Landlord demanding gun serial #s from renter/tenant?

Most states have "retribution" language in the landlord/tenant statutes that prevent a landlord from evicting or otherwise interfering w/a tenant because the tenat enforces safety and habitability requirements.

As far as the guns go, unless it is a vioation of the lease, tell the landlord to pound sand. He won't get too far with the cops, either, I suspect.

There is NO WAY I would give a landlord the serial numbers or any other information of that nature.
 
I had to deal with this sort of thing with the military housing office. They wanted to know how many guns i had and the serial numbers on them. I swore up and down that I was a lib who didnt own a gun..... little did they know:D
 
The police probably told him that just to get him off thier backs. Its just pure and simple retaliation for getting his chops busted. I would reccomend that you look on the web for tenants rights in your state so if the little weasel gets haughty you can keep him in line. As far as the police running them I think probable cause would come into play.

As far as serial numbers make up a list of them and give them to him.
 
1BadF350

Please do not make up the numbers list as some have suggested. Would you like the local law enforcement in your appartment inspecting you firearms if one of the numbers you listed came up bad or a partialy bad number? Just tell him that that is not something he can not insist upon and forget it. If he gets nasty, get an attorney.
 
Just so we are clear, I am not in any way involved in the linked topic I posted. I think the best course of action for the young man is to simply move out.
 
Having just come from a university environment, I can say without question that this sort of thing happens to young college-kids ALL THE TIME. Remember, unless a person is being held to a professional code of conduct, they can pretty-much say WHATEVER they want to. In the case of young and inexperienced college-kids, often times landlords (school officials, LEOs, auto mechanics...) will say something that is so false and inappropriate that, if an attorney said it, they could get disbarred!

In this case, I do not believe that the landlord has any right to force the kid to get rid of the weapons. (I wouldn't rule out the possibility, though. Those landlord-tenant contracts can be awfully convoluted, and the "dangerous materials" clause might prove bothersome...) But, moreover, it sounds like this is a landlord (slumlord) who rents sub-standard housing to college-kids, refuses to obey the laws of building requirements, and then huffs-and-puffs to any college-kid who has the audacity to tell him to stop.

This guy (and the millions of others like him) makes a living based on two principles: First, the rent FAR outweighs the maintenance. If he has to fix it, he won't make any money. So, he will do WHATEVER it takes to avoid fixing the house. Second, any college-kid naive enough to rent that house very likely has no money for a legal battle, and has NO IDEA what the landlord can and can't get away with! So, if there's any trouble, he just puffs up his chest and threatens to evict the kid. The kid will wet himself, and then promptly shut-up and continue living in squalor.

I've seen this happen to so many of my friends. And, I've intervened (and scared the hell out of some local slumlords) where I could. It's sad, really.
 
I will amend my remarks about the fake numbers on second thought. Maybe thier is a public defenders office in town they can consult. If they are in the right one phone call from a lawyer should square him away. He is already out money for the repairs and doesnt want to be out legal fees either. Look for a stste website that has a tenants legal rights on it also.
 
As a former landlord myself

I have had to evict numerous tenants, mostly for non payment of rent, but some for cause.

A landlord will have a tough time evicting someone for something that is legal and not specifically prohibited by the lease.

In the case of young and inexperienced college-kids, often times landlords (school officials, LEOs, auto mechanics...) will say something that is so false and inappropriate that, if an attorney said it, they could get disbarred!
Click to expand...

I have used that tool myself. It's a lot easier and cheaper for all involved if I can bully you into moving (for not paying rent, violating lease) rather than take you to court, and racking up legal fees.

Also, remember that landlords do not wish to have a vacancy. They make no money on an empty apartment, and incur expenses to make it rent ready.

I would guess that there is more to this story that a buthead landlord.
 
Good call. It seems wierd in this story that, in a time when the landlord comes over and the kid is out of the house, that there's a gun stripped-down in the living room and brass strung about all over the bedroom. There's some aspect to this conflict that we're not yet aware of...
 
I was a property manager

We always took care of the problems within 3 days. We pre-screened everyone to assure that they were not felons or sex criminals. Never saw a gun, because I never went into their closets unless I smelled a cat or dog. I saw a gun out once, and just got the numbers on it and dropped into their file. Just in case. Didn't need to raise cane over it for I had a couple too. Only if they break the law while they are living there do you have a reason. As long as they paid their rent on time, didn't party all night, or slip pets in, I didn't snoop. Keep your guns hid and locked when your gone. The landlord could face triple rent penalty if they screw up.
 
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