M.J. from outside of Connecticut writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
Is the condominium unit owner responsible for their renter’s theft of property of another unit owner’s unit?
Mister Condo replies:
M.J., thanks for writing and I am sorry that your tenants have put you in this position. The short answer is “it depends”. What it depends upon is local and state law that govern such issues. As a landlord, it is generally held that you are not responsible for anything that your tenant does. However, if you don’t have a proper lease in place or if you have housed a known felon you may have some liability for their actions. You should really speak with an attorney to determine your liability based on local laws. Also, if you are named in a lawsuit by the neighboring unit owner who was the theft victim, you may have no choice but to defend yourself. My guess is that as long as you have a valid lease to show that you were not the unit occupant but merely the landlord, it is unlikely that you will be found responsible for the actions of your tenant. However, I would advise against renewing the lease of a tenant that is found guilty of such a crime. All the best!