Does the landlord need to notify tenants of a sex offender in the complex?
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Does the landlord need to notify tenants of a sex offender in the complex?
There is a registered sex offender in our building and were unsure if we legally were to be told of this. Also, there was a woman who was raped and murdered in broad daylight. Was the landlord legally entitled to inform the tenants?
Asked on December 30, 2011 under Real Estate Law, California
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
In every purchase or rental of real property the seller or the landlord is required under the laws of all states to disclose all matters known to him or her that would materially impact the price paid or the desirability of the parcel by a willing buyer or renter.
With that being said, assuming the landlord knows that there is a registered sex offender in the apartment complex that he or she owns, the landlord is under an affirmative obligation to disclose this material fact to future tenants before the lease is signed. The same goes for the death of the woman if that happened within three (3) years of the present time period.
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