New York state law doesn’t allow landlords to look the other way while tenants commit crimes. One New York law allows prosecutors to pursue eviction proceedings against the landlord in addition to the tenant. Another law provides that the landlord is equally liable for damages inflicted on third parties by the tenant’s illegal acts. These laws are not untested and unenforced, either – there are numerous precedents for massive judgments against landlords for violating the above statutes. If you think one of your tenants is engaging in any of the illegal activities discussed below – or any other illegal act – in your rental property, then you should contact an attorney immediately to halt the illegal conduct before it ends up costing you.
There have been cases in New York in which a landlord was aware that one of their commercial tenants was dealing in counterfeit goods at far below the cost of the authentic product. However, the tenant was otherwise a model renter who a
continue reading