OMG Landlord

[rosiedozie]

Dude. Can you just stop answering the door when he comes over?

[EmilieMadison]

Don't answer the door. If he lets himself in, call the city. Hell, call the police. Landlords do not have the right to enter the property on a whim. They must give notice, or it must be an emergency.

[EmilieMadison]

Dec 15, 2013 15:05:16 GMT -5 littleduck said:

Dec 15, 2013 15:04:14 GMT -5 rosiedozie said:

Dude. Can you just stop answering the door when he comes over?

If I don't answer he just comes in.

CALL THE POLICE. OMG. 
He does not legally have the right to enter the property whenever he wants. It doesn't matter that he's old, or doesn't speak fluent English. He's a landlord and is bound by landlord/tenant laws. Call the city (or whomever grants his rental license) and complain immediately. 

[pooh8402]

Dec 15, 2013 15:05:16 GMT -5 littleduck said:

Dec 15, 2013 15:04:14 GMT -5 rosiedozie said:

Dude. Can you just stop answering the door when he comes over?

If I don't answer he just comes in.

what EmilieMadison said. he can't just let himself in. I'm a landlord and I know this. call the police next time he lets himself in for no reason.

[MWOS]

I'm continually amazed by the situations that people are incapable of dealing with around here

[rosiedozie]

Dec 15, 2013 15:05:16 GMT -5 littleduck said:

Dec 15, 2013 15:04:14 GMT -5 rosiedozie said:

Dude. Can you just stop answering the door when he comes over?

If I don't answer he just comes in.

Holy crap! That's not ok at all. Is there a deadbolt that you can lock that couldn't be unlocked from the outside? Maybe a chain on the door?

[shostakovich]

Isn't it technically the landlord's responsibility to shovel the walkway? I've lived in a rental building for 8+ years in Chicago, and have never once shoveled.

Also, yeah, he's not allowed to come in unless you let him/ask him in (barring an emergency, of course). Just like vampires. Reading the part where he basically shoved you aside to get into your apartment made me ragey for you.

[pooh8402]

Dec 15, 2013 15:08:08 GMT -5 rosiedozie said:

Dec 15, 2013 15:05:16 GMT -5 littleduck said:

Is there a deadbolt that you can lock that couldn't be unlocked from the outside? Maybe a chain on the door?

this is actually a requirement for rental properties in Texas. if you don't have one, get one.

[shostakovich]

Dec 15, 2013 15:08:08 GMT -5 rosiedozie said:

Dec 15, 2013 15:05:16 GMT -5 littleduck said:

If I don't answer he just comes in.

Holy crap! That's not ok at all. Is there a deadbolt that you can lock that couldn't be unlocked from the outside? Maybe a chain on the door?

:Y: :Y: :Y:

[EmilieMadison]

Dec 15, 2013 15:07:21 GMT -5 littleduck said:

Dec 15, 2013 15:05:00 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Don't answer the door. If he lets himself in, call the city. Hell, call the police. Landlords do not have the right to enter the property on a whim. They must give notice, or it must be an emergency.

I have brought this issue to their attention and so have our neighbors. He says he gives notice by calling but I usually don't know about it because he will only call DH and not me. 

I mean, I know about tenant's rights - I live with a 3rd year law student - but the city just doesn't have time for this shit. 

Yes. They do have time and they will handle it. Be a squeaky wheel. The law probably states that the notice must be in writing and posted, and for a specific purpose (a specific repair, etc). 
If he EVER just lets himself in while you're home, call the police. EVERY TIME. The only reason your landlord keeps doing this is because no one has stopped him. 

ETA: And he pushed you aside to enter? Fuck.No. Why are you and your husband putting up with this? And you said your DH is a 3rd year law student? Jesus. 

[rosiedozie]

Until you can find a legal avenue to prevent him from entering your property unannounced, you need to get some sort of physical barrier. Like today, do it.

[janegold]

Does your lease state that it is the tenant's responsibility to shovel? In MA, it is the landlord's obligation by law.

And yes, a deadbolt.

[margotmacomber]

Dec 15, 2013 15:07:55 GMT -5 MWOS said:

I'm continually amazed by the situations that people are incapable of dealing with around here

YES

[janegold]

Also, the police will absolutely deal with it. I used to live in a part of the city with big drug problems and they would still respond to every call I made, whether it was a weirdo who wouldn't leave my porch or a neighbor blasting music at 3am. This is their job. Call.

[EmilieMadison]

Dec 15, 2013 15:12:06 GMT -5 littleduck said:

Dec 15, 2013 15:08:55 GMT -5 luckydog said:

The police have time to cite for trespassing.

You would think. I called them when this first started and the officer wrote it down, and later followed up with me to ask if it was still happening. I said yes. Then nothing happened. I called back and DH went down there with our neighbors to report it again. Nothing happened. Or maybe he does get cited, but he doesn't give a shit? Idk. I just don't have time to be constantly calling the police but I guess if this is what I need to do, I just have to do it. 

But you have time to constantly have your landlord just shoving you aside to come into the house whenever the fuck he wants and interrupting your whole day? 

[rosiedozie]

Are you saying "This is not ok, please come back at xyz scheduled time" when he comes by? Of course he's going to keep stopping by whenever he wants if you let him.

[EmilieMadison]

And verify that the law allows you to install a chain or interior lock before you do it. Not all states allow tenants to do this.

[speckledfrog]

Dec 15, 2013 15:11:23 GMT -5 janegold said:

Does your lease state that it is the tenant's responsibility to shovel? In MA, it is the landlord's obligation by law.

