Legal/Ethical responsibilities of Landlord

[Mark Nimchuk]

Quick question, as a landlord renting an apartment to an unmarried couple (man/woman), am I legally responsible to notify any authority (police/social services, etc..) if my female tenant informs me that she is leaving the apartment because she fears for her safety (domestic violence) from her boyfriend???

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Mark

[Stephen E.]

I sit on the board of a centre for research and education on domestic violence. While I am not sure about what the local legal requirements may be, I think you should consider why the woman in question told you about her fears. Was it idle discussion or was it more in hope that someone might listen and see the train wreck that might be about to happen? Landlords can take on the appearance of authority figures in tenants' lives. They can appear to be relatively stable and responsible individuals. This might be a cry for help. I would be inclined to call your local police department and ask to speak to officers who specialise in domestic violence cases, and voice your concerns. Let them decide whether this is a case that requires preventative action or not.