DIYbanter - View Single Post - Prospects of selling a house next door to a "reformed" spree killer?

Dick Adams[_2_]

wrote:

Let's say someone like Kip Kinkel - schizophrenic kid who killed his
parents and shot up his school about 10 years ago - got a commutation
of his sentence as some people think he should since they feel he was
a "victim" who didn't get the help he needed and was treated unfairly,
and was in the market to buy a house. They're convinced that with meds
and supervision he would probably have no problems living as a free man.

Let's change this to Lee (a gender neutral name), a convicted
sex offender sentenced to probation only, wants to buy or rent.

1) Who has a obligation to investigate Lee's background
before becoming Lee's agent or selling or renting to
Lee?

A landlord was be negligent not to investigate renting
to Lee. Agents who have a concern for long-term
reputation in a community should investigate. But to
a seller, this is a single period relationship with no
subsequent repercussions.

2) What distinguishs Kip from Lee?

Kip can change his name. Lee has to register whenever
he/she moves and the registration is public knowledge.
Lee is similar to Jean Valjean in Victor Hugo's "Les
Miserables" - a person who rejected by society for
past crimes.

Dick