And yes, a deadbolt.

Are you sure?  We rented in MA and were responsible for clearing our walk.  All of our neighbors (not owned by our landlord) also shoveled their own walks.  This was 6 years ago.   

[DotAndBuzz]

Dec 15, 2013 15:12:06 GMT -5 littleduck said:

Dec 15, 2013 15:08:55 GMT -5 luckydog said:

The police have time to cite for trespassing.

You would think. I called them when this first started and the officer wrote it down, and later followed up with me to ask if it was still happening. I said yes. Then nothing happened. I called back and DH went down there with our neighbors to report it again. Nothing happened. Or maybe he does get cited, but he doesn't give a shit? Idk. I just don't have time to be constantly calling the police but I guess if this is what I need to do, I just have to do it. 

If he's there for an hour or so a week, I'd make time for that phone call pretty quickly.

Also, the shoveling probably varies by state.  In every house we've rented in MI and NC, we were responsible for shoveling sidewalks and driveway, as well as yard maintenance.  It was specifically stated in the lease.

[LeggsBenedict]

you drop everything, weekly, for an hour, to follow this guy around while he snoops around your house. but you dont have time to call the police.

ooookay.

[EmilieMadison]

Dec 15, 2013 15:17:40 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

Dec 15, 2013 15:11:23 GMT -5 janegold said:

Does your lease state that it is the tenant's responsibility to shovel? In MA, it is the landlord's obligation by law.

And yes, a deadbolt.

Are you sure?  We rented in MA and were responsible for clearing our walk.  All of our neighbors (not owned by our landlord) also shoveled their own walks.  This was 6 years ago.   

Speckled is right- the landlord would be obligated by law UNLESS the lease states that the tenant is responsible. Plenty of landlords include snow removal as a tenant responsibility in their leases. 

[Deleted]

Call the cops. He sounds insane. Also the snow stopped hours ago, my driveway is as clean as it was at noon. Where are you that snow accumulated between now & then.

[janegold]

Dec 15, 2013 15:17:40 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

Dec 15, 2013 15:11:23 GMT -5 janegold said:

Does your lease state that it is the tenant's responsibility to shovel? In MA, it is the landlord's obligation by law.

And yes, a deadbolt.

Are you sure?  We rented in MA and were responsible for clearing our walk.  All of our neighbors (not owned by our landlord) also shoveled their own walks.  This was 6 years ago.   

I'm positive.  A landlord and tenant can agree otherwise but it is ultimately the property owner who is held responsible.  

[janegold]

Dec 15, 2013 15:19:23 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

Dec 15, 2013 15:17:40 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

Are you sure?  We rented in MA and were responsible for clearing our walk.  All of our neighbors (not owned by our landlord) also shoveled their own walks.  This was 6 years ago.   

Speckled is right- the landlord would be obligated by law UNLESS the lease states that the tenant is responsible. Plenty of landlords include snow removal as a tenant responsibility in their leases. 

Right.  Which is why I asked her if it was stated in her lease that it is her responsibility.

[speckledfrog]

Well, it looks like 2014 is going to be the year of the backbone for you.

[BAMFMrsB]

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002YUX8I

Get this. For all doors. Tell him thru the door he can come back at a scheduled time/date, that he submits in writing.

What a PITA.

[cheeseandcrackers]

Omg.. he sounds horrendous.
We rent to someone and we would never even THINK about doing something like this.

[EmilieMadison]

Dec 15, 2013 15:18:54 GMT -5 littleduck said:

Dec 15, 2013 15:14:37 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

But you have time to constantly have your landlord just shoving you aside to come into the house whenever the fuck he wants and interrupting your whole day? 

That's an excellent point. Like I said, I'm going to get chains and start calling the police every time. 

I know it must seem like I'm dumb or something but I just have never been faced with anything like this, and the police always make me feel like I am overreacting. They don't take this seriously. DH has filed complaint after complaint and asks about what can be done but nothing happens. I have filed. The neighbors have filed. Is this really so unbelievable to you, that sometimes it seems like the police just do not care? 

No, it's believable that the police dont seem to care. What's unbelievable is that YOU dont seem to care enough to make them care. Because if you called every time your landlord physically pushed you aside to enter the property, and filed a complaint every time he did it, the police and the city would absolutely take notice and deal with it.
You said you are familiar with tenant's rights, yet you seem to have no idea about tenants rights or how to enforce them. So we're telling you what to do. 

[EmilieMadison]

Dec 15, 2013 15:24:26 GMT -5 littleduck said:

Dec 15, 2013 15:22:47 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

Well, it looks like 2014 is going to be the year of the backbone for you.

I thought I was being proactive but apparently not enough. I usually back off when I feel like I am being dismissed or causing conflict, which I admit is not always the right move. I guess I just have to step it up and be a problem they can't ignore.

YOUR LANDLORD is the one causing conflict. You are asking for your rights not to be violated. 

[Deleted]

Dec 15, 2013 15:22:52 GMT -5 littleduck said:

Dec 15, 2013 15:19:32 GMT -5 @savestheday said:

Call the cops. He sounds insane. Also the snow stopped hours ago, my driveway is as clean as it was at noon. Where are you that snow accumulated between now & then.

DH left for the library at like 3 AM. He has an online final he can take a section at a time and a paper, and he is trying to get done before we leave town  

Oh lord... That sucks, your DH gone all day, you on bedrest, a fucking blizzard & asshole the landlord.

Girl you need a hug & a drink & another drink. I would be so cranky right now.