HELP! What is your opinion of my landlord’s behavior?
I have a strange little landlord, from whom i rent a small one bedroom attic apartment on the third floor of a house. I have a decent sized bedroom (with out a real closet), a super duper small bathroom (barely big enough to navigate in, especially with the slanted ceiling, with no bath-just a small walk-in shower), & a kitchen. The kitchen is pretty small. I have a sink (it is hard to wash dishes with the slanted ceiling), a super small counter (which is hard to use because of the slanted ceiling), and a fridge. I created & decorated my own cabinets & for dishes, and use a bookshelf for a pantry. I have a small dining table in there as well. I went into detail as of the size for the last part of the question at the end.
My point thus far is that the place is already pretty tight in space, but i make it work. The reason i had justified it so far is, that, like i said, the bedroom is a decent size, the rent is pretty cheap, and i have hardly any sort of bug problems (which is very important to me).
My problem is my landlord. He has been a really nice guy, though kind of weird. When i first looked at this place, i told him, that if i move here, you can’t be dropping by all the time, and knocking on my door . I rent from you-that’s it. You are not my dad, boss, or friend. The last place i lived in, he landlord dropped by a lot, sometimes entering with his own key, if i didn’t answer the door or phone. And he had no reason. I payed my rent on time & everything. He was crazy. So i made sure my current landlord knew that this type of behavior was purely unacceptable, & illegal from the start, before i agreed.
Okay, so he is really friendly with me. Just the other day, he said i am gorgeous when i answered the door, and started blushing hardcore. That alone does not bother me. But ever since i move here over a year ago, he is always “working on something” right outside my door. So he constantly makes noise, but that doesn’t bother me as much as the fact that he is constantly right outside my door! And he justifies it because of his “projects” that NEVER STOP! Once one is done, it is time for ANOTHER! and ANOTHER!
So, i have been thinking, great! now he has done everything that he can do! Now he will hang out at his house or some one else’s house, & i will have privacy….But NO-the plot thickens. Now, he wants to TEAR down part of my very small apartment to create an “office” for himself. An “OFFICE”???? It would be a very small office, and what would he do there? I can picture him now, sitting at his little desk, waiting for his cell to ring. This is ridiculous. He wants to sit right outside my door, and have a permanent excuse to be near me. Aye yie yie. Why does he want an office on the third floor of an attic next to a tenant??? This is unacceptable. This means, practically every time i walk out my door i could see him. No privacy. If i have guests over, we will walk by my little landlord and make introductions. He will be able to hear us talk through the thin walls. What if i get a boyfriend/husband & want to have wild, hot sex… he will hear us having orgasms. Is this not inappropriate/strange?
When i see him he keeps telling me about his plan, so i avoid him. He calls, knocks on the door-you name it. The other day, I answered my door in my towel & hair dye in my hair, & he just walks in & starts talking about his plan. I had to tell him, look this is not a good time. I have told him, that it would not work because, as it it i am tight on space. Then he says, he would create storage OUTSIDE my apartment. I don’t need storage – i need living space. i don’t want to have to walk out of my apartment by his little office every time i make something to eat by grabbing food & a dish to eat on. He has already started the construction on his office (it is very noisy by the way), but i am avoiding him because he doesn’t listen. I am also thinking, what will it be like when he tears open my apartment? My walls will be open? This is crazy. I know there has to be a law against this? Has anyone had an experience like this or happen to know anything about this that might help me? I am planning on moving but can not afford to at the very second.
One other weird thing about this landlord is that sometimes if i don’t answer the door he just walks in to access the water heater. Last time, fortunately i had the bedroom door closed, but what if i was naked or in the shower or something else personal?? I have a problem with my landlord seeing me naked &/or hearing/seeing my personal life. Other than all of this weird behavior, i like him, but I have to do something, & quick about this tearing down the walls for an “office” thing.
To those of you who think "it is his property, and he can do as he wants" – THINK AGAIN. i PAY him, for this space – NOT the other way around. When i pay him for the space – the duration of the lease – it is MY space & MY home – he has under no circumstances NO RIGHT to enter with out MY PERMISSION.. I already know this. And he has NO right to tear down space that is already agreed as MNE when i agreed to live here. In addition, him taking more space would make the place inhabitable. I obviously want to move but it is NOT an option right now. I need advice – not ridiclous "answers" that don't even make sense. Those kind of answers you would not be giving yourself if this was YOUR situation, so don't bother saying stupid things like that to me. I am not an idiot who will believe it.
Thank you, to those of you who really care & are intelligent.
