if my lodger is dealing drugs from my house, who would get in trouble, him or me as the landlord?

Question

i live in the house also

Answer 1

both

Answer 2

From the answers received so far, I would imagine that you know by now what you need to be doing.

Rather than asking everyone on answers what you should do, get in touch with the Police ASAP.

There is an offence of allowing your premises to be used for drug dealing so if you know about it, get it stopped. If you have just found out about it and you are the one that reports it then you shouldn't get into trouble. You may however be under investigation yourself so that the Police can confirm your innocence but if you've got nothing to hide then you've got nothing to worry about.

Good luck

Answer 3

Both of you, in various degrees.

He will be in trouble for possession, and if qty is large enough, add "with intent to distribute".

You as landlord will not be DIRECTLY affected though you will be heavily questioned by police to make sure you are NOT an accomplice. If he's been dealing a while, you may be sued through civil court by local city government to evict him and clean up, or get rid of the house altogether and let the other landlord deal with it, or doze the house altogether.

You should have plenty of reasons to evict him, even with no formal contract drawn up. Consult a lawyer to draw up an iron-tight eviction notice (and serve it to him) and show it to the cops and you should be okay after the guy's gone.

Answer 4

Ian is correct.

There is an offence of allowing your premises to be used for drug dealing.

You need to decide whether you are going to report them to the police or whether its possible to kick them out. Be aware that the police may already suspect drug dealing from your premises and that your door may be forced in any day and a warrant executed.
If drugs are found it is possible that you would be arrested. You need to take some responsibility for this and take some action.

Answer 5

Ok, if you did not live with him and he was renting from you, just him (provided you have no knowledge he was dealing drugs) you'd be fine. However, as you live with him and have knowledge of it and he is paying you (likely with drug money) for rent, you'll likely both be in trouble. Now, you probably won't be in as much trouble as him, but still in trouble none the less. My suggestion to you is that you talk with your attorney about how you can terminate your tenants lease or rental agreement over it, or if you should go to the police with this information. If you get him evicted from your property, you won't need to worry about it. On the other hand, you have to do this in a legal way or he could sue you civilly for evicting him without due cause (unless there's a drug dealing or similar clause in your agreement). But, if you contact the police, they won't have charges filled against you as long as you testify against your tenant for dealing drugs out of your property. Again, consult your attorney as soon as possible about this to keep you out of hot water. He/She will know if you can evict them based on the lease or if you should go to the police. Also, if you go to the Police Station, bring your attorney with you. By doing this, you can achieve the best possible outcome for this situation.

Answer 6

If someone is caught for dealing of drugs in a house, all the occupants and the landlord will be investigated. Nevertheless, do not worry because if you can prove your innocence, you will not be charged under the law because you are only an occupant of the the house.

Answer 7

I think you will be in serious trouble - if you have this drug problem in your house [your property] your best course of action is to report same to the police. This way you are covered, you have 'done something about it'.

There is no sympathy for the 'drug pusher' and there will be less than none for you if you do nothing.

Answer 8

If your tennant is dealing drugs actually under your roof and you do not report it, when you know about it, you will be accused of aiding and abetting and that carries a jail sentence.
You do not have to prove anything to the police when you report the drug dealing, that's the Police job. Go and report it today and get this scum out of your house and off the streets.

Answer 9

Both, him for dealing, you for allowing your premises to be used for the supply of drugs plus you for aiding and abetting or conspiracy to supply. Kick him out or call the Police and show you are not involved. Or wait for them to put your front door in early one morning. Act now or this is big trouble, you can't bury your head in the sand on this one.

Answer 10

if you know about it and do nothing then (if he gets caught) you both get in the doo-doo.

If you report it to the rozzers then you are the one who is actively declaring it as a criminal offence and therefore unlikely (very unlikely) to be implicated.

Personal advice, if you can avoid involving the police that would probably make things easier. Speak with the tennant and say that you are not going to put up with this and ask him to leave.

Answer 11

my father rented a house out to these people when he evicted them for not paying and had started to move in me and my brother found a joint on the bathroom floor, we called the sheriff to come out with a k9 dog and see if he found anymore, which he did, he said that if we had not called and told them what had gone on and something had happened, then my father would be the one that got charged bc those people no longer lived there, he also said that if my father had lived with them and knew of what they were doin then he too would be charged with posession, but since my father called the sheriff and explained what had happened all they did was take the joints and flush them, so if i was you i would do anything and everthing possible to get that person out of your house and then call the cops to sweep your house