Bay Area Legal Aid’s Tenant Rights Initiatives in Alameda County, part four
Fighting Back Against Landlord Harassment
Sometimes, conflict between landlords and tenants can escalate into harassing or threatening behavior. Some landlords might resort to harassment to force out tenants when a lawful reason for eviction does not exist, or as a way to escalate pressure on a tenant already facing eviction. Harassment often involves various forms of discrimination as well. Whatever the reasons for it, landlord harassment of a tenant is unlawful.
In one recent case, our client was being harassed by her landlord and had an eviction filed against her. BayLegal attorneys worked with the client to document the landlord’s pattern of persistent unlawful harassment, and to strategize her options for remaining in her current housing or seeking a settlement that would allow her to relocate without financial disruption. Our client decided that moving out was the better option, and her BayLegal attorney negotiated a settlement that waived back rent and awarded her $10,000 in moving expenses.