Can a landlord legally ban a tenants invited guest from the premises without good cause?
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Can a landlord legally ban a tenants invited guest from the premises without good cause?
My father and a friend of mine live in a mobile home park, both are disabled. I was approached by management who accused me of “delivering the green” (and they spread that lie about me to others). They told me that I could not visit my father or friend ever again. They also stated that I needed their invitation, not the tenants. A sheriff’s deputy told me I could be arrested for trespassing, then wouldn’t quote the statute to back that up. A lawyer told me I could sue for slander but couldn’t ask for monetary damage unless/until they had me arrested. The additionally threatened my father and friend with eviction if I returned.
Asked on June 9, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Colorado
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Tenants' guests may only be barred if there is a lease term which gives the landlord the right to do this--if there is a such a term, it is enforceable. If the guest is damaging the landlord's property, threatening the landlord or other tenants, disturbing the peace, committing crimes on the premises (e.g. dealing drugs), etc., he or she could be arrested and the tenant could potentially be evicted if he or she continues to allow that person to visit him or her; however, short of that, as noted, the only grounds for barring a guest would be if the lease gives the landlord the authority to do so.
If the landlord believes that you are commiting crimes or disturbing the peace, etc., he can try to evict your father and friend for letting you visit--whether he succeeds or not will depend on whether he can prove that in court.
If the landlord has made untrue factual statements which damage your reputation to other people, then the landlord may have defamed you, and you may be able to sue for defamation.
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