Is a landlord obligated to tell a potential tenant about a death/murder/suicide that occured in the apartment/home that is for rent?
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Is a landlord obligated to tell a potential tenant about a death/murder/suicide that occured in the apartment/home that is for rent?
Asked on January 21, 2013 under Real Estate Law, Louisiana
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
There is no general legal obligation whatsoever to disclose this. If, however, *prior* to renting the home, you specifically ask the landlord whether there were any deaths/murders/suicides and make it plain to the landlord that this is an important consideration to you in determining where to live, then the landlord may not lie about this--if he does, he has likely committed fraud, which could give you grounds to escape the lease without penalty and/or seek monetary compensation. However, if the person you speak with did not know of any such, there would be no claim or liability if you later discover he is wrong; fraud is lying, not being innocently mistaken.
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