Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

My landlord calls my neighbor to ask him about me. I have asked the neighbor and the landlord to discuss my situation(s) directly with me. Recently, a call was made to my neighbor who gossips as a personality trait. It feels like an invasion of my privacy to have the landlord call the neighbor, regardless of the reason, to discuss me, his tenant. My landlord called on "first amendment rights" with regard to gossip at his property, but I told him that gossip has negatively impacted me. We are at an impass and I am reticent to put anything in writing because I'll likely look paranoid. The problem is that instead of discussing complaints directly with me, the landlord contacts the neighbor, who then discusses the conversation wtih the other tenants. The landlord has recently sent me "written notice" about complaints, after having the discussions with everyone else but me. Do I have any rights to require the landlord to contact me FIRST before discussing any tenant problems with the other tenants where I am concerned?


Asked on 11/12/10, 3:43 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
George Shers Law Offices of Georges H. Shers

No. It maybe stupid and disrespectful, but he can handle it any way he wants. Why not ask to meet with him and discuss the matter. If he is telling others things that are not true, and he is representig them as facts and not rumor, then you might thave a cause of action for slander. You can suggest to him that some of the neighbors may be at a point that they could successfully be sued.

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Answered on 11/17/10, 7:23 am


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