'Landlord [is] trying to scam me out of my security deposit': Top Worst Landlords of the Week (September 9, 2023)

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Sep 9, 2023 4:00 PM EDT

In case you haven't learned this already, it's your landlord's world and you are unfortunately living in it. Yes, in this day and age, it seems like landlords are becoming even more unnecessarily powerful than they should be and are capitalizing on that power as much as they can. This collection of top landlord stories from Reddit's r/LandlordLove subreddit only brings back haunting memories of my first New York apartment, the unstoppable ceiling leakage, and the unsolvable roach infestation.

 

But every so often, we have a win against our landlords. In the case of that first apartment, I ended up getting discounted rent, which certainly did not solve the issue but I'll take my wins where I can get them. Then, there was that other apartment that flooded one night while I was gone. Thankfully, I was already in the process of moving out so there was no property damage. Even more remarkably, I was able to get my full security deposit back because of the damage to the walls from the flooding that may or may not have covered up some damage I may have actually been responsible for pre-flooding. Again, I'll take my wins where I can get them. 

 

Keep scrolling below for the top worst landlord stories of the week. When you're finished, feel free to check out this story about a neighbor's petty revenge. 

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  • 01
    Wood - What do I owe my landlord, moving out Need Advice F
    via u/First_Classic_1234
  • 02
    Font - I am moving into a house soon and put in my month's notice for my apartment. My landlord told me I have to get the carpets professionally cleaned because I have cats and otherwise get the place in pretty much perfect condition. I don't expect to get the security deposit back, no matter what. I'm just thinking how much money is reasonable for me to spend here, considering my landlord didn't exactly fulfill her responsibility to me as her tenant.
    via u/First_Classic_1234
  • 03
    Font - For almost a year I have been trying to convince her to get a leak in the ceiling fixed. It has gone from a leak in the ceiling to a hole in the ceiling, and occasionally chunks of ceiling will fall into our water bucket. I talk to her about it frequently (at least I did, now that I'm moving out I figure she knows about it and it's her problem if she doesn't want to fix her own roof) and she always says "oh next week" "yeah I'll hire a contractor" etc but clearly nothing is getting done.
    via u/First_Classic_1234
  • 04
    Font - I'm generally a people pleaser, but I honestly just don't know if it's worth it to spend my money on these cleanings. Would they be able to come after me for damages beyond the security deposit if I didn't get the carpet professionally cleaned? I feel like if they do come after me I can reciprocate, and try to get reimbursed for some of the rent I paid while I was living under documented unsafe conditions (we at points have been worried about the ceiling collapsing). But I don't want to h
    via u/First_Classic_1234
  • 05
    Font - Landlord charging for guests My lease states that we must pay my landlord $20 per overnight guest per night. We signed the lease, so I'm assuming he has legal right to ask this of us. However, last week my parents came to visit to see my daughter. They stayed in a nearby Airbnb, but spent almost all day ever day at my place.
    via u/roseman96
  • 06
    Font - Landlord called because he lurks around the building and could hear them here during the day, he said I had violated the rules, that I have to let him know if guests come over even during the day if it's for long hours. He also had an issue with them playing in the back driveway with my daughter, saying it was a "liability" for him. Do I have any recourse on him calling us to inquire about guests, seemingly spying on us, etc? He didn't ask for money for the daytime guests, but I don't wan
    via u/roseman96
  • 07
    Font - 6 days ago I don't live in California, but isn't there a "reasonable expectation to quietly enjoy the premises without intrusion", or anything like that? Any required notice periods before they come onto the property? In a sense, he is "inspecting" without notice. 349 Reply Share
    via u/roseman96
  • 08
    Font - LL is trying to charge us $250 for a never-before- seen "move-in fee" Need Advice I moved into a new apartment with my partner on July 1st. We paid all necessary fees before move in as they were mentioned on the lease and in our correspondence with the leasing manager (first and last month, security deposit, and pet fee), and paid last month's (August) rent in full on time as well.
    via u/illusionmists
  • 09
    Font - When logging into our portal to pay September's rent today, we found a "move-in fee" that claims it was due on July 1st and is now overdue. This was not on the portal last month, and after reading through the ENTIRE lease again i have found zero mention of it. I will not be paying this fee unless I have absolutely no other options, I think it's bulk
    via u/illusionmists
  • 10
    Font - Thankfully for me, my uncle is a lawyer (real estate at that) who has dealt in tenants' rights before, and he has agreed to go over it and handle what he can for me. But has anyone had experience with this? Is there anything I should watch out for/be aware of?
    via u/illusionmists
  • 11
    Font - UPDATE: My uncle looked over our lease and all communication we've exchanged with them and confirmed that this in fact an improper charge put on us. We've sent them an email informing them that we will not be paying the fee and that we request they remove it immediately. Seeing that it's a holiday weekend, it'll probably take a few days to see how they respond, if they do.
    via u/illusionmists
  • 12
    Font - I say if because with my uncle's help I was able to find out more information about the landlord's company. I have found several reviews of people saying similar things have happened to them and their emails went ignored. In two cases, eventually it had to be taken to court and the landlord never even showed up.....needless to say, the tenants won the case both times. I'm incredibly fortunate to have the means to fight this if it comes to that, but it sounds like this will be an incredibl
    via u/illusionmists
  • 13
    Font - Did the owner have the right to spend the night in our apartment? My roommate and I just moved in to our 2-bedroom condo Friday afternoon (yesterday). There were some complications because the painters had been scheduled to come at the same time, but we all (me, my roommate, the owner, the realtor, and the painters) had an agreement that we would move our furniture in to the center of the living room and they could paint around it. We also had to pay a fee to reserve the elevator for that
