Can you help me with a difficult landlord situation?
Ms. P. asked:
I rented a property on the bottom floor of a home, in which the landlord lives as well, on the top floor. I am on a month to month rental which includes $1500 for the unit and
$250 for the garage and the parking space behind the garage. Now, the landlord has decided that she does not like the storage I keep inside the garage, instead of a car. She has asked me find a storage unit somewhere else. I cannot afford a storage unit and the cost of the garage. The landlord has also advised me that she wishes to have a termite fumigation, which will displace me for at least four days. In April, the landlords sewer overflowed into my bathroom. I had to keep the refuse at bay with my good towels until the plumber arrived. There was a dehumidifier in my home for four days to save the hardwood. Now the plumber has displaced me for another seven days due to a new pipe being placed under the ground. I had to move 1/2 of the storage and do not have a place to park. What should I do?
I rented a property on the bottom floor of a home, in which the landlord lives as well, on the top floor. I am on a month to month rental which includes $1500 for the unit and
$250 for the garage and the parking space behind the garage. Now, the landlord has decided that she does not like the storage I keep inside the garage, instead of a car. She has asked me find a storage unit somewhere else. I cannot afford a storage unit and the cost of the garage. The landlord has also advised me that she wishes to have a termite fumigation, which will displace me for at least four days. In April, the landlords sewer overflowed into my bathroom. I had to keep the refuse at bay with my good towels until the plumber arrived. There was a dehumidifier in my home for four days to save the hardwood. Now the plumber has displaced me for another seven days due to a new pipe being placed under the ground. I had to move 1/2 of the storage and do not have a place to park. What should I do?
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find another place to rent and move. boo
wow thats crazy
she sounds like a
B I T C H!
this might cheer you up…
click on the landlord
(hope you like will ferrel) please someone HELP me!!!
i would ask the landlord for compensation on you you staying somewhere else and hell even for your towels! That is not your problem. On the part of the garage, unfortunately they can ask you you to do as they please, since it is a month - month rental.
But if they can’t try and help you out but are making you do as they want, I would suggest finding a new place to live.
Where do you live, what state because that sounds like alot for a one bedroom I assume. CRAZYGIRL
The big question is did you sign a lease? If you did not sign a lease you are limited as to what actions you can take. If you did sign a lease, read it thoroughly. Usually if work needs to be done to the unit where the tenant must vacate the premises for awhile, the landlord is responsible for paying your hotel bill. If the lease does not specify what can be stored in the garage then you should not have to remove your items. I hope you signed a lease because if not this might only be the beginning for you!! Good Luck! Mer S
I would definitely look up a tenant/landlord company that works with advising you of your rights as a tenant. there should be a lot of information available online.
if not, call the police and ask what you can do about it and if it’s legal what they’re doing. ask if they can point you to any resources. it’s best to not do anything until you are advised of your rights.
if you pay for the space in the garage, know that it’s your right to put whatever you want in there, as you are renting the space. the landlord can’t choose which furniture you put in your apartment, nor should she be allowed to tell you what else you can put in another space you rented.
i believe that you are right in this situation, but before you do anything, it’s best to find out what your rights are. it should be called something along the lines of tenant act, agreement, etc. and may include landlord in there. not sure. look into it but don’t do anything on your own. if you can’t find any information about your rights, call the police (non emergency) and find out what you can do about it. what she is doing is immoral.
my experiences are if someone wants to dick you around and you don’t have any written agreement saying anything else, then they pretty much can. this is my experience living in spain, which is entirely different than north america–i don’t suggest anyone ever live anywhere as shady as madrid, spain–so you’re probably in better luck as a canadian or american.
good luck. Mz T
I would look for alternative accommodation. I don’t know how your laws work in the states, but in the mother country he would be liable to a charge of illegal harassment.
