How to Respond to a Tenant’s Domestic Violence

Due to ongoing domestic violence problems, the US Department of Justice introduced guidelines for communities to follow in an attempt to reduce spousal and child abuse. Knowing your community's procedures for dealing with domestic violence will help you set a policy for all incidents that occur.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Notify police immediately upon knowledge or suspicion of spousal, senior or child abuse. Not only do you have an obligation to provide a “reasonably secure” living environment, you could be liable if you suspect child abuse was occurring and you remain silent.
2. Contact women’s advocacy groups in the area to find community resources designed to help battered women. Provide this information to a victim when you become aware of the threat of violence.
3. Maintain secrecy concerning any temporary or permanent address change of a victim of abuse. When an abusive situation is occurring, you may not reveal where the victim has gone. A good rule is to keep all contact information on all former tenants private, unless directed by the court to release them.
4. Terminate a tenancy only when a breach of the contract has occurred or you have a court order to do so. You may not terminate a contract based upon the fact that a tenant is a victim of domestic violence or stalking. In addition, you may be acting illegally if you refuse to rent to an applicant who is a victim.
5. Provide new keys to a changed lock only to the tenant who is in possession of a court order either restraining the other tenant from approaching or granting the tenant sole occupancy. A court order takes precedence over any contract you have with a tenant.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep records of all incidents and conversations when a domestic violence issue arises.
• Knowledge of a violent or abusive situation legally compels you to report the abuse. You may face criminal charges if you do not.