Landlord demands access to home to paint and sand, tenant makes them regret it with loud grating music: '[My] landlord tried to strong-arm me into letting him into the home'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jul 18, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

It's never a good sign when your errant and aloof landlord suddenly takes a keen interest in shaping the place up. In almost every instance, it's likely that this means you're going to be looking for a new place pretty soon as they're either aiming to move back in themselves, renting the place to a relative—or even selling the place and cashing up. They probably won't divulge this to you directly, fearing that advance notice will lose them their income (—you). In the meantime though, there will be plenty of interruption to your relaxation and chance at a peaceable existence as they show up unannounced intending to renovate the place where you're trying to live, giving it the very best "landlord special" with white paint splashed carelessly over everything. Hey, it wouldn't be the first time, there's probably a story or two I could tell here about the time that my landlord called me from inside my place with no notice to complain to me that the presence of my things was an inconvenience to him.

When this landlord began aiming to do exactly this, suddenly deciding to repaint the interior of the place to prep it for sale. After trojan horsing their way inside claiming they were going to sand the stairwell, they began sanding paint off the walls in the room where the tenant's son slept, without notifying the tenant or even attempting to cover the belongings in the room, leaving the room and everything in it covered in dust and particulates. Frustrated, the tenant decided to intervene when the landlord returned, ensuring that every moment they spent there was agony thanks to some loud and very grating music in the form of Tiny Tim's "Tiptoe Through the Tulips"

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    UU
    via Roselyn Tirado
  • 02
    Landlord tried to strongarm me into letting him into the home. Did not go well. A few years ago we were in a small 2.5 bedroom apartment. The landlord basically never talked to us, we paid on time and kept everything neat and tidy. Well one day his Lordship decides he wants to sell the place. That's no problem. He wants to give the place a bit of a paint. Also not a problem.
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
  • 03
    He told us he would be sanding the walls of the staircase (the main area of the house was upstairs, downstairs had a bedroom, office and garage attached), and that would be that. Fine, no problem, off you go. But instead of stopping at the top of the stairs he decided to carry on one of the walls that led into my sons room. Had we known he wanted to do this, we would have done what was necessary. But we didn't know, and so every inch of my sons room, his clothes, carpets, bed, toys, the lot, wer
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
  • 04
    I mentioned this to the property manager (who was an absolute delight to work with) and she said he would advise him that we would need more details about what work he wanted to do. This seemed fine. He then wanted to come back and do some painting. Again, that's not a problem it's value to the house and looks better etc. However he told us he would be there for 4 hours. 8 hours later he decided that was enough for
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
  • 05
    the day and called it. That night he messaged me saying he wanted to come back and do more painting the next day. I said that didn't work for us, wasn't enough notice, didn't allow us peace of living etc. He then tried to claim that in our contract (the tenacy contract he called it) it stated that we must allow him to complete projects in a timely fashion, and if I were to decline him entry then the cost of the rest of the project and it's completion would lie with me and be my responsibility. H
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
  • 06
    So I sent his texts (it's always nice when people lie to you in writing) off to lovely property manager again, who called me and said not to worry she would sort it out. About a week goes by and I get a text, asking very nicely if I would allow them access in a few days to complete the work. No problem!
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
  • 07
    His Lordship and a pal arrived to carry on painting and were there for ANOTHER 8 hours. However this time, I don't think they took any pleasure in it. My PC is next to my PS5, so on my PC I put on 'Tiptoe Through the Tulips' on repeat for the full 8 hours. Max volume. I just popped my headphones into my controller and gamed all day long. After 8 hours his Lordship comes up the stairs and 'into' the lounge (it's open planned) and said, with great strain and weariness of a man worn down, that they
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
  • 08
    As soon as I heard the front door close I turned the music off. No doubt it was for you big boy. Don't lie to people, especially those who can ya know read a contract.
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
  • 09
    Successful_Moment_91 3 hr. ago Baby shark might have violated the Geneva Convention
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
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    LimeBear69 3 hr. ago • I found I couldn't stop listening to it. I actually made it through the entire clip O_o. I'm not sure what I just experienced but it sure was something!
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
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    archboy1971 - 3 hr. ago John Mulaney has a classic comedy clip about how he and a friend played What's up Pussycat like ten times in a jukebox and broke an entire restaurant of people- I can't imagine what 8 hours of a song, any song, would do..lol.
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
  • 12
    Super_Reading2048 2 hr. ago Oh jeez that song is more annoying than I thought! I would have played 3-5 little kids songs on repeat. At first you think it not being the same song over and over is a good thing. Then you realize that small variety makes you pay more attention but the variety is to small to ever give you break. Maybe even overlay random baby crying in no noticeable pattern for carrying lengths of time. Colic baby cries all day sear themselves into your brain. Don't forget that cars
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
  • 13
    PurpleWomat • 3 hr. ago Never heard that song before. I had to turn it off after 15 seconds. Good lord, it's annoying! I can't imagine. 8 HOURS of it.
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
  • 14
    Jollydancer 3 hr. ago Thank you for this link. That was the cultural highlight of my day!
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
  • 15
    YNGWZRD 3 hr. ago If I was your landlord, I'd have sung and danced for all 8 hours of that. I love that song.
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
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    • Fine-University-8044 2 hr. ago Was it the old timey frilly voiced guy singing it? Eight hours of that...hahahahahah!
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
  • 17
    TightLab100 . 2 hr. ago Awesome! I think Im the only person who would just jam out and sing along with tiptoe through the tulips all day, Ive done it before when I need space and peace and quiet, my husband and kids vacate the house half way through the first bar and leave me alone too bad his lordship didnt appreciate it!
    via u/Powerful_Rayd
  • 18
    Powerful_Rayd OP. 2 hr. ago I don't hate it either, it was just the first some that came to mind when I thought "what can I play for 8 hours straight that might drive a man to do terrible things?"
    via u/Powerful_Rayd

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landlord malicious compliance malicious-compliance-reddit tenant landlords bad landlord renting
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