Sneaky landlord enters residence without tenant's approval and steals some items, demands another month's rent after tenants accuse him: ‘What are our rights?’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Nov 10, 2024 4:00 PM EST

Just like landlords, tenants have rights. When a conniving landlord decides that they are above the law and impede on your rights as a tenant, there landlord can't expect you to keep quiet.

When something seems fishy, it likely is. Always trust your intuition, but even more so, trust the evidence you have and do something with it. The more power that landlords have, the more they're willing to do whatever it takes to pull a fast one on you and every other tenant they have in the future.

The tenant in this story is moving out of their unit and it is their last month paying rent. They noticed their cleaning supplies were gone from their apartment, in addition to two set of blinds and a shelf they had installed in their closet for storage purposes. They first thought their neighbor might've taken their belongings, but they noticed their landlord posted an advertisement of their unit and they had never approved of him coming in and taking photos to post on apartment-seeking websites. When they confront him, instead of fessing up, he demands they pay another month's rent. Scroll to read.

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    Cheezburger Image 10426368512
    via Unsplash (Perry Merrity II)
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    Landlord came in without approval and took items without our consent.
    via Sweaty-Job-5867
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    We just moved out of our unit and it is our last month, so we have been in and out, moving and cleaning so we can get some or all of our deposit back. We went back over to finish cleaning and
    via Sweaty-Job-5867
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    noticed some bathroom cleaning supplies were gone, as well as two sets of blinds and a shelf we had in the closet for extra storage. While we thought this was odd, we kinda just brushed it off that it got lost in the move.
    via Sweaty-Job-5867
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    Fast forward to a week later. We can't find any of it anywhere. We contacted the landlord and informed him of the issue and he said there's never any issue of theft, even though
    via Sweaty-Job-5867
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    we suspected it was our neighbor. (The only reason we suspected this is because we share an outside patio with them and our patio window doesn't lock, so it allows for easy access into
    via Sweaty-Job-5867
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    the place. Also the patio door was unlocked which proves someone was in the unit. We figured he saw us moving out and took advantage.) Landlord also informed us that calling the police
    via Sweaty-Job-5867
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    would get us nowhere since they're petty items and the only way we would have a case is if our name or some other definitive marking is on there. So we assumed we have no case.
    via Sweaty-Job-5867
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    Fast forward another week. We get all moved out and cleaned up so landlord can start advertising the unit. We get on Zillow just to check out the listing and see that he's used
    via Sweaty-Job-5867
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    pictures from before we cleaned, proving he was in the unit without approval. Fast forward to today. I call him and confront him. about this and after calling. me crazy and insane for
    via Sweaty-Job-5867
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    accusing him, he is demanding another months rent, after stating in writing we could use our deposit for the last month. We aren't sure where to go from here.
    via Sweaty-Job-5867
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    What are our rights? Do we call the police and file a report? I'm sorry if any of this seems ignorant but I've never dealt with this kind of situation before and am just seeking advice as a tenant. Thank you very much!
    via Sweaty-Job-5867
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    Wiz Biz92 • 20h ago It's cop time, and also document everything. Screenshot those photos, any text conversations and emails, and probably see if you can get a consult with a lawyer.
    via WizBiz92
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    apHed... 19h ago I agree. When someone tells you calling the police will go nowhere, call the police and see if they're right.
    via apHedmark
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    • apHedmark 18h ago You have proof your landlord entered the unit without notice while your tenancy was still ongoing. Items disappeared. The first step is to call the police and file a report listing all the missing
    via apHedmark
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    items. Be very detailed. The next step is to file a claim with your renter's insurance for the value of the items and give them as much information as you can, along with the police report. They will reimburse you and decide if they want to pursue it
    via apHedmark
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    with the landlord. If you do not have insurance, then you file in small claims court against the landlord for missing items when they entered your unit without notice.
    via apHedmark
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    Daymub .7h ago • From pretty theft to extortion lovely call a cop
    via Daymub
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    Osniffa... • 2h ago. The guy who stole your stuff told you you have no case with the cops, and you believed him? All your rights are outlined in the lease
    via Osniffable
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    you signed. Read the "quiet enjoyment" clause to see the requirements for giving notice of entry. And for gods sake call the cops already.
    via Osniffable

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landlord entitlement stealing tenants tenant landlords askreddit apartments reddit story entitled subreddit reddit thread r-entitled Reddit theft entitled people apartment
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