Landlord Problems

[Rob52240]

Cops getting called is definitely absurd.

He should have just been up front and explained the whole florida thing to you at the beginning of this mess.

[Maverick]

"Day #12
I get two certified letters in the mail letting me know that I am to vacate the premises by end of the following month."

The final line was already crossed as far as this lease is concerned. Given the comments about the property and how he feels about the land lord it seems kind of silly to be doing anything other than finding a new place that would suit the OP better.

[VonMessa]

As a landlord, I understand yours and his issues.  My house is a 10 min drive away and I occasionally call and ask to stop by just to say hi.  The tenant always accepts.  

I'm not 70 years old, but the tenants and I have become friends in the last 11 months.  This summer we will prolly do some cook outs together.  It sounds to me like he want to befriend you and secure his property.  What he did was wrong, but you pulled the dick card first.


If the window team shows up, you should let them in, but to the basement only.

Also, suggest that they double-check their measurements before removing any old windows and that they only remove 1 window at a time and replace it with the new before going on to the next one.

If the installers are on the up and up, they should have no problem with this request. 

In the meantime, start looking for a new place.

[cattb]

I really doubt the window installers are going to take out or smash windows and leave it open to haras the renter. That sounds stupid.
Communication on both sides could have been better.(already said)
Mold, mold can be dangerous to your health. There are may different types of mold, but certain types of mold can cause respitory problems. I think I would leave just based on the mold.

[SEraider]

It sounds to me like this late 70s man(landlord) is simply looking out after his investments..   He really didnt do anything wrong, he try to contact you many times to talk like civil folks but you are too much of a larry.. Title for your post should be " bad tenant " bet you the type o folk who takes their neihbor to court for eyeballing your lawn... Sad.

You have no clue what you are saying.  Here is why:

Day 1, the landlord without permission enters past the front door.  This sets a bad precedence and it's unprofessional.  Tenant potentially feels threatened.

Day 7, tenant properly notifies landlord all further communication should be in writing, via USPS.  This is proper notification and sets a respectable boundry and lawful.  Tenant should write to landlord explaining for the record why the request via certified mail in case there is a dispute in court.    

Further, landlord tresspasses onto the property at day 11 or 12.  This breaches tenants right to enjoyment of property and written communication requested by tenant.  Charges could have been brought or a restraining order requested.

Some of you are saying that smoe is acting improperly.  Whether that is true or not is irrelavant.  Landlord was trying to bully the tenant into a new contract to get out of an existing one.  If his approach was a phone call 1st asking to come over and speak to the tenant; once inside via permission, then politely attempt to renegotiate a new contract for legitimate personal reasons, smoe might have been more receptive.  

Smoe owes the landlord no extra consideration, despite his methods of dealing with the issue at hand.  It would have helped if the landlord called an apologize for his initial actions.  

[guncrasher]

I have been living in the same apartment without a lease for 3 years.  everytime the resident manager brings it up i tell her i cant sign one because i am looking for a house and I may move before the lease expires.  1 year leases are "required" at my complex but there's also the month to month option when it expires.  the manager just looks at me and smiles and says ok, I'll check with you in a couple of months.

we both know that I am not looking for a house just yet and that really I dont want to sign another lease.  I pay the rent on time and I always mention it to her and if I move they may lose the income for a month or two.  so that settles it.  sometimes you can give them a way out or at least delay if you arent willing to sign a lease.

I have never avoided a call or seeing her as I know it doesnt really work.  it just makes the other person more motivated for it to go "her way".  bottom line the landlord wants money every month on time just bring up that she/he may lose some for a month or two and give them something to think about.  but it's too late now.  perhaps next time you will make it seem like she/he's doing it "his/her" way and just give a reason why.  it may or may not work but hiding for sure doesnt work.


semp

[Delirium]

I am so happy I didn't rent out my house, this thread just confirmed it.

[Bodhi]

smoe...I won't dispense legal advice on the internet, but I will offer up a few thoughts for you....


