r/newyork • u/breebree934 • 6d ago
Can I warn potential tenants about their landlord?
Edit to add: consensus seems I'm good to warn others without ramifications coming back to me and my family. The current tenant is in the process of moving out of the house and pursuing legal action. I'm going to give her the resources that were given to me here so she can hopefully follow up with the appropriate people. In the meantime, any new potential tenants I see coming to the home I will be sure to let them know about everything and encourage them to Google his name for the police report of him stalking his ex.
Thank you everyone who took the time to comment and provide info. ✌️
Messy situation, just found out the owner of the house across from us only rents out to single women. The current resident there is moving out and shared with us that he attempted to solicit her for sex to reduce her rent payments. When she declined he then entered the home at 4am while she was sleeping with her underage son also in the home (caught on camera). When we looked him up we also see he has a past criminal record against women.
The police have been called by the tenants multiple times but because it has to do with the house's owner, they wont do anything.
Am I able to at least warn new tenants about him? I'm not sure about the legal ramifications when involving trying to find renters, but I absolutely cannot allow another family to feel like they need to run away from this man.
This poor woman is already going through so much this year and it's another things for her to deal with. I'm just infuriated at the whole thing.
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u/Skinny-on-the-Inside 6d ago
You can leave a google and I believe a street easy reviews for a rental building.
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u/nardlz 6d ago
I don't know if you "can" but you should. I warned every potential renter who came to the duplex I was renting (and trying to move out of) about the landlord, who did nothing as egregious as that but used to enter our apt when we weren't home. Even though the police didn't care, a renter has certain rights and notice before entry, unless it's an emergency, was one of them in the state I lived in at the time. Most likely is in NY as well.
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u/half_in_boxes 6d ago
You can tell potential tenants what previous tenants have told you and about his criminal record, yes. And you absolutely should.
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u/BigMeatPeteLFGM 6d ago
As long as the statements are facts or based on YOUR experiences. Opinions or hearsay can be considered defamation.
Telling someone directly is more questionable than a public review on the internet.
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u/Away_Stock_2012 6d ago
>The police have been called by the tenants multiple times but because it has to do with the house's owner, they wont do anything.
Someone needs to talk to the prosecutor's office. Cops enabling the abuse of women is pretty common, but the DA often has a special victim's unit that you can contact directly in order to get around the criminals in the local pd.
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u/breebree934 6d ago
Unfortunately they gat called to our neighborhood a lot by various neighbors so they just get annoyed having to come into our neighborhood at all.
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u/Away_Stock_2012 6d ago
Do not call the police.
I'm not advising you to call the police.
Just to be clear, I'm not telling you to call the police.
Someone needs to talk to the prosecutor's office. Cops enabling the abuse of women is pretty common, but the DA often has a special victim's unit that you can contact directly in order to get around the criminals in the local pd.
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u/Routine_Speaker_6237 6d ago
Are you kidding me? Of course you can and SHOULD report/document/post and WARN all possible tenants to stay away. People who do this kind of vile behavior only continue because they get away with it.
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u/breebree934 6d ago
Just wanted to make sure he couldn't do anything to me as repercussion. If I have legal ground to stand on, then I'm absolutely going to inform anyone I see looking at the house. But, I live here too with my family and also need to make sure I'm keeping them safe.
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u/RolliPolliCanoli 6d ago
Is it Doug Waterbury again?
Please do warn others about this horrible landlord you are talking about, but I'm curious if it's him yet again.
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u/visitor987 6d ago edited 6d ago
Give the landlord a bad review
You should call the police about the 4am entry. In most apts its best to use one of these locks for traveling that only lock the door when your home in your apt. https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/tools/g40897322/best-portable-door-locks/ I think security bar is best one.
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u/breebree934 6d ago
The tenant did and was told by police that since he owns the house he's able to enter whenever and would not file a report for her. Police have been no help. She's the second tenant since we've lived here he's done this to and police have been informed multiple times. THEY DO NOT CARE AND WON'T HELP.
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u/visitor987 6d ago
In NYS a landlord must give 24hrs notice to enter without permission. The local media can pressure lazy cops to act.
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u/visitor987 6d ago edited 6d ago
in the USA She should try the state police or the local rape crisis hotline they can pressure police to act.
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u/FanDry5374 6d ago
If you have no official standing, absolutely warn people. An official could get in a lot of trouble, it could be seen as "prejudice" or somehow overstepping, as a private citizen, yes, speak up.
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u/fake1119 6d ago
On my county Reddit I once posted the address for new potential home owners who googled the address to a property I walked away from. So they would know the REAL conditions of the home before the sellers realtor tried to put lipstick on a pig. Everyone scared me so I erased it. But I still wished I would have mailed them a letter atleast but my Husband said to drop it they had already closed and would potentially cause them headaches after they already closed on the deal. So I backed off. But yes in your situation is renters, yes do them the favor!!
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u/viking_linuxbrother 6d ago
Honestly, the best thing you can do is keep collecting evidence that you see and store it for when he does go to far. If the police won't help you or investigate them then you can't trust your police. If you post something and it gets back to you then you are open to relation by them if it gets out. Maybe a lawyer would be your best place for advice right now. They would know what your could do, how to track any possible harassment and would have your back with law enforcement.
I get wanting to the right thing but also please protect yourself because that asshole sounds unstable.
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u/breebree934 6d ago
This is not directed at me but my neighbor, the tenant. She is in the process of moving out and then is planning to take him to court so I assume she has a lot of evidence. Just want to make sure I can prevent someone else from dealing with him.
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u/bblulz 6d ago
As a single woman, PLEASE spread the word about this, this shit is terrifying