Imaginary scenarios? the walls are thin. I can hear what he says & does on the other side of the wall, so logically HE hears what i say & do. It isn't rocket science or "imaginary"! He does walk in and could walk in on me dressing or anything else personal. For a grandmother, mother, & wife of 44 yrs – you clearly could not be dumber. How naive. I am amazed by the idiots out here on yahoo, looking to verbally assault rather than help. And the reason i specified my privacy before hand obviously is because i HAVE had this happen before, like i specified, and wanted to make sure he understands that it is illegal. I have never made sure any one else understood & they did it. So, no, i didnt cause this to happen by making sure he understood my stance on it. Moron. That does not make the least bit of sense.
First thing is get a second lock and use it whenever you are home. He may not walk in at his convenience. Ever! It sounds like you do have a written lease, so he may not reduce your living space. Only after the lease expires and re-negotiation may he do anything other then required maintenance. And then only scheduled in advance with your approval. I see others have touched on just how creepy this guy is. I will only reinforce that perception. You need to look carefully for spyware and peep holes. If this guy is up to what I think he is, you have criminal grounds to have him arrested. Then you can own the building and move downstairs into the nicer areas of the house. Of course, only after you fumigate the place to remove all hints of this perv.










































i would move out if you could. find a foreclosure or legit apartment building!
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Sounds like your landlord’s name is Norman Bates.
If I were you I’d find another place and move. I mean really, the guy creeps me out and I’m a guy!
I mean what’s the mystery with you in his mind? What is he hoping to find out that he can’t already imagine?
What does he doe when he’s alone wherever he lives?
And why is he hanging out around your door day and night?
Makes me wonder if he’s got a peep hole somewhere if you know what I mean.
Otherwise, if you want some legalities, there’s something called quiet use and enjoyment. All leases have it and if not there’s usually a state statute that guarantees it when it comes down to residential tenancies.
In this case, you have a right to occupy your apartment without excessive, non-stop noise interrupting your peace and quiet. If he insists just hire a lawyer. But I would sweep the place for any unwanted video cameras and peep holes. Sounds like he’s watching you.
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I don’t think you can legally do anything about it. It is his property and he has the right to do that. I think you should just move out ASAP. He obviously has some kind of weird fixation with you. Even if you have to go stay with family or friends until you can save for a new place, you should leave. It doesn’t sound like the best place anyway.
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he is spying on you. look for a camera in the smoke detector or some other small place.
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what a crazy story i would tell him to stalk another prettyier girl in the complex so you wont have the problem.
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#1 If you have a lease to a certain amount of space, he can't tear down any part of it while your lease is valid.
#2 He can not by law enter your apartment at any given time without valid cause of emergency or 24 hours prior notice for maintenance.
#3 He can sit outside your door all day long and twice on tuesdays if he feels like it…because you don't rent that space.
#4 You need to mention all these items to him and maybe once he realizes that you're his tenant and not his BFF, he may back off…but be prepared for this weird little man to be bitter and give you notice too…which in all honesty wouldn't be the worst news.
If I were you, I'd find another place to rent, cause this sounds like a fatal attraction waiting to happen.
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I agree with the spying idea…there is no other reason for him to have such a constant presence in your living area. Maybe you should set up your own camera and catch him in the act. Sue him, win his house and then rent him a room to live in.
http://www.brickhousesecurity.com <- Badasss spy gear here.
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His property, he can do what he wants…
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He has the legal right to enter your apartment to do maintenance or inspections but not whenever he wishes, he has to tell you when in advance, in some places you could file on him for criminal trespass but that’s not going to solve your problem, you need to get out, he fits the profile of a person who’s behavior escalates over time and you don’t want to be there when he hits the brink and goes over.
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talk to a lawyer… ASAP. there is something not right going on here. is the low rent cost worth all of this? first it is illegal for him to come in whenever he wants to. this man is a sicko. i wish the best for you.
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dad was a lawyer.
It seems to me you opened the door for this to happen when, back at the beginning you brought up that he can't come visit you all the time.
If you were seriously wanting a rental agreement and no more, that wouldn't cross your mind unless it actually happened.
You seem to have a lot of imaginary scenes in your mind about him seeing and hearing your personal life. I don't think he is the only one who is off base here.
EDIT: You can call me all the names you want. I stand by what I have said. You are trouble. And it's HIS building. You picked the place. We didn't. Fire away!
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First thing is get a second lock and use it whenever you are home. He may not walk in at his convenience. Ever! It sounds like you do have a written lease, so he may not reduce your living space. Only after the lease expires and re-negotiation may he do anything other then required maintenance. And then only scheduled in advance with your approval. I see others have touched on just how creepy this guy is. I will only reinforce that perception. You need to look carefully for spyware and peep holes. If this guy is up to what I think he is, you have criminal grounds to have him arrested. Then you can own the building and move downstairs into the nicer areas of the house. Of course, only after you fumigate the place to remove all hints of this perv.
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Landlord for many years.