More Landlord Problems... Honest Opinions Needed
By Jshean20
@Jshean20 (14348)
Canada
February 25, 2007 10:42pm CST
Well here we go again, more tension with the landlord (I'll be so excited when we never have to rent again)!Anyways, here's the situation.
We have informed the landlord that we will be leaving here the first of April and so they've been having potential renters come through here, fine. It was stated in the agreement that we are renting a "ranch style duplex" and it did not say anywhere in the agreement that the upstairs or laundryroom was not ours. The landlords themselves live directly behind us and we suspect that they are in the process of moving (we've seen the moving truck) but we know they're still living behind us for the time being. Anyways, there is a laundry room here that we do not use along with an upstairs, but it was never written in the agreement that it was not ours (we just haven't been using it because it's not very useable). Anyways, today we discovered a note on the door (whichh leads to the upstairs) stating that there was a cat up there...ummm OK?? We could hear this cat upstairs going absolutely nuts..letting out cry like meows for a long time, so being animal lovers and being concerned, we called the landlord to see wat was up. She immediately got defensive about us questioning it and saying that the cat was up there "mousing" because our garbage has attracted mice. My boyfriend and the roomate do go up there to smoke sometimes and there are a few empty cases of beer, but nothing to attract mice (trust me). Even if it was as filthy as she says it is, wouldn't it be cruel to put her cat up there under those conditions? When we called, it was with good intentions, as the cat sounded very upset (like it was hungry or just in some sort of distress) so we thought it would've been best to tell her about it. We never got answers from her just a bunch of swearing and I know the cat is still up there because I can hear him.
What should I do? The cat has been up there since yesterday and she DOES have food but is still in stress and the landloards haven't even come over to check on her! Also, I don't see how they even feel like they have the right to put her up there?
9 people like this
20 responses
@lonewolfnan (4366)
• Canada
26 Feb 07
My thoughts would be to call the ASPCA to see what the legal obligations the owners have towards the cat in terms of keeping it.If they say there is no problem with what the owners are doing with the cat,then I would drop that line.
As for the question of who has the rights to what area,you are gone in less than 6 weeks so do you really want the headache of argueing with them?If you can handle the stress the arguements and future mind games this will bring,thengo ahead and butt heads with them.To me,it is not worth my time.energy or stress to start playing their games and I would just wait my time out.
1 person likes this
@sharon613 (2321)
• United States
26 Feb 07
If your landlord doesn't come to get there cat out of the attick I suggest you get in contact with the human society and have them come and pick the cat up.
1 person likes this
@my3angels (87)
• United States
26 Feb 07
If at all possible I would ask you to put food, water, bedding and a litter box up there. Take on the responsibility of the cat as if it were your own. Keep a diary of what you do, also call ASPCA for some advice. Most of all I would stay clear of the landlord. You only have a few weeks to contend with this. I read someone else's response about haveing the landlord do a walk through with you when you leave and I think this is an excellent idea. Who knows what damage the cat is causing and what you might be blamed for. Good luck
@Acts238girl (2087)
• United States
26 Feb 07
i would definitely call animal control.to me that is really weird leaving the cat upstairs shutup by itself.
@momokoseiya (453)
• United States
26 Feb 07
I would contact the landlord one more time and say that if the cat is not removed, you will call animal control. The landlord probably lets the cat go up there because they do not want to watch their own cat.
Don't worry, at least you will be out of there soon. Just take it in stride and try not to let it get to you too much.
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
26 Feb 07
Seeing as you only have a few weeks left I wouldn't rock the boat no matter how hard it is not to. We rented from the same people for 4 years and they were always good to us until we told them we were buying a house and then teir attitude changed. We ended up argueing over our security deposit. But we had given 2 months noticed, recarpeted the rec room (it had no carpet wen we moved in) and did all sorts of other improvements out of our own pocket and even found them new tenants. So we threatened to take them to court and that was the end of it. I don't understand why they didn't use mouse traps? Kinda makes you wonder what the landlord is up to.
1 person likes this
@TriciaW (2441)
• United States
26 Feb 07
If you feel the cat is in trouble I would call animal control. If the landlord is not feeding it they will be able to tell. Also get something from them in writing saying you were concerned and had them come check it out. This way if the landlord wants to be bad and hold your deposit you have it to take to court. Also take pictures before you leave of everything so they can't claim they held the deposit for other reasons. Just cover your back!!
