If there was a police raid at your rental property what...

[hazelden]

would your expectation be?

Last week I was sitting on my couch around 1:00pm and I see someone directly outside my front window - standing in my flower bed. I take a quick peek and see that it's the police dressed in full tactical gear. I hop up and check my back window and see 3 more cops getting into position in my neighbor's back yard. Yeah, full on drug raid at the rental house next door. 

Shortish version - tons of traffic at this house, other neighbors pissed, a few calls to the police for smelling pot/too much traffic/etc. It's no surprise about the raid. They arrested 8 people. As the officers were wrapping stuff up I asked if the property owner would be notified and they said everything was too new and they couldn't do anything until the report was filled out.  

I had the property owner's number but had never called him about the ongoing activity at the house, but I gave him a call to let him know that the police entered his house with battering rams and arrested several people.

My call to the owner was the only notice he received about what happened at his property last Thursday.

I feel like the police or city should have notified him somehow. Or they should have some procedure in place for when these things happen. Now, as soon as the owner heard from me he called the police to find out what happened - so everybody knows that everybody knows about the whole thing.

Is it weird that I think that this should be a bigger deal to the city and the police? That was a big damn deal! I feel like there should at least be a certified letter or something. I feel bad for the property owner - and I don't want this to happen to another neighborhood.

I have a call in to the police to find out more about their protocol for stuff like this, but so far I'm not impressed.

[Deleted]

[josieposy]

I can see this discussion now.

"Sir we believe there are illegal activities going on up in here."

"Well call the homeowner first."

[hazelden]

Aug 29, 2014 14:27:26 GMT -5 josieposy said:

I can see this discussion now.

"Sir we believe there are illegal activities going on up in here."

"Well call the homeowner first."

No! Of course not first! I'm talking after everything happened.

It's okay if you think I'm being nuts - that's kind of why I posted here first to see if this is something worth getting really upset about.

But really, I think they should let a rental property owner know about criminal activity after arrests have been made. 

[josieposy]

Well my guess is that they're not digging into the property records in the middle of all of this stuff at the time and that's probably in some paperwork backlog to be dealt with later.

The owner would probably figure it out when the next rent check doesn't show up.

[wawa]

Ok...so how do you think that goes down?
They check the deed and make sure the dudes they arrested are one it? And if not they send a certified letter (I mean REALLY?) to the owner of record? telling them what exactly? Hey, FYI, we arrested your tenant?

I mean - chances are the owner will get contacted at some point during an active investigation, but no I don't think it's incumbent on the cops to inform a landlord every time they arrest somebody. do they also call the mortgage company if they arrest the homeowner?

The only possible exception would be an apartment or condo building where they have to access shared private spaces in order to do their job.

[Deleted]

Yes, I would imagine they don't know that it's a rental. But even if it did, there was a raid, not a conviction. Can he evict based on a raid? I'm really not sure.

[cookietime]

When did you notify the property owner? Because if you called the owner soon after the incident, and the owner called the police right away, then the police knew the owner was aware of what had happened. Why would they call him again?

[josieposy]

I don't mean to poke fun but it takes me 6 weeks to get a water bill from the city in some areas, and nobody's getting arrested in these incidents. I have to assume the owner will be notified at some point.

But that's why people look out for their neighbors, like you did.

[penguingrrl]

If I were arrested and then not convicted I'd be pretty upset that my landlord was aware I was in legal trouble when I wasn't actually in legal trouble.

[UMaineTeach]

Aug 29, 2014 14:33:00 GMT -5 josieposy said:

The owner would probably figure it out when the next rent check doesn't show up.

I would want to know before the next rent check if the police had to break into my house or damaged the door in such a way that it left my property subject to vandals and wildlife.

That is something someone needs to get on the next morning. Not the SWAT, not the lead detective, but some office person needs to find out who owns property that is now part of a police crime scene and make sure they know.

[hazelden]

Rentals require licenses here and there was a warrant for the raid so I suspect that there was some amount of looking into this prior to the big event.

I'm mostly kidding about the certified letter - but nobody reached out to him at all (except me.) And the owner is pissed all around.

It was a scene - there was an abandoned dog that was left after the raid, broken doors, the dog got loose in the neighborhood and then friends of the renters were back in the house that night. It's been an uncomfortable week around here.

[wawa]

Aug 29, 2014 14:38:54 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

Aug 29, 2014 14:33:00 GMT -5 josieposy said:

The owner would probably figure it out when the next rent check doesn't show up.

I would want to know before the next rent check if the police had to break into my house or damaged the door in such a way that it left my property subject to vandals and wildlife.

That is something someone needs to get on the next morning. Not the SWAT, not the lead detective, but some office person needs to find out who owns property that is now part of a police crime scene and make sure they know.

I'd imagine there is some sort of followup.  I mean...it's a crime scene.  They need continued access to it until the investigation is complete so somebody has to do something about that part of it.  But if it were something where they didn't actually need to continue to have access to the house or they didn't arrest everybody in it, then no - why would they need to tell the owner? 

