Seriously, Landlord?? (Vent, duh)

J&K10910 · October 2010

We moved into this great house in a small town last May. Our landlord is a little socially awkward and has never rented before, but we figured we'd be here pretty short term, the price was right, and we were dying to get out of our apartment. Well, he was supposed to be moving to Seattle, which is why he was renting his house out.

First, he wasn't ready to be out by the day he had promised us the house. So we just didn't pay him for the 3 days or so that he still had his crap in the house. Then, he didn't move when he said he would. he was all out of the house, but still around. We had one stall of the garage promised to us in the lease, and still was storing stuff in the other stall. Which wasn't a big deal, if he was gone. As it was, he was over here almost every day, puttering around in the garage and getting stuff. It was irksome. Finally (2 months later) he was gone. He was only gone for about 6 weeks when we got a call saying he was moving back into town for a few months and staying with friends.

Fastforward a couple weeks to him being back. He loaded up a bunch of crap in the garage again. Kyle barely has room to get in and out of his car. He's here like every freaking day, doing stuff to the outside of the house (one day, I got out of the shower and walked into our bedroom in a towel only to realize he was painting the outside of our bedroom window. I wasn't pleased), shooting his bow into a wood pallet in our backyard, changing his oil in the driveway. Today, he asked Kyle to keep his (brand new) car in the driveway overnight because he's building a cabinet in the garage. He's out there right now, sawing away. He interrupted my yoga twice to come fix fuses he blew out in the garage.

I'm livid. I'm trying to compose myself enough to go out and have a little boundaries and DUDE THIS OUR SPACE THAT'S WHY WE'RE PAYING YOU EVERY FUCKING MONTH chat with him.

staceytaylor0704 · October 2010

Oh uh uh. Not cool.
Good luck with that chat.... I'd have a hard time keeping my composure.

Starmusica · October 2010

ok this does not constitute legal advice but if you have a lease, please check the lease. In most states while he can have access to his property there are strict regulations about this kind of behavior. You should be bale to enforce it with a state organization.

jasmineh7777 · October 2010

Did you sign a renters agreement? I would be digging that out right now. How awkward.

MeaghanandMichael · October 2010

Next time he comes by can you 'accidently' call the cops thinking he was an intruder? I am passive agressive like that sometimes.

J&K10910 · October 2010

Yes, we have a lease, that's what pisses me off so much. This is OUR SPACE until the end of the lease. I really don't like confrontation and I don't want to hurt his misguided but well-intentioned socially awkward feelings in person (Because he really is a very nice guy, just...weird and has no boundaries) so I'm thinking about writing him a letter. Is that too passive aggressive?

kd.joseph · October 2010

I agree with Star and Jas, this is ridiculous. Consult your lease Now.

Starmusica · October 2010

honestly I think when dealing with rights like this.... you have to enforce the contract. I would really do it face to face. Have the lease at hand. Say this is your space legally and he legally has to stop and get out. thats just me tho.... (again.. not legal advice - i have to say this)

MarriedInAFever · October 2010

Where would you mail the letter, J? To your house?

I'm sorry. That sucks! You definitely need to establish some boundaries with your landlord and get him out, or get out of your lease. That's not even close to cool.

LuluP82 · October 2010

It is ridiculous! I'd confront him (in person, too).

J&K10910 · October 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_seriously-landlord-vent-duh?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:36ca239e-9522-4ad8-b452-b39c4cd22534Post:6479111c-760d-4965-a4e6-0eaa69614fcf">Re: Seriously, Landlord?? (Vent, duh)</a>:
[QUOTE]Where would you mail the letter, J? To your house? I'm sorry. That sucks! You definitely need to establish some boundaries with your landlord and get him out, or get out of your lease. That's not even close to cool.
Posted by MarriedInAFever[/QUOTE]

He still has a mailbox here. So I'd just stick it on in.

