Landlord, tenant and neighbor relations

@jerzgirl (9291)
United States
March 19, 2009 3:49pm CST
I put this under relationships because all regular interactions are in their own ways relationships. As many of you might know, I lived with my mother for more than a year as her caretaker. I moved back into my apartment at the end of January. While I was gone, a former neighbor from the house next door moved into the unit under mine. From day one, she started complaining whenever my daughter had guests and would follow my daughter whenever she went downstairs to do laundry. She had no problem having regular get-togethers of her family and friends, but my daughter seemed to be forbidden to have a life. She would even have HER mother call me at MY mother's house to complain about it (I still owe a kick in the slats to whoever gave them MY mother's number). It didn't matter how early it was, my daughter having company was a problem for her. After I moved back, I was in the basement with the landlady who was showing me where I could store my stuff. She wouldn't even let us in the basement until we told her who we were, despite the fact that she doesn't rent the basement and that's where the laundry is. She sat on the stairs listening to every word we said and commenting when she felt she could, despite it being a private conversation. My landlady made it clear that the basement was for both units and that I could store some of my inherited items there. She is the landlady's niece. Her grandmother and other aunt are co-owners as well. Well, when she learned that I had a key to the basement (as is my right as a tenant here), SHE changed the locks and for over a month has refused to give anyone a key to the basement. She claims I cannot store my things down there because she's afraid 1)someone might steal her items, 2) storing my stuff would create a liability to the landlords for insurance purposes (despite the basement being lined with her things she was storing). She told my landlady (who lives next door) that she didn't want anyone down there, that she wanted the basement to herself. She kept promising to give a key to them, but to date never has. Today, I could hear yelling and tracked the voices to the landlady's husband yelling at this girl's live-in boyfriend (who isn't on the lease) about having the basement door locked and still having their lock on the door in violation of the lease. They were yelling at each other with boyfriend stating "this is unacceptable", "I am a good tenant" (wrong, hun - you're not on the lease), "I've done nothing illegal" (wrong again - you violated the lease by keeping other tenants from doing laundry and accessing their circuit breakers). The landlord's husband, meanwhile, was growing angrier by the minute and was using more and more vile language, his face was purple, and he was telling this boyfriend what part of him he could kiss. Boyfriend followed him home next door, refusing to take "no" for an answer. I was worried because the husband has had bypass surgery twice - once around 15 years ago and again three years ago. She, the little witch downstairs, thinks because she's family, she has carte blanche and can do anything without anyone saying anything. When she lived next door, another rental owned by the three sisters, she filed complaints against literally ever single tenant who lived there while she did. She called the police constantly, woke people up during the night with her complaining, got people evicted, and apparently felt that surge of power that effective nagging can give you when others buy into it. Well, I haven't bought into it and I've done nothing wrong and neither has my daughter. I know when she gets home from work, the fecal matter is going to hit the fan. I've already told my landlady's husband that if she continued to attack me and my daughter, I would file harassment charges against her. She locked my emergency exit so I can't use it because she wants the space behind it for storage. That's an exit the city knows about. Yet, she is afraid I might steal something of her precious belongings. Never mind that I've lived here for over seven years and have yet, before her, to have anyone complain about anything missing from their property. The tenant immediately preceding her even left the downstairs door open in the emergency exit to make sure I had no obstruction in case I needed to get out. Not once did I ever go into the stairs or into their house - I had no need to. This one, however, treats me like a common thief - despite the fact that she has one uncle who is in and out of prison for theft, a cousin recently arrested for attempted murder, another cousin in and out of jail for illegal behaviors of one sort or another. I'm the potential criminal even as her family is FULL of them!! I'm not leaving - I've been here since September 2001 and I plan to stay. My guy friend is my landlady's son. I like being next door to him. I don't like HER being under me. SHE is in violation of the lease - SHE needs to go! Anyway, I needed to vent. Have you ever had to deal with a neighbor from hell? What did they do? What did YOU do?
3 people like this
9 responses
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
20 Mar 09
Hey Jerz! What a phucking mess! I did get a bit confused with who was who in all that familial stuff! I did get that everyone is related, but not to you! I sure hope they throw that pain in the azz out! How crazy is that! Why do they put up with her? Don't tell me! Because she is family? I have had problems with a neighbor from hell, but I live in a big apartment complex where no one is related! And thank the Lord for that! But, I still have this miserable beotch who has been causing trouble for 28 phucking years and has made quite a few tenants move out so they wouldn't kill her! I think they should have just killed her, but none of them wanted to go to jail, including me! That is the only reason she is still breathing! The Landlord knows she is a big problem, but with the legal crap and she pays her rent it isn't easy to get the beotch out! So she is still here wrecking havoc on everyone! I hope your problem gets settled alot sooner then mine!