@ygkchaitu (387)
• India
27 Feb 07
I have had similar things from landlords and they are bothered only of the amount they ought to receive monthly ot annually. They are not concerned for others feelings. You do your best by reporting the situation to Blue Cross if you are a true animal lover.
http://www.earnwhileyoulearn.co.nr/
@cuddleme01 (2725)
• Philippines
27 Feb 07
even if there was no agreement about who owns the laundry room in your lease agreement, it is yourlandlord's duty to keep that cat away from that place as it is disturbing you. being the owner of the cat he is obliged to take care of the cat and not let it roam just about anywhere. you can even call the authorities to fix the problem if your landlord remains deaf to your complaints.
@abhishekkaushik (327)
• India
27 Feb 07
man which place u belong to i think these landlords are the creators of past age and are no more in power to harm anyone....i hope for better future of those suffering ppl
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
28 Feb 07
I don't really know what you can do about the cat.if there is food,water and a litter box there is not to much you can do....It seems you have a very difficult situations,and the best thing you can do is get out of there asap....She sounds like a ignorant land lord.you could call the humane society,but like i said as long as food,water and litter is there for the cat not much can be done...it sounds like the cat is in distress,you could just go up there and get the cat and free it,but it would probably cause a lot of trouble....they might just have the cat there to irritate you....
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
27 Feb 07
I would call the SPCA immediately. This cat sounds in some obvious distress and the SPCA have the rights to demand to see the cat and check it out.
If you explain the situation to the SPCA, I'm sure there are avenues they can go down that will help sort this situation out.
Also, I wouldn't worry about your landlords threatening to kick you out, if they figure you called the SPCA. You've already served your notice and so they have a legal obligation to let you stay till your notice is up.
I wish you the best of luck in sorting this out. Hopefully the cat isn't in any danger from these people.
@lovemydsdominik (282)
• United States
28 Feb 07
Poor cat! just stuck up there! and I can't believe they did it without saying anything to you guys, don't they realize that cats use the bathroom? did they put a litter box up there and if so, are they going to clean it? that was very out of line what hey did. I wish I had some good advice for you, but I have only rented 2 places and never had any landlord problems, lucky me! Thankfully you will be out of there in April!
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
26 Feb 07
As far as the cat being in the attic... It's their cat and their attic and as long as it has water, food, and shelter there isn't cause for animal cruelty.
I understand and agree that if the cat is making a lot of noise and bothering your own peaceful living, you have a right to complain! Most laws protect your right to live peacefully. This is also a legitimate reason for breaking a lease or cause for eviction too. It's stated in our lease and I've watched many court cases who claim that their rights were violated and they won.
I still think it's probably best to 'leave well enough alone'.... especially because you will soon be rid of these people and their meowing kitty.
I hope your landlords know that all cats are NOT mousers!
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
26 Feb 07
number one you can get the landlord for animal cruelty. the have no right leaveing the cat upstairs from in your apartment. they have two tell you that they are doing this because if their is anyone elergic to cats they can get the landlord into truble. just because you are moveing in the begining of april it does not give anyone the right to do anything to the tenent at all, call the animal control in your town and tell them that you are consurned about the cat that the landlord left upstairs and if someone can come and get the cat out so it is not in distress anymore
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
26 Feb 07
Personally, I'd just bide my time and leave it all be. The cat has food and while it's rather cruel to leave an animal in one room for any reason it won't hurt them. The cat is out of the cold, has food and evidently can go potty there, even if the whacko doesn't put in a litter box the cat will go all over. At this point it's not worth the big ones you're getting over it and with you leaving in just over a month or so... let it be.
Good luck with your move.
@Stephanie5 (2946)
• United States
26 Feb 07
It sounds like they are just doing whatever they can to annoy you. I would just keep an eye on the cat to make sure it doesn't die or anything and keep in mind that you might have to call the ASPCA and I would just try to steer clear of them until you can get out of there.
Good Luck!!!
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
26 Feb 07
It sounds like you have the landlord from hell. I don't think calling anilmal abuse agency would do very much as the cat does have food. Poor thing it seems to be very unhappy. I would take phtos of the room if the cat scratched it to pieces they might blame it on you and ask you to pay for damages. I would try to ignore these people and just be happy you are getting out of there.
@grandkids08 (246)
• United States
26 Feb 07
What you can do is call the amimal control about it. Thats the best thing i think that i would do. thats crueilty to animals. I go by shorty283 if you let me know what happens
