How to Respond to Tenants Who Pose Health or Safety Risks

By Eileen O’Toole, Esq.

Sometimes staff or neighboring tenants may complain about behavior by a tenant that poses a health or safety risk. They may say that a neighbor keeps animals that he’s unable to care for, or simply keeps too many. They may complain that a tenant allows his apartment to become so dirty and cluttered that there’s an offensive odor, vermin infestation, and serious risk of fire. Or a tenant may repeatedly harass others, for no apparent reason, by yelling at or physically threatening neighbors and building staff.