2 people like this
• United States
22 Mar 09
she sounds like a whacko. blocking the back exit is a violation of fire codes too. yea,i had some neighbors from hell when i lived in tucson. they were..let's say the holy roller type.you couldn't sit on your front porch without either a sermon or their lovely child running up on said porch and literally screaming in your face.she thought it was funny. and mr.& mrs supposedly pious left garbage cans full of diapers behind their unit. in july.in arizona.in 113 degree sun. did i mention the roaches it drew? and i so loved "if your happy and you know it" rendered by two little girls at full volume,7 am through the wall after working double shift for the 3rd day. anyway,to make a long story short,the guy on the other side of them finally lost it before i did,and sent a bowling ball through their connecting wall. ..and they moved,everybody happy.the end
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Mar 09
i don't think i could resist telling her to put the stuff in her basement.. with great sarcasm it's amazing what some people in apart's think they can get away with. like the parking space abusers,that's another one.one space means one space,not two..or did we fail sesame street? i tell ya,jerz..
• China
20 Mar 09
Are best able to vent. I have never experienced such a situation.However,there is to see that happen around those trouble.I can understand you feeling.Please relax.
• Regina, Saskatchewan
19 Mar 09
Have you researched city bylaws about this? And also the Landlord and Tenant Act? Next time there's a problem file a complaint against her with the police. And keep doing it until you have enough to charge her with harrassment and tenancy violations. Then take her to Judge Judy and get her a*s whipped!
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9291)
• United States
22 Mar 09
I genuinely like my one landlady. I don't want her getting in trouble. I don't want to get her in trouble just because she has a problematic niece whose grandmother (another property owner) sees fit to not step in. I try to encourage HER to do it, which is within HER authority as a landlord and her niece, being a tenant, MUST comply with the lease. She brought in the building inspector who told the niece that she was in violation of city codes by blocking my emergency exit by using it as storage (it's FULL of her stuff). She now thinks I called them and is looking for something to report me for. She's apparently unable to put the fact in place that her is a city clerk and works WITH the building inspector. I don't think she's ever been told she was wrong in her life.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
20 Mar 09
Hi, jerzgirl. Could it be that being that you have a relationship with the landlord's son maybe that is why the landlady is treating you this way. It sounds like she is just jealous. You may need to take this to civil court and battle it out in front of the judge. In the meantime, relax and try to keep things cool. I know that you don't want to move out, but you may need to. This woman is giving you hell, I know!! Why won't she let you store some of yoir things in the storage?? If I was you, I would take her to court. If your storage is included with the rent, then you should be able to put your things in the storage, you have every right to. If, not then rent a storage from a storage company monthly, if possible. I hate going through issues with the landlord. My family and I have been evicted 3 times, and almost four times... It was very crazy!!! So, I know what it feels like to deal with a landlord that gives you grief! I am sorry that this is going on, I hope that you can live in peace, away from thie witch! You may have to take this to court, just keep this in mind. If you still have no rest, just move out. I would rather be gone, than to stress myself out any longer with a nasty landlord. Maybe you and your guy friend can get a place together, away from his aggravating mother! Take care!
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9291)
• United States
22 Mar 09
She yelled at the landlady's son saying he was defending me only because he went around with me. Actually, she was more graphic than that, but she doesn't have any room to talk...I don't know of a guy she's dated that she hasn't slept with and the current one, "Mr. Personality" called the landlords "liars" on Friday, which is what started the argument. Then HE said he was offended by the language my landlord used??? Give me a flippin' break!! My daughter took them mail that was put in our box by mistake and he told her to next time put it in the mailbox instead of disturbing him. No thank you of any kind - just a reprimand for a good deed. He's a piece of work, but my guy gets berated because he took MY side. Yeah - she's such a vision of loveliness.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Mar 09
This is the most awful mess that I have read in a long time. I hope that you felt beter after venting. I cannot tell you what to do but I know that I don't think that I could cope with any of this stuff that is being thrown at you. I am so sorry and can only offer my sympathy - no advice - as I would not know what to do. Hang in htere.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9291)
• United States
22 Mar 09
I'm being pulled in a 360 degree circle by all the things going on right now, so each one of them tends to push the max stress buttons big time. Building inspector apparently laid down the law about her using MY emergency exit as storage and she's ready for bear now, so she's going to find whatever she can about me to report. I had nothing to do with the building inspector, but I'm to blame because she's NEVER wrong and how dare anyone say she's wrong. She's a prime example of an over-indulged child who's never been told they're wrong and who's been allowed to always do what they wanted. Some parent-figure has been long overdue in disciplining her. If she pushes, she'll wind up in court as a defendant.
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
19 Mar 09
for about a year the people across the street (not the current ones, but the ones before them) were always outside playing rude, crude rap music with no consideration of anyone else - so loud I couldn't hear my TV in MY house with the windows closed the crazy neighbor finally got them evicted (this was 15 years ago before she was so crazy) we were calling the cops all the time because of noise violation and people behaving badly - including running across the street with only a towel around their waist.....
• India
20 Mar 09
hey i had some tenants too but its agood thing that all of them were really good ones and now they r like family even now they visit us .
@dropofrain (1167)
• India
20 Mar 09
I think it is really important to make good relations with the landlord, tenants etc as your home is really important thing in your life. To be comfortable at the place you live it is really important to keep others nearby you in good and happy state. It makes life easier for you.