Neighborhood Eviction

[Taneisha Huntley]

Hello, there is a home across the street from me that is rented out. The tenants have been arrested for car theft, carjacking, and more, and now another tenant on drug sales and possession. The landlord keeps telling us they will be out on April 1st (6 week notice). But he then said he would take possession today and again that he would be there in ten minutes, etc. He has still not come.

As neighbors, can we do anything to ensure their departure? We do not believe he is doing anything at this time and believe he has likely lied to us.

Also, we are hoping to sell our home in the next few months so we are trying to not have to disclose a "nuisance" as it may bring down our property value/turn away buyers.

Help! Thank you!

[Al Williamson]

@Taneisha Huntley unfortuneately I've had a lot of experience dealing with your situation. It's a heck of a thing to be an expert in.

You're taking the correct steps by talking directly with the landlord. I would add the following tactics:

1 - Document everything. Who, what, when, etc.

2 - Use your collective voice. Talk in terms of we neighbors. Work as a group of owners, not as an individual.

3 - As @Marcia Maynard suggest, form a watch group. Even if it's an informal email/text message group, organizing and communicating as a tribe is the #1 most effective way to eliminate low level problems.

4 - Police typically allocate resources based on calls for service. Get as many neighbors to call in complaints as possible. The tally needs to show that additional help is needed.

5 - In Sacramento, we have a program called Justice for Neighbors. It allows for a neighbor initiated evictions (based on calls for service#4 and other documented issues #1). See if your city has a similar resource.

6 - Beware of retaliation from the departing tenants. Reduce your personal property exposure during these final days. Have your neighbors/tribe do the same.

7 - One more thing, when these problem tenants leave, use the opportunity to celebrate as a group. Don't waste any tragedy. Use this episode to reaffirm that your block won't tolerate this behavior. This is how you can create an upward spiral of neighborhood revitalization.

Hope that helps!