Was my landlord required by law to inform me before I moved in that a sex offender lived next door?
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Was my landlord required by law to inform me before I moved in that a sex offender lived next door?
Was my landlord required by state law to tell me? If so, what are my options? My landlord rents to the sex offender as well.
Asked on August 26, 2010 under Real Estate Law, Kentucky
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
I believe that it may depend on your state but generally a landlord does not have a duty to check the status of a current applicant for an apartment as a registered sex offender and quite frankly the registry can not be used to deny a person an apartment. Some states - such as California - require that if the landlord or broker has "actual knowledge" of the information and it is a "material fact" then it must be disclosed. This holds true on notifying the tenants should the sex offender move in to the area after the apartment is rented. I would check on the laws in your state on the matter. Good luck.
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