Q: How should a landlord handle tenants who threaten to commit suicide due to lease renewal being denied?
After the tenant was told their lease will not renew, Tenant then claims they now have an ADA disability. Full email quote below. We are allowing her to early terminate. Are we required to to address the suicidal comment?
"This act of retaliation and perhaps discrimination has physically and mentally impaired me making a move seem nearly impossible at this time.
However, I am not sure I can withstand the intentional anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts that have been brought upon by your office and me residing here. Thus, I am trying to make leaving here a feasible task.
I would like to know as soon as possible the earliest I could surrender my lease. I believe this is in the best interest of all parties."
A: Honestly, from the looks of it, you have a very difficult situation. Under New York State law, you must relet the property even if the tenant breaks the lease. You may need legal advice and a consultation to fully explore your options. Frankly, you could report the utterance to police for a wellness check, but again, I would reach out to get tailored advice.
A:
Dear Manhattan Landlord:
Do not try to handle this on your own. You need the protection of an attorney.
Now you need to respond here. In NYC, it is 100% legally impossible to end a tenancy and to inform a tenant the lease is not being renewed by being "told."
In NYC, as in the entire State, the lawful notification method is written, and a tenant with at least two years of tenancy must have at least 90 days advance notice.
In NYC, a process server must serve the written notification.
Now, if you did so and know that your end of tenancy was provided to the tenant in the matter required by law, your attorney may very well tell you to cease communication with the tenant. The attorney may report the tenant's threat of suicide to the hotline and request the assistance of the adult protective services. https://www.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/adult-protective-services.page
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