Maybe they do.  Maybe there's some sort of paperwork that slowly happens.  But I certainly wouldn't expect anything prompt.

[josieposy]

Aug 29, 2014 14:38:54 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

Aug 29, 2014 14:33:00 GMT -5 josieposy said:

The owner would probably figure it out when the next rent check doesn't show up.

I would want to know before the next rent check if the police had to break into my house or damaged the door in such a way that it left my property subject to vandals and wildlife.

That is something someone needs to get on the next morning. Not the SWAT, not the lead detective, but some office person needs to find out who owns property that is now part of a police crime scene and make sure they know.

Having never been raided, is it normal for police to leave a home wide open afterwards?

[UMaineTeach]

It's not about informing the LL that the renters are in legal trouble, it's about informing them that their property is in legal trouble. LL might be denied access, property might be seized, it might have to be further damaged to obtain evidence in the floors or walls... They have to check deeds sometime and I suggest that be within 24 hours.

[ESF]

Certified letter? Please, nobody uses mail these days. Whenever the police raid my house, the police department updates its Facebook status. They are really thoughtful, they even tag my landlord in it to make sure she sees it, you know because Facebook does all that weird shit these days, what with hiding certain status updates. It works well. You should suggest that.

[ESF]

Aug 29, 2014 14:41:12 GMT -5 hazelden said:

Rentals require licenses here and there was a warrant for the raid so I suspect that there was some amount of looking into this prior to the big event.

I'm mostly kidding about the certified letter - but nobody reached out to him at all (except me.) And the owner is pissed all around.

It was a scene - there was an abandoned dog that was left after the raid, broken doors, the dog got loose in the neighborhood and then friends of the renters were back in the house that night. It's been an uncomfortable week around here.

I don't know what you want.  They can't tell the landlord first, for obvious reasons.

You said you called the landlord after the police had left, and he called the police station.  So because he called the police station immediately after it happened saying he knew it had happened, there was no time for them to "reach out."

In any event, no the police department is not required to go and track down the property owners.  That's the whole point of a warrant - it gives the police the right to access the home without providing notice to the property owner.   I'm not police apologist, but seriously, they do not have any sort of duty to sort out the variations relationships associated with the property they raid.  I mean, come on.

[gogreengowhite]

I feel like something similar happened to someone on MM a few years back.

If I remember correctly she was only informed when a journalist called her for a comment.

In the perfect world landlords would be informed their property had been damaged but I'm not sure how that would really work.

[hazelden]

Aug 29, 2014 14:52:43 GMT -5 ESF said:

Aug 29, 2014 14:41:12 GMT -5 hazelden said:

Rentals require licenses here and there was a warrant for the raid so I suspect that there was some amount of looking into this prior to the big event.

I'm mostly kidding about the certified letter - but nobody reached out to him at all (except me.) And the owner is pissed all around.

It was a scene - there was an abandoned dog that was left after the raid, broken doors, the dog got loose in the neighborhood and then friends of the renters were back in the house that night. It's been an uncomfortable week around here.

I don't know what you want.  They can't tell the landlord first, for obvious reasons.

You said you called the landlord after the police had left, and he called the police station.  So because he called the police station immediately after it happened saying he knew it had happened, there was no time for them to "reach out."

In any event, no the police department is not required to go and track down the property owners.  That's the whole point of a warrant - it gives the police the right to access the home without providing notice to the property owner.   I'm not police apologist, but seriously, they do not have any sort of duty to sort out the variations relationships associated with the property they raid.  I mean, come on.


I guess what I wanted was to know how other people would want to be treated if this happened at their property. Seems most people here wouldn't expect to be notified. My city has a 3 nuisance call rule for rental properties and then there's supposed to be a fine to the owner and the renter - I'm going to guess they don't really enforce that.

It turns out the the renters stopped paying their rent awhile ago so the eviction process was already started. The owner stopped by yesterday to change the locks and that's when he discovered that all the doors/frames were broken.

I talked to the police Sergeant last week and let them know I was very thankful for all the hard work they did to make a big bust like that. That's when I found out there had been a warrant and found out how many arrests were made. And he also told me that people would probably post bail and be back in the house in a few days before they would have a court date in a few weeks.

It's over, it's done. But I feel like there's significant opportunity for better communication for something like this. I guess I'll just ask what they normally do and check my attitude so I don't sound bitchy. I'd like to think that this doesn't happen to people in other neighborhoods - I worry about what happens if there isn't some busybody stay at home mom with the property owner's number saved on her bulletin board.

[wawa]

Yeah, the police kinda notoriously leave a giant mess and JDGAF when it comes to raids.

I mean...they'll also shoot your dog and then be all, "oops. sorry." so...yeah.

Or is that just PG county cops?

[penguingrrl]

Aug 29, 2014 14:43:36 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

It's not about informing the LL that the renters are in legal trouble, it's about informing them that their property is in legal trouble. LL might be denied access, property might be seized, it might have to be further damaged to obtain evidence in the floors or walls... They have to check deeds sometime and I suggest that be within 24 hours.