1)  you're entitled to what is called "quiet enjoyment of your premises".  he cannot continually harass you.

2)  there's no way anyone here is qualified to offer you sound advice, without reading your original lease, and any subsequent written agreements. depending upon how the original 10 month lease was drafted, he may have every right to inspect your property, although typically he should provide you with at least a 24 hour notice...and that cannot be excessive.

3)  you should contact and retain an attorney...to help you mitigate your damages.. if any..in getting you out and away from this very tenuous situation.  

typically....tenants have the protections of law on their sides...but the real power still belongs to the landlord.  they can find ways of making your life miserable...if full accordance with the law.

you were fine with a month to month.  consider it notice and move on.

This is the best advice I have read so far.  My .02 would be just to pack up and leave.  No point staying if he is going to harass you and you aren't going to talk to him.  Further, that no repairs on the septic system have occurred is a bad sign as well.  Just cut your losses and move on.

[4deck]

DEFINITLY GET A LAWYER.!!!.

No Ifs or buts bro. I have been to court several times as witnesses for alot of friends. THe ones with Lawyers won. The ones without did not.
Get a lawyer.

Also Im not a legal professional, and really don't like lawyers myself, but I have 3 on retainer cause, well, just cause, and well leave at that.

Good luck to you though.

[VonMessa]

DEFINITLY GET A LAWYER.!!!.

No Ifs or buts bro. I have been to court several times as witnesses for alot of friends. THe ones with Lawyers won. The ones without did not.
Get a lawyer.

Also Im not a legal professional, and really don't like lawyers myself, but I have 3 on retainer cause, well, just cause, and well leave at that.

Good luck to you though.

I don't understand how an attorney is going to help much, even though I'm sure most will charge you a retainer just to speak with them. 

The tenant was on a 10-month lease and is now, as contracted, on a month-to-month lease.

The property owner would like him to commit to a longer lease for his peace of mind while he is away travelling (not that his reasons will make any difference)

If the tenant does not want to commit to a longer lease, he has the choice of moving out, just as the property owner has the freedom of choosing a tenant that is willing to commit to a longer lease since the 10-month period is over and both owner and tenant are only contracted for 1 month at a time.

There are 2 choices.

1) Commit to another, long lease.

2) Seek another place to live.

Calling the police was a bit over the top, especially since the landlord did not enter the actual domicile.

This should be a good object lesson on how to deal with a situation in a professional, businesslike manner, rather than ignoring it.

[SEraider]

This should be a good object lesson on how to deal with a situation in a professional, businesslike manner, rather than ignoring it.

He didn't ignore it.  He told the LL to communicate via USPS after the initial incidents.  That is a form of a business like manner.  Not the nicest, but it fits.

[VonMessa]

He didn't ignore it.  He told the LL to communicate via USPS after the initial incidents.  That is a form of a business like manner.  Not the nicest, but it fits.

Hey guys,

I have a problem with a landlord. I have been nothing but an ideal tenant. I have been getting along with my landlord who lives next door. I signed a 10-month lease which includes, in writing, that I enter a month-to-month lease after the 10-month period ends. 5-months into the month-to-month lease (almost two weeks ago) the guy comes over with a new lease in hand.

Day #1
The landlord knocks on my door, I answer and the SOB starts walking around me to go into the inside door. He is carrying a folder with a new lease contract. I say “hold on what is that?” He says “it’s your new lease contract.” I had to tell him many times that "I absolutely refuse to sign any new lease and that if he wants me out he only has to send me a certified letter ordering me to vacate the premises within 30-60 days, depending on the date of the notice." The conversation did get a little heated, but nothing to the point of screaming. The guy starts to walk away, turns his head, and gives me a Clint Eastwood style "I'll give you 2-days to think about it." He then proceeds to walk out the door.  

