michigan

    I recently rented a house in a not so great neighborhood. I havent even moved in yet and the neighbor, who is a 65 year old woman, is harassing us. She flatly told us not to move in. We returned today to move some items into the house and there was a junk vehicle in our driveway, garbage all over the fromt yard, and a couch that had been thrown over the fence from the neighbors property into our backyard.
    I contacted my rental company and they are saying to call the police etc, but im sure they will do nothing, even if they talk to the woman im sure the situation will just escalate to slashes tires or worse.
    My rental company hasnt said weather they will let us out of the lease.
    My understanding is that harassment/safety concerns is grounds to break a lease.
    What are my options? I have told the rental company they can keep my deposit and first months rent and that we just want to leave.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
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    19,901

    Default Re: Being Harassed, Need to Break Lease

    Your understanding is by and large wrong. The provision for "safety" is limited to items that make the property itself fail to meet the habitability standards. There is no general provision providing for an escape for "harassment." The only ones that apply are is the landlord himself is harassing you or that you are the victim of stalking, domestic violence, or sexual assault.

    The landlord is by and large not responsible for obnoxious neighbors.

    The good news is that the landlord is obligated to try and rent the property to someone else, and you're only obligated to pay for the loss of rent until a new tenant is found.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
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    750

    Default Re: Being Harassed, Need to Break Lease

    Quote Quoting flyingron
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    Your understanding is by and large wrong. The provision for "safety" is limited to items that make the property itself fail to meet the habitability standards. There is no general provision providing for an escape for "harassment." The only ones that apply are is the landlord himself is harassing you or that you are the victim of stalking, domestic violence, or sexual assault.

    The landlord is by and large not responsible for obnoxious neighbors.

    The good news is that the landlord is obligated to try and rent the property to someone else, and you're only obligated to pay for the loss of rent until a new tenant is found.
    But this is a case of stalking and potential violence.

    I would demand all my money back and not listen to a word of objection from the landlord/owner. If they refused to return it all, then let a judge decide. A property must be safe to live in, which this property can be proven not to be.

    You should take a lot of photos and maybe even video of encounters with this person. Having the video and photo evidence might be all it takes to make the landlord back down...knowing that evidence can be presented to a judge.

    Intimidation and preparation is nine-tenths of the law.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
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    Default Re: Being Harassed, Need to Break Lease

    Quote Quoting Harold99
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    But this is a case of stalking and potential violence.
    Not by anyone the landlord has any power over.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
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    750

    Default Re: Being Harassed, Need to Break Lease

    Quote Quoting PayrolGuy
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    Not by anyone the landlord has any power over.
    So what! The landlord could easily be discovered as having knowledge of this bad, violent neighbor and locked the new tenant in anyway.

    If you cannot do that type of concealing while selling a property, it's likely you cannot do that renting one either. But if you would roll over if this happened to you, so be it. Others likely want to know what a courageous person would do. Not what a wimp would do.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
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    4,301

    Default Re: Being Harassed, Need to Break Lease

    I love how you add things to the OP just so you can give a different answer than everyone else. The OP asked what she can do within the law. And other than your yapping that is what she should get in a forum called Expertlaw.com.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
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    252

    Default Re: Being Harassed, Need to Break Lease

    Quote Quoting Harold99
    View Post
    But this is a case of stalking and potential violence.

    I would demand all my money back and not listen to a word of objection from the landlord/owner. If they refused to return it all, then let a judge decide. A property must be safe to live in, which this property can be proven not to be.

    You should take a lot of photos and maybe even video of encounters with this person. Having the video and photo evidence might be all it takes to make the landlord back down...knowing that evidence can be presented to a judge.

    Intimidation and preparation is nine-tenths of the law.
    The Op never mentions your "stalking " allegation and "potential" violence is not actionable. Your advise reckless as usual.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Posts
    401

    Default Re: Being Harassed, Need to Break Lease

    I would move in and install video cameras that save footage for several days before it is overwritten. That way if the neighbor engages in further shenanigans there will be evidence for the cops or to obtain a restraining order.

    Also if the video shows the neighbor vandalizing the home, then you can turn that over to the landlord so he can go after the neighbor for repair costs instead of that coming out of your security deposit.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
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    750

    Default Re: Being Harassed, Need to Break Lease

    This is why I don't supply links to laws. They don't mean squat to people that don't want to believe them.

    You folks are about wanting others to feel hopeless and guilty and nothing is going to change that weird fetish. Funny pg1067 hasn't come by and said 'the law is void because of punctuation or syntax.' Or Jack saying 'you made your bed, now sleep in it.'

    Quote Quoting lill
    View Post
    Your advise reckless as usual.
    Your advice, hopeless as usual.

  10. #10

    Default Re: Being Harassed, Need to Break Lease

    Well idk who is correct, but i appreciate the discussion.
    The situation has favorably resolved;
    The rental company agreed to break the lease in exchange for the 1st months rent and security deposit.
    I thoughy this was fair as its possible they couldve comtinued to accrue rent and then potentially sue and place an eviction on my credit report.
    Perhaps i wouldve won in court, but this is much less hassle.

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