Malicious tenant selection - is it illegal?

Factual Questions
1

For the last couple of year, the folks who own the house next door to me have managed to rent the house to an assorted collection of dirtbags. The latest one is a really nice touch.

So since I can’t force someone who lawfully owns a house and rents it to knuckleheads to sell it, I need another way to show them the error of their ways. I had the thought of buying the house next door to the Landlord’s residence. I would then go out of my way to rent the house Section 8 or to a convicted felon (at a financial loss to myself of course).

Is there anything technically illegal in doing this? Do I face liability as a landlord if my tenants commit crimes in the neighborhood?

Yeah I know, I could sell my place and perhaps I will. But I hate running from a problem. Revenge always seems to make me feel better.

2

IANAL, but unless the tenants are breaking the law, there’s not a whole lot you’re going to be able to do. I don’t think there’s much the law can do about who a landlord can rent to.

Any kind of revenge is likely to backfire. Write a letter to the landlord and leave it at that, but I wouldn’t be sitting by the mailbox waiting for a reply.

3

so your going to move more bad people into the neighborhood, to improve the quality of your neighborhood??? :confused:

4

so your going to move more bad people into the neighborhood, to improve the quality of your neighborhood??? :confused:

5

No I move bad people into the landlord’s neighborhood.

6

why not just buy the house in your neighborhood and rent to whoever you want

7

If you could afford the house next to the landlord, why not just move there yourself?

Not to mention that a Section 8 tenant or even a convicted felon isn’t necessarily going to be a problem for the neighbor (your landlord). Or if the tenant is a problem, they might mess up this house that’s your property, costing you money.

8

If the ‘dirtbag’ renters next door are doing something illegal, contact the police. Regularily. They don’t like these kind of people living in their precinct any more than you do, and will arrest them if they can.

You might also contact the city code enforcement people – generally, landlords who rent to this kind of tenants don’t bother to keep the property up to code with smoke detectors, etc. The inspector will likely find problems that the landlord will have to fix.

And many cities now have ordinances to deal with ‘problem properties’. And a lot of police calls or inspection problems will get a rental property put onto that list, and then the city may start to take action against the landlord.

9

yes, i think regularly reporting genuine illegal activity is the way to go. may not offer an instant fix, but it will be documented, and such documentation could help you out in the future.

what exactly are the neighbors doing that makes them such a pain?