Good luck. freddie m
Renter’s actually have a lot of rights. For example, you are paying for a reasonably safe place to stay, and being essentially evicted for days at a time contradicts that. In your lease, if it says you can not store items in the garage, only a car, then you will not win that battle. Inspect your lease carefully to understand what your options are. It sounds like the landlord is being unnecessarily difficult, so you may be opening yourslef up for a miserable battle for nothing. I would probably look for a new residence and get your deposit back and leave. You might win legally, but you probably will just be screwed in the long run if you stay. Check your state’s laws. Bob
It doesn’t sound like a “healthy” environment. The landlord may have to pay to put you up in an motel while fumigation takes place. If you are unable to use the space you are paying for then this needs to be addressed via certified mail even though the landlord lives there. Also, the sewer and the multifamily occupancy needs to be checked to be sure it can even be rented out. Below is a website from Cornell Law School covering landlord tenant law. The housing authority needs to be notified so the sewer can be inspected to insure the property is safe for habitation. Hope it helps! Etta P
Unless your rental agreement states differently oryou are storing something hazardous in the garage, it is your space, you’re paying for it, and you can store whatever you want. It is none of her business.
You deserve compensation for the displacement and for new towels.
If I were you, I’d find another place to rent, give notice and demand the return of my security deposit and compensation to recover your displacement and damages.
You will probably end up in small claims court with this nut case. mazziatplay
First of all you do not say what state you live in and laws with tenant/lanlord can vary state to state. Was there a written agreement with the rental of garage anywhere that is says garage for car uyse only? Are the contents you are storing in the garage flamable? if so the lanlord has a right to tell you to move them. Are they any illegal or unsafe things your are storing? If none of the above then you do not have to move any of it. As for being displaced the lanlord is legally obligated to pay 100% for you stay at a hotel room while u can not live in your apt.
The problem you have is you are on a month to month rental without a lease to protect you. The lanlord can give you a 30 notice to leave. Although if you feel that he is being unfair to you and evict you cause of any other reason such as, color, race,religion, gender, sexual preference, ect…. you should talk to a free attorney or head to court house yourself to see what u can file against him. or at least have a solid defense if you end up in court with him. Document everything that happens including dates, times, what was said, take pictures of what u have in garage, take pictures of damage in apt. ect…Goodluck misslehawk
Ok.The problem started when you rented part of your landlord’s house.Sharing a house w/ another family is always difucult.I personally suggest renting another house.I rent a whole house for less then what your giving your landlord to live in her basement.But,If you seriously like it in her basement,I suggest cleaning out everything you have thats in storage and going through it and tossing the stuff you dont want.And for parking, park in a nearby parking lot.But I would seriously consider looking for a whole house to rent.My rent for 2 bed 1 bath 1 kitchen 1 dinning room 1 living room and 1 attic is only 450$ a month.There are some really nice places that ppl will rent out for a reasnable price. Lizzy Marie
you say your landlord is a she, and lives on the top floor
have you tried to push her down the stairs from the top floor?
this might resolve all of your housing problems…well, there would be new problems coming along, but let’s leave them for the next question…
hope you have a sense of humor, i mean no harm. black_dahlia
move baby!!!!!!!!! Steve
At your book store or your public library there is a book published about tenant and landlord’s right’s.In it are the laws of your state.Should your landlord’s property be privately owned.You won’t have that much of a fight.Public property is governed by the state.Private property is governed by the owner. willie j
Hi. I am guessing you are renting in America? In the UK, Tenants have specific rights and these are normally specified in the tenancy agreement that is signed by both the Tenant and the Landlord. I am reasonably sure that there is a Government legislation set up to protect the rights of tenants too as there have been many years of negligent acts by some less salubrious Landlords so to speak. I guess that common sense should prevail in terms of your Landlord having the decency to notify you of forthcoming works or maintenance to the property with enough prior notice to allow you to make alternative arrangements. If you have suffered because of his/her negligence, it would be a fair assumption that they would negotiate a rent rebate for the period of inconvenience? In terms of the storage facility, I can’t see that what you store is an issue, unless it was harmful or dangerous in some manner? You are paying for the Garage/Storage unit, so this should suffice? If you haven’t looked already, it would be prudent to check if you have a Tenants rights lobby or seek some advice from a local Lawyer on a fixed fee basis? Good luck, I hope you get some resolve sooner rather than later! Big Dave G is 43