Day #5
The landlord comes back over and knocks on the door/windows and rings the door bell. He knows I'm home, but I don't answer. About 20 mins later the guy's daughter who lives across the street calls me up and leaves a voice mail asking if I could look at a wiring issue in her home. I don't call her back because I know it is a trap.     He ignored him

Day #6
I head out the store and come back. The landlord is in his late 70's and has a perfect view of my driveway from his lazy boy chair. About 2 mins after arriving home I get a call from my landlord and let it go to voice mail "hey are you ok, I am wondering if you are dead or sick, I'm getting worried over here, etc…..."

Day #7
The landlord starts knocking on the door and ringing the door bell for 1-2 minutes. He goes back home and 20 mins later calls me up and leaves a voice message "are you ok, I’m worried about you, I don't know if you are sick or dead or what, etc….." About 20 mins later the landlord is knocking on my door/ringing the door bell. I then see him walking around the house and looking into my windows. He then enters the entrance between my garage and house. He used his keys to unlock my breezeway door. I then dialed 911. The landlord leaves and goes into his house. Two patrol cars show up and I talk to them and let them know what is going on. About the same time the landlord calls the police and the dispatcher tells him two cars are already next door. The landlord walks over, with his wife, and goes on and on "are you ok, blah, blah, blah." I tell him I am fine at least 3 times. The conversation pauses and I start walking into my home. I say to my landlord "please use the US Postal Service for any further contact." The landlord follows me to the door all upset, which is really starting to worry me. The police officer says a word like “he is ok” and the landlord stops. The police officers then talk to the landlord for a bit and the landlord goes back home and the police leave the scene.  After 7 days of ignoring him

The landlord leaves another voice message about 2-3 hours later, “hey so and so, I just want to talk with you, I want you sign an extended lease so I can go to Florida and not have to worry about coming back home in case you leave.”

Day #8
The landlord leaves me a voice message “uh so and so, I just want to talk to you, I wanted to negotiate an extended lease, can you call me back?”

Day #9
The landlord leaves me a voice message “uh so and so, please call me back by 1:00pm the next day should you decide if you want to stay so we can sign a new lease contract.”

Day #12
I get two certified letters in the mail letting me know that I am to vacate the premises by end of the following month. I gladly sign the letters and accept them from the mail man. 5-mins later I get a call from a caller ID that I number I have never seen before. No voice messages were left.

About 1-2 hours later I hear my security system go off. The motion sensor in the breezeway entrance between my garage and house was tripped. I peak around the corner and the sob is in inside the locked breezeway entrance. He does have a key, but did not knock or ring the door bell. He leaves a 3rd letter taped to the outside of the door entering my home. The letter is the same letter received earlier that day. I then called the local police station and two patrol cars showed up. I told them my landlord entered my breezeway entrance using a key, but did not knock. I didn’t have the TV on or the radio, so I would have heard had he knocked.

The two police officers then go next door and talk to my landlord. The police come back and tell me the landlord claimed he had knocked first. The police also pass on information to me that come Monday morning window installers will arrive at my home to install new windows in the basement.

And the kicker is, just as I was writing this my landlord calls me up at 10:00 pm and leaves a voice message telling me to expect the window installers Monday morning.

Again, easier to just start looking for a new place.  Month-to-month means, exactly that.  Either party can terminate the agreement with 1 month notice.

[SEraider]

Again, easier to just start looking for a new place.  Month-to-month means, exactly that.  Either party can terminate the agreement with 1 month notice.

I completely agree with your conclusion.  It's tedious, dramatic daytime television worthy.

But that being said and assuming Day 1 is an accurate depiction, tenant already implicitly drew the line with LL.  That is, LL should have been wiser.   

[SEraider]

Again, easier to just start looking for a new place.  Month-to-month means, exactly that.  Either party can terminate the agreement with 1 month notice.

I completely agree with your conclusion.  It's tedious, dramatic and daytime television worthy.

But that being said and assuming Day 1 is an accurate depiction, tenant already implicitly drew the line with LL.  That is, LL should have been wiser.   

[ink]

I just cant believe someone called the cops over this


from the story I read you are in the wrong, not the landlord.