What is considered landlord harassment?

It includes: entering without notice, cutting utilities (water, electricity), verbal threats, intimidation, raising rent as retaliation, purposely not making repairs, or changing locks without a court order.

Is your landlord harassing you? Know what to do and how to protect yourself

Landlord harassment is illegal

Some landlords try to pressure their tenants to leave using harassment tactics. This is illegal and you have the right to defend yourself.

Common forms of harassment

Entering without notice into your apartment repeatedly

Cutting off utilities (water, electricity, gas, heating) as punishment

Changing the locks to prevent you from entering

Verbal threats or intimidation

Threatening to call immigration

Refusing to make repairs to force you to leave

Drastically raising the rent in retaliation for complaints

Making excessive noise or allowing others to do so

Removing doors or windows from your unit

Sexual harassment by the landlord or their employees

How to document harassment

Documentation is your best legal weapon:

1. Date and time: note each incident with the date, time and exactly what happened

2. Photos and videos: document any damage or action by the landlord

3. Witnesses: ask neighbors or friends to serve as witnesses

4. Written communications: save all text messages, emails and letters

5. Recordings: in many states you can record conversations (check your state’s laws)

6. Police reports: if there are threats, call 911 and request a report

Steps to protect yourself

Step 1: Notify in writing

Send a letter or email to the landlord describing the behavior and asking them to stop. Keep a copy.

Step 2: Report to authorities

Call 311 to report housing code violations

File a complaint with the consumer protection office

If there are physical threats, call 911

Step 3: Seek legal help

Legal Aid: free lawyers for low-income tenants

Community tenant defense organizations

Free university legal clinics

Step 4: Consider legal action

You can sue the landlord for damages

In many states, landlord harassment is a criminal offense

Courts can order financial compensation and that the harassment stop

Sexual harassment by the landlord

This includes:

Asking for sexual favors in exchange for repairs or rent reduction

Inappropriate sexual comments

Unwanted physical contact

Spying on the tenant

Sexual harassment in housing violates the Fair Housing Act. Report it to HUD (1-800-669-9777) and seek immediate legal help.

Remember

Do not leave until you have a legal plan — leaving may cause you to lose rights

Do not stop paying rent unless a lawyer tells you to

Your landlord cannot evict you for reporting harassment

Is your landlord harassing you? Know what to do and how to protect yourself

Landlord harassment is illegal

Common forms of harassment

How to document harassment

Steps to protect yourself

Step 1: Notify in writing

Step 2: Report to authorities

Step 3: Seek legal help

Step 4: Consider legal action

Sexual harassment by the landlord

Remember

Frequently Asked Questions

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