    via u/scandalousredstring
  • 14
    Font - The owner originally wanted us to move in on Saturday (today, 1 day later), but we explained that Friday was the only time our movers were available to help, as well as our truck driver and the truck. So he said it was alright as long as we just moved our stuff in on Friday and didn't spend the night because of the "paint fumes." (I have both a voice recording and a written text message for proof of him saying this.)
    via u/scandalousredstring
  • 15
    Font - This morning, I went to the apartment to let the painters in once again so they could finish the remaining rooms, and so I could move any furniture that might be in the way of the areas they would paint today.
    via u/scandalousredstring
  • 16
    Font - When I got there, the top lock was locked, and until then, I was not aware that I had not been given the second key, but I heard shuffling inside, so I knocked on the door. The owner answered the door and let me in. Keep in mind, he had mentioned last night that he would be there today to both meet me and help supervise the painters, etc. But what he did NOT tell me, was that he and his son had spent the night in my and my roommate's rooms on the floor. Imagine my surprise when I was abou
    via u/scandalousredstring
  • 17
    Font - When I told my roommate about this, she messaged him saying this was not okay with her and he should have told us and/or asked our permission before staying the night, since our lease started yesterday (the 1st of September). He responded defensively, stating that this was the reason why he told us not to spend the night, which was not true. Before, he claimed it was because of paint fumes. He then proceeded to try to guilt us by saying it was very uncomfortable having to sleep on the flo
    via u/scandalousredstring
  • 18
    Font - If he had apologized and just told us that this wouldn't happen again, my roommate and I would be perfectly okay with that, but because of his defensive response, we want some other opinions on this situation. So my question is, did he have the right to spend the night in our apartment without informing us?
    via u/scandalousredstring
  • 19
    Font - Tl;dr -- Our new landlord spent the night in our apartment without telling us, and then claimed he had the right to because he previously told us not to sleep there because of "paint fumes." Not so he could sleep there instead. EDIT: The lease states that the landlord is required to give two days' notice before entering the apartment.
    via u/scandalousredstring
  • 20
    Rectangle - r/LandlordLove . Posted by u/Glokkpod 2 days ago No prior warning or discussion. 1.5 hour notice for fines and lease violation
    via u/Glokkpod
  • 21
    Font - Residents, There is a lot of trash by front doors. I understand that valet trash did not run over the weekend due to the holiday. You are still responsible for taking that to the dumpster during that time. If the trash is not removed by 12:30 PM TODAY! You will be charged $20 per bag removed by our View all Also, a lease violation will be issued. Thank you, Wimbledon Place Winfield Management 11:02 AM 11:04 AM
    via u/Glokkpod
  • 22
    Font - I personally did not put any trash out so im unaffected. However they never let us know that the trash valet would be down this weekend or for Labor Day. Did they really think this was an appropriate response?
    via u/Glokkpod
  • 23
    Font - bejeweled_midnight. 2 days ago So you get charged a mandatory fee for valet trash, do not get the service you're paying for, and then an additional fee because they didn't pay anyone to collect trash for a few days? Landlords truly have lost their minds.
    via u/Glokkpod
  • 24
    Font - When I do give you rent can I just get the hard copy receipts for month 7 and month 8? Then one for month 9 as well. U can bring to when people are awake It's 430 am but Of course. Sorry I didn't expect you to respond right away. I just wanted to send this message so I didn't forget. I'm at work right now but when I get home at 8, I'll text to see if she's up. Well it woke me up Again, I apologize won't happen again. Delivered
    via u/Ok-Walrus-9875
  • 25
    Font - This isn't the first time my landlord has been snarky with me. I understand it was early but come on, i felt like she was being real and I can't stand her lately. Plus it's literally about me paying rent?! Nothing arbitrary.
    via u/Ok-Walrus-9875
  • 26
    Font - Landlord trying to scam me out of my security deposit I moved out of my apartment over a month ago. I've been reaching out to the Landlord and her assistant to get my deposit back. The assistant told me that the landlord was sending me a correspondence letter.
    via u/AutomaticTelephone58
  • 27
    Font - After 31 days of no response from the landlord, she finally sent an email saying the letter came back in the mail and she wanted to bank transfer my deposit. The letter said she was going to give me $380 of my $1500 deposit. It also listed the reasons for deductions.
    via u/AutomaticTelephone58
  • 28
    Font - The landlord lives in another state. When I moved out of the apartment, she had her property management agent perform a full walk through and take pictures of the apartment.
    via u/AutomaticTelephone58
  • 29
    Font - One charge was for fixing nail holes, but I never nailed or hung anything from the walls. Another charge was for a $300 cleaning fee, but I spent 2 days cleaning every corner of the apartment. Another charge was for unclogging a drain, but I never had drain issues. There was a charge for fixing a hole, which was my fault and I emailed her about it a month before I moved out.
    via u/AutomaticTelephone58
  • 30
    Font - There was no mandatory cleaning fee listed in the contract. I've rented for years and I always cleaned the apartment to avoid cleaning fees. I asked her for itemized statements. She provided me the cleaning service invoice and contractor invoice. The cleaning service wasn't itemized, but it listed a flat $350 fee. She reduced my deposit again when she noticed it was $350 not $300.
    via u/AutomaticTelephone58
  • 31
    Font - I'm just upset that she is scamming me for a cleaning fee when I had a move out inspection and I spent an entire weekend cleaning the apartment. Her email responses have been condescending and she wants me to accept her bank transfer for the deposit as soon as possible. Anyone else have this situation?
    via u/AutomaticTelephone58
  • 32
    Font - TLDR: I spent days cleaning the apartment, but landlord charged me a $350 cleaning fee from my deposit and a mandatory fee wasn't listed in the contract.
    via u/AutomaticTelephone58

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