Bubbalub · October 2010

I think a letter would be to passive-aggressive. This is something that needs to be dealt with. Although, on the other hand, a letter can be copied and sent through the mail with a receipt and kept for legal records if necessary...

That is just out of line of your landlord. I understand being a first-time landlord and all but the guy WAY over the line of what is appropriate.

I would also consult your local/state renter's rights. Landlords are supposed to give minimun 24 hours notice before visiting/entering your place (which, I would assume, includes the garage since it is shared). He most certainly should not be painting the house without your knowledge or using your backyard. I have a feeling that is illegal, in some way.

(but I'm not a lawyer nor do I pretend to be one).

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · October 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_seriously-landlord-vent-duh?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:36ca239e-9522-4ad8-b452-b39c4cd22534Post:164205a7-cd5c-42a3-ae0f-7d7c4ceb1f47">Re: Seriously, Landlord?? (Vent, duh)</a>:
[QUOTE]I think a letter would be to passive-aggressive. This is something that needs to be dealt with. Although, on the other hand, a letter can be copied and sent through the mail with a receipt and kept for legal records if necessary... That is just out of line of your landlord. I understand being a first-time landlord and all but the guy WAY over the line of what is appropriate. I would also consult your local/state renter's rights. <strong>Landlords are supposed to give minimun 24 hours notice before visiting/entering your place (which, I would assume, includes the garage since it is shared).</strong> He most certainly should not be painting the house without your knowledge or using your backyard. I have a feeling that is illegal, in some way. (but I'm not a lawyer nor do I pretend to be one).
Posted by Bubbalub[/QUOTE]

I BELIEVE that only applies to California and only if there are 4 or more units on the property.

I ALMOST rented from a guy once who I swear would have been like that. As in, we could park 3 cars there. There was room for 5 AND a garage, but he kept non-working junkers in the driveway and a crap load of stuff in the garage. He also didn't want to rent the house to a bunch of 20 somethings, he wanted to rent it to a "family." Um, okay.

As it is, our landlord is around a lot, but he's not very intrusive. My current biggest issue is my suspicion that our neighbors' friends are shooting up in our laundry room. And we had the landlord get a lock and keys for the laundry room BECAUSE of that kind of stuff. Doesn't really help when the people doing it have keys.

Anyway, back to you, J. Yes, I actually think a letter would help you compose and edit your thoughts coherently. Invite him to call you if he wants to discuss it. Changing his oil? Target practice in your yard? Uh, no.

J&K10910 · October 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_seriously-landlord-vent-duh?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:36ca239e-9522-4ad8-b452-b39c4cd22534Post:109dd678-b974-41f8-baa8-b97525142b12">Re: Seriously, Landlord?? (Vent, duh)</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Seriously, Landlord?? (Vent, duh) : Yes, I actually think a letter would help you compose and edit your thoughts coherently. Invite him to call you if he wants to discuss it. Changing his oil? Target practice in your yard? Uh, no.
Posted by msmerymac[/QUOTE]

That's what I'm thinking. I can get flustered easily and then I forget key points and I know I'll feel bad because it'll be obvious we're hurting his feelings and I'm just really, really not a mean person (to people I know anyway, I'm not very friendly to strangers haha).

sister2groom · October 2010

Last time I had a problem with my landlord (he waited days to fix our plumbing when we had no water) I kept reminding/asking for updates politely and then called the city. It was miraculously fixed the next day.

BecW2be · October 2010

I have no advice, other than to cut up a wig and tape it under your arms and behind your knees and elbows, and come out of the shower in a towel again the next time he's there and you "need something from the garage." Maybe you'll scare him away?

pizzanfries4me · October 2010

I'm sorry I didn't read all the posts so this might have been talked about... but, if you are renting - doesn't the landlord need to give you 24 hours notice before visiting?? I'd pull out the lease real fast and have a looksie over it.
And I liked the idea of calling the cops concerned its an intruder!!

Seriously, Landlord?? (Vent, duh)

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