But I think that should be between the tenant and landlord, it is not something the police should be involved with. For one thing, while one tenant may be involved that doesn't necessarily mean everyone who is allowed to live there is also involved (thinking of teens or, hell, adult children who may be involved in illegal activities from their parent's home). So even if there is a conviction that doesn't mean that suddenly the property will be empty, rent won't be paid and damage won't be repaired. Whether the tenant should contact the LL regarding the repairs to get approved contractors or do it themselves is addressed in their lease and is a civil matter, not a criminal matter.

If things progress to the point that there is a dangerous situation and the home is no longer habitable (I might be wrong, but I thought that was the case if meth is made in a home?) then obviously the LL needs to be alerted to that situation.

[littlemisssunshine]

Aug 29, 2014 15:06:19 GMT -5 gogreengowhite said:

I feel like something similar happened to someone on MM a few years back.

If I remember correctly she was only informed when a journalist called her for a comment.

In the perfect world landlords would be informed their property had been damaged but I'm not sure how that would really work.

That was me! Good memory! Yes, I had a police raid at my rental and I was initially contacted by local newspaper for a comment. They got my number from the HOA president. I would be curious to know what the police would have done if  the reporter hadn't contacted me. I was in constant contact with the police during the day after the raid supplying them with information on the tenants. However the police would have no way of finding out who the property manager was, and the owners only have an out of state PO Box listed on property records. 

I'm gratefully the reporter tracked me down, otherwise I wouldn't have known until the article came out in the paper listing the address (and even then I usually don't read the newspaper) or the rent check never came. 

The police turned it over to me that night so I could change the locks and secure the house. They said they weren't responsible for that, and I'm sure if I hadn't surfaced they would have just left the house open. The owner did get the police to reimburse her for the two doors they knocked in. I was shocked they actually paid. 

[littlemisssunshine]

I do want to add that I make it a point to meet the next door neighbors at all my rentals now. I introduce myself, hand them a card and let them know to call me if anything suspicious happens.

It kills me that all the neighbors blame me for bringing a drug dealer into the neighborhood, but they noticed the drug activity a month prior to the raid and no on ever called me so I could fix the issue.

[sandsonik]

Ok, I haven't finished the thread yet, but I'm surprised at all the replies of "no big deal, the property owner will figure it out hen he doesn't get the rent."

They used battering rams to get in. This means the doors and locks are damaged, if not destroyed - so anyone living in the building is now endangered, as is the property itself.

Really? This doesn't warrant a call to the owner? These are public safety officers no? I guess someone will just call them back after thieves have emptied or torched the place, then they'll HAVE to call the owner.

[josieposy]

Nobody has answered my earlier question though. Do the police not board up the place?

[pinkdutchtulips]

Oh I have experience w this (tenant not ll)

Short answer - there is no expectation that the ll should find out what's going on their property from the PD. most PD lack the resources to locate the actual owner so reporting activity like that isn't a high priority.

I'll dd this and pdq but this is what went on at the rental stbxh and I had that he squatted st for neatly 3 months after I left ** roughly 8 police calls, 1 shooting, 1 assault and 1 full on raid for stolen weapons. Ll had zero knowledge of any of this. Just that I had left the premises x date per written notice to her. When stbxh finally left and possession was returned to the ll did she find out what happened - the PD reimbursed her for the damage sustained in the raid.

[starlily]

Aug 29, 2014 14:43:28 GMT -5 josieposy said:

Aug 29, 2014 14:38:54 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

I would want to know before the next rent check if the police had to break into my house or damaged the door in such a way that it left my property subject to vandals and wildlife.

That is something someone needs to get on the next morning. Not the SWAT, not the lead detective, but some office person needs to find out who owns property that is now part of a police crime scene and make sure they know.

Having never been raided, is it normal for police to leave a home wide open afterwards?

I saw a pot house 2-3 days post-raid. It was locked up (chain and padlock) and there was a big notice on the front door.

[AAM2012]

Aug 29, 2014 14:34:42 GMT -5 @soudesafinado said:

Yeah, I'm guessing the police don't care who owns that house or doesn't own it.

Or whether they're notified. Not their problem.

[AAM2012]

Aug 29, 2014 22:19:12 GMT -5 josieposy said:

Nobody has answered my earlier question though. Do the police not board up the place?

No. Just like if they search your car or house they can completely tear it up and not out any if it back...even if they don't find anything.

[ringstrue]

I think I agree that just arrests themselves, by themselves don't and shouldn't require LL notice. Just cause you are arrested doesn't mean you did anything wrong or will be accused of anything wrong.

Also, if bail is posted and tenants are back in the house within a day or whatever I can see why they wouldn't go back to make sure the property is secure.

If they damage a property especially where the door and windows are not operating or securing the house then yes I see the need for the LL to be notified. You know, public servants, and all.