Can I be held responsible for my tenant's actions?
Question Details: I own a house that is rented to a family. They cut down some trees on the neighbor's land. Permission was never asked for or granted.
No, a landlord is not responsible for a tenant's tortious (wrongful) or criminal action unless the landlord actually participated in, contributed to, caused, etc. the action--the fact of a landlord-tenant relationship does not, without more, make you liable. That said, it is possible the neighbor might try to sue you, if the neighbor believes you were involved--but if there is no evidence of your involvement and, contrariwise, you have testimony and/or evidence that you were not involved, you should have a good defense.
