Posted by sb417 on November 29, 2003, at 23:49:23
In reply to Having trouble-not sure what to do?, posted by janejj on November 29, 2003, at 21:24:47
I've had some problems with bad/intrusive/inappropriate landlords over the years. After much trial and error, I've found that if you must live in an apartment, it's best to live in a large, multiple dwelling apartment building with many units (rather than a private house that's been converted into apartments). I imagine the laws vary from state to state, but in many areas, buildings with 8 units or more are subject to many more laws that protect tenants. If a building has less than 8 units, the landlords can do whatever they want. Also, if there are lots of other tenants, you can band together to get things done. If you're alone or with just a few other tenants, you have almost no rights. Granted, some of the private houses are more quaint and charming to look at than a big impersonal apartment building, but I've found the "charm" quickly fades when the landlord has no concept of personal boundaries. When I lived in apartments in private houses, the landlords invariably had too much time on their hands. Several claimed to be too "disabled" to work, but they were not too disabled to intrude upon, harass, and stalk their tenants. When you look for another apartment, you should interview the landlord just as he is interviewing you. Find out about him. Does he work? If so, where? Does he have a family? Does he have a life? If not, you will probably become the most interesting thing in his life and you won't have any privacy. If he "has a life," it won't be necessary for him to bud into yours. Remember: the landlord-tenant relationship is a business relationship, and it should stay that way. If a landlord wants you as a confidante or as a friend, he can start out by charging a friendlier rent -- or no rent.
poster:sb417
thread:285125
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20031124/msgs/285152.html