Respect tenant privacy

Jon K., VentureNet
E-Mail: jklaus@vnetinc.com
Telephone: 214-929-6545
Website: http://www.caddostar.com
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Chris Martin

Real Estate Investor · Holly Springs, North Carolina

Pro Basic

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Dec 28 '11, 01:03 PM

Funny stuff! First of all, I agree with you.

The interesting thing to me is that the scenario I believe I am seeing, where a person has apparently rented a room, is specifically exempt from my state's Landlord/Tenant (L/T) laws. I had to look it up, but this Article 42 exemption means the L/T laws doesn't apply to rental of single rooms. Then I looked up the Federal Fair Housing Act, which also doesn't apply "... if the owner actually maintains and occupies one of such living quarters as his residence."

So. As distasteful as it is, I can't point to any housing violation. Can this be? Am I missing something?

Christopher Keivit

Real Estate Investor · Chicago, Illinois

Pro Basic

54 posts
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Dec 28 '11, 01:13 PM

Wow - that's about all there is to say to that!!!! Sad that a landlord can be that brazen about ignoring a residents' privacy.

George P.

Real Estate Investor · Baltimore, Maryland

1,289 posts
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Dec 29 '11, 05:09 AM

I guess it never occurred to the tenant he/she can move out.

Scott J.

71 posts
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Dec 29 '11, 11:47 AM

Crazy video Jon, thanks for posting.

Michael Siekerka

Real Estate Investor · Louisville, Kentucky

160 posts
2 awards
56 influence

Dec 29 '11, 11:50 AM

That's pretty ridiculous! Guess you can't expect too much privacy if you're renting out a room in a house though.

Bryan Silver

Real Estate Consultant · Seattle, Washington

136 posts
2 awards
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Dec 29 '11, 12:10 PM

Watched 3 minutes of that clip. Couldn't stand to watch the rest. I am a landlord myself, and I would NEVER violate my tenants personal privacy/space.

Jon K.

Real Estate Investor · Dallas, Texas

Donor Pro

2,996 posts
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Dec 29 '11, 12:16 PM

Originally posted by Bryan Silver

Watched 3 minutes of that clip. Couldn't stand to watch the rest. I am a landlord myself, and I would NEVER violate my tenants personal privacy/space.

Yeah, it was hard to watch. There is just no reason for it.

Jon K., VentureNet
E-Mail: jklaus@vnetinc.com
Telephone: 214-929-6545
Website: http://www.caddostar.com
Traveling to Dallas? Check out our ranch cabin getaway. www.caddostar.com

Bienes Raices

· Orlando, Florida

2,033 posts
9 awards
62 influence

Dec 29 '11, 12:55 PM

Speechless...

William Sterling

Real Estate Broker · Monterey, CA

16 posts
50 influence

Dec 29 '11, 03:26 PM

Not cool, but here's a crazy idea: Put a lock on the bodroom door.

William Sterling

Real Estate Broker · Monterey, CA

16 posts
50 influence

Dec 29 '11, 03:31 PM

*bedroom. Don't know what a bodroom is.

Rich Schmidt

Landlord · Valparaiso, Indiana

31 posts
50 influence

Dec 30 '11, 12:52 PM

Yikes! That's bad... and I hope to know what results from it!

After Chris' post, I kind of wonder if they've broken laws and not just the rules of common decency. In Kee Kee's post on Yahoo Answers, she says: "It was in the rental agreement that they would NOT enter my room without 24 hour notice." That's here: http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111228113211AAW8noN

Jean K.

SFR Investor · Milwaukee, Wisconsin

25 posts
50 influence

Dec 30 '11, 05:44 PM

I was glad to see the husband was arrested. That was ridiculous. Especially the part where the husband makes a big deal about not going into the bedroom when he took some pics. I never even snooped in my kids rooms that much. It's almost like this family took a boarder just so they could rob them.

Rich Schmidt

Landlord · Valparaiso, Indiana

31 posts
50 influence

Dec 31 '11, 05:53 AM

Originally posted by Jean K.

I was glad to see the husband was arrested.

I don't think he's been arrested (yet). Or is there somewhere besides YouTube and Yahoo Answers with more information...?

George P.

Real Estate Investor · Baltimore, Maryland

1,289 posts
8 awards
54 influence

Jan 01, 01:07 PM

Originally posted by Jean K.

I was glad to see the husband was arrested. That was ridiculous. Especially the part where the husband makes a big deal about not going into the bedroom when he took some pics. I never even snooped in my kids rooms that much. It's almost like this family took a boarder just so they could rob them.

We don't know much to make the absolute judgement. Was the tenant making suspicious/weird noise to trigger the owner's curiosity alarm ? Was the tenant visited by late nite visitors who waited for him on the street? Was the tenant making reference to the weapon or drugs while speaking with the owner?
Remember, the owners might have been concerned about their safety....

Jean K.

SFR Investor · Milwaukee, Wisconsin

25 posts
50 influence

Jan 01, 05:35 PM

I guess just another reason to not live with the tenants!!

Rich Schmidt

Landlord · Valparaiso, Indiana

31 posts
50 influence

Jan 01, 05:41 PM

Originally posted by Rich Schmidt

Originally posted by Jean K.
I was glad to see the husband was arrested.

I don't think he's been arrested (yet). Or is there somewhere besides YouTube and Yahoo Answers with more information...?

Never mind. I asked in the YouTube comments, and she answered. He was arrested, but they had to let him go after 24 hours.

Jean K.

SFR Investor · Milwaukee, Wisconsin

25 posts
50 influence

Jan 01, 05:47 PM

I don't think he's been arrested (yet)

Oops! I stand corrected. I re-read the post that went along with the video, and I believe you are correct! I think the guy was saying that is what he hopes to happen. Good catch Rich.

Still makes me wonder why someone would have a boarder in their home if they either felt uncomfortable, unsafe, or just burdened with a crazy curiosity to 'snoop.' Yuck!