Landlord suddenly makes angry demands after 11-year relationship, tenants force him to follow through on all repairs in return: 'He showed up unannounced, walked inside and proceeded to yell at us in front of our kids"

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jul 3, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

The problem with renting is that no matter how long you've lived somewhere, you never know when your landlord might ask you to leave or serve you a notice to vacate. Outside of maybe some mutual respect, there's really nothing giving you the security that you have when you live in your own home. At that point, only the bank will come after you if you default on your mortgage. 

Even if you've had a long-standing good relationship, there's no telling when your landlord might flip their switch—as is true in any relationship. In this case, this couple had lived in this rental property for 11 years, and goodwill had been built on both sides, with concessions being made by both parties. Their landlord had been lenient when the couple had fallen behind in times of hardship, and in return, they didn't bother him with the ever-growing list of issues on the property that he was in no hurry to repair. However, one day, their landlord contacted them, angrily demanding that they clear out the dingy shed on the property that they had been using for storage, ranting on about finances and throwing plenty of curse words and insults around.

Things devolved from there. The tenants decided two could play at that game and delivered the laundry list of repairs that had gone unattended to, putting the pressure back on their landlord…

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  • 01
    FOR RENT 858-9805
    via Jose Alonso
  • 02
    "I want it to look nice around here" LOC I live in a very tenant-friendly area. We have rent control, and landlords are not allowed to do things like demand security deposits, enter the property without proper written notice, or include no pet clauses in leases, which renew automatically every month after a fixed term ends.
    via u/depleted-user
  • 03
    For the last 11 years, my husband and I have had a great relationship with our landlord, Joe (fake name). We've been very lenient in regards to repairs, and Joe was very forgiving when my husband and I both lost our jobs at the same time in 2016 and fell a few months behind on rent. We are now ahead on rent, but Joe is still very behind in maintenance and repairs. We have a whole laundry list of issues my landlord is aware of, but hasn't done anything about for years, but we didn't care because
    via u/depleted-user
  • 04
    A few years ago our landlord allowed us to start storing stuff in an old, run-down, shed in behind our rented portion of the yard. We never stored anything valuable out there, because it's falling apart, and squirrels have been using it to cache. walnuts from the numerous walnut trees in our yard.. We had an old BBQ, lawnmower, ladders, and outside toys for my kids in there..... until recently.
    via u/depleted-user
  • 05
    A few months ago, Joe shows up asking about the shed, wanting to know what we had stored out there. I told him "just some old junk we'll probably throw out soon". He told us that the family next door has a mouse problem (we don't), and he wants us to clear out the shed to "prevent issues" and because "I want it to look nice around here". I said, ok I'll talk to my husband and we'll get it cleared out whenever we get a chance. I have an infant at home, so I can't go out back and clean it out myse
    via u/depleted-user
  • 06
    Then, Joe sent me a passive aggressive text. "I just wanted to remind you that tomorrow is garbage day (we know, garbage pick-up has always been on Monday), and we need to work together to keep the rental property nice for everyone to enjoy." I replied asking him if he had plans to fix the shed, to remove his scrap pick up truck, or to remove his open compost piles and heaps of mixed concrete and scrap metal he has out by the shed he wants us to clean. I also explained that my husband just had s
    via u/depleted-user
  • 07
    He showed up unannounced, walked inside and proceeded to yell at us in front of our kids. He complained about his personal finances and the economy (inflation, property taxes), swore at us about our " ", told us we can't use the shed anymore, and threatened to evict us because "clearly you don't like living here, and I can get way more for this house than what you're paying now". We told him to leave, and that we will not communicate with him anymore unless in writing. He said "Fine, we'll do it
    via u/depleted-user
  • 08
    The next day he put an eviction notice in our mailbox complaining that we have "excessive garbage and waste in outbuildings" that we "refused to discuss this issue and corrective action with the landlord" and even adding that he felt it was "unreasonable" given the fact that he didn't evict us for late rent back in 2016. The notice gives us 7 days to correct the issues, or else my landlord can file for an eviction hearing.
    via u/depleted-user
  • 09
    The next day, while I cleaned out everything belonging to us, sans the walnuts and squirrel from the shed, my husband got busy contacting local bylaw and the rental housing enforcement agency (traffic cops for landlords). He was given information on how to file against the landlord for refusing to do repairs, illegal entry, loss. of an amenity (the shed) and harassment. After a surprise inspection that happened last week, we were given a report that said Joe was given 90 days to: fix the roof, p
    via u/depleted-user
  • 10
    According to my neighbors with the mice issue, the provincial government is also involved now because apparently he filled in a pond without a permit, and now the fire department doesn't have a nearby water source in case of a fire (no hydrants out here). The city (bylaw enforcement) threatened to fine him for every day that he leaves his large pile of broken concrete and rebar out back.
    via u/depleted-user
  • 11
    The cherry on top happened yesterday. He sent me a text to tell me that him and the plumber were going to be there "within the hour". Normally, I'd be ok with short notice, despite the law saying he must provide 24 hour written notice. Not this time. I told him we need 24 hour notice. He showed up, knocked on the door, and when I reminded him that I won't speak to him in person anymore, he called the police saying that I was being hostile towards him and he doesn't
    via u/depleted-user
  • 12
    feel safe coming here. He sat outside for 4 hours waiting for the police, who later called me instead of showing up. The officer who called said that Joe was told to stop harassing us, and that he needs. to provide 24 hours notice to enter the home. He wanted to make sure Joe left and gave proper notice, and asked me if I wanted an officer there tomorrow to "keep the peace". If Joe doesn't do the repairs he's supposed to, we plan to take him to court and file for a rent reduction, and for a lien
    via u/depleted-user
  • 13
    OldManJeepin ....Some people just have to FA&FO for themselves....Good for you, working it out in your favor! F' that guy....
    via u/depleted-user
  • 14
    Fancy-Conversation42 Lovely bit of revenge here. It is in everyone's interest to know their rights when they are renting. There are so many things that can be done about terrible landlords!
    via u/depleted-user
  • 15
    depleted-user OP 3 days ago A lot of landlords will try and take advantage of tenants that don't know their rights. My husband and I believe that Joe assumed we didn't know what our rights were, because we haven't exercised them in the last 11 years (as a courtesy). We also think Joe wanted the shed cleared out because it's cheaper to blame us / the mess in the shed for the rodent issue next door, than it is to hire an exterminator.
    via u/depleted-user
  • 16
    I_Arman It sounds like poor Joe didn't didn't read the book he was planning to go by... depleted-user OP Yeah I don't know what he thinks he's doing. He called the cops saying he didn't feel safe being here, but then proceeded to hang out here for 4 hours waiting for a cop to come by and... i don't know, force me to talk to him?
    via u/depleted-user
  • 17
    Cfwydirk Poor "Joe". Had to go down the rabbit hole of bad Karma. Future consequences are inevitably shaped by present actions! depleted-user OP. There's a sayin; throwing stones in dilapidated tool sheds, or something like that
    via u/depleted-user
  • 18
    CoderJoe1 You live in a renter's utopia. depleted-user OP It is really nice to be a tenant where I live. However, we have a crazy housing market, where housing costs have tripled in the last 4-5 years, so it benefits property owners as well.
    via u/depleted-user
  • 19
    PoliteCanadian2 Lol another idiot who's never heard the phrase "don't draw attention to yourself while you're busy breaking the rules".
    via u/depleted-user

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landlord malicious compliance tenant petty revenge
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