​Dear Editor,

I am writing to express my deep concern over the treatment of tenants by some landlords and to ask an important question: Who protects tenants when the very people providing housing choose to ignore basic standards of fairness, professionalism, and respect?

I recently witnessed a situation that left me disturbed, not only because of how a young tenant was treated, but because of the apparent disregard for due process and personal privacy.

A young woman renting a room in a shared house was informed that her rent would be increasing substantially. Shortly thereafter, she was told that she needed to leave the property. However, instead of being served the required 30-day notice, she was given only two weeks to vacate. There was no formal written notice provided, despite the seriousness of asking someone to leave their home.

How is a tenant expected to find suitable accommodation, gather moving expenses, and reorganize their life within just two weeks? Why should a tenant be expected to comply with a process that appears to disregard the very protections put in place by law?

The law exists to protect both landlords and tenants. A landlord has every right to recover possession of their property through the proper legal process, but tenants also have rights. One of those rights is adequate notice. A 30-day notice period is not a suggestion; it is intended to provide tenants with a fair opportunity to secure alternative housing and avoid unnecessary hardship. In this case, that protection was not afforded.

Even more troubling was what happened next.

The landlord took it upon herself to record and share video footage of the tenant’s bedroom and personal living space in a public group chat designated for advertising houses and apartments for rent or sale. Why would anyone believe it is acceptable to expose a tenant’s private living quarters to hundreds of strangers online? What gives a landlord the right to publicly display someone’s personal belongings, bedroom, and private space without their consent?

Whether a tenant is staying, leaving, or preparing to move out, their privacy should be respected. A bedroom is not a public showroom. It is a private space where a person lives, sleeps, and keeps personal belongings. Sharing images or videos of that space in a public forum demonstrates a shocking lack of professionalism and respect.

What message does this send to current and future tenants? That their privacy can be violated at any time? That their personal space can be displayed to strangers without warning? That landlords can publicly embarrass tenants simply because they own the property?

The attitude displayed throughout this situation is equally concerning. Rather than handling matters professionally and respectfully, there appeared to be a dismissive approach toward the tenant’s rights and concerns. Basic courtesy, communication, and respect seemed to be absent from the process.

Another issue that cannot be ignored is the cost of the accommodation itself. The tenant was paying $1,100 per month for a room in a shared house. At a time when many people are already struggling with the rising cost of food, utilities, transportation, and housing, one must ask whether charging such an amount for a room in a shared residence is fair and reasonable.

This matter goes beyond a disagreement between a landlord and a tenant. It raises broader questions about tenant protections, privacy rights, and accountability. If landlords can ignore notice requirements, bypass written communication, and publicly share a tenant’s personal living space without consequence, what protections truly exist for renters?

Owning property is not a licence to disregard the rights and dignity of others. Landlords deserve respect, but so do tenants. The relationship should be governed by fairness, professionalism, and the law, not by personal feelings, convenience, or intimidation.

I hope this situation encourages a wider discussion about tenant rights in Antigua and Barbuda and serves as a reminder that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, regardless of whether they own the property or rent it.

Concerned Citizen