Woman renting Caribbean apartment refuses landlord's demand for his aunt's maid services, claiming he is trying to "spy on her", insists husband stays on video calls during his mandatory monthly "inspection": 'I feel like my privacy is being invaded'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Dec 29, 2025 7:00 PM EST

This landlord might as well wear a giant sign on his head that reads "C-R-E-E-P" in big, bold, black letters…Why else would he be so pushy about ensuring either him or his aunt has monthly access to the Caribbean apartment he's renting out? This young couple just began renting a cute and quaint studio apartment, but due to her husband's work abroad schedule, this wife is mainly home alone. So when her new landlord insists that the couple allow a maid of his choice to come clean their apartment, she quickly refused, after learning that it would be his aunt. She didn't quite know why, but she had this strange feeling that he wanted to spy on the couple…and his next demand confirmed those suspicions… 

After the cleaning refusal, he demanded a mandatory "monthly inspection" of the apartment. She didn't know the rental laws in the Caribbean and felt pushed into a corner. However, she needed a game plan by the time her next inspection rolled around to ensure that she would feel safe. She knew that the landlord couldn't do or say anything odd in front of her husband, so she ensured he was on a video call throughout the "extremely necessary" inspection! 

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  • This woman didn't know if she was on the fence between playing the overly dramatic housewife in a new TV soap opera or if her intuitions were unmistakably correct. Either way, she was not going to take any chances, even if that meant insulting her landlord, who could have just been very particular about the upkeep of his apartment and the furniture within it…What do you say?

  • Cleaning woman holding a box of cleaning sprays and scrubs
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • AITA for refusing my landlord’s "mandatory" maid and insisting my husband join our calls?

    I (F20s) recently moved into a furnished studio apartment in the Caribbean. My husband is a co-tenant on the lease but is currently working abroad, so I am here alone most of the time.
    via Elegant_Minute9236
  • I work from home and have a very strict schedule. The Conflict: Since I moved in, my landlord (let's call him J) has been pushing for a "mandatory" monthly maid service.
    via Elegant_Minute9236
  • When I checked my lease, it says he pays for a maid, but it never says I am required to let her in.
    via Elegant_Minute9236
  • When I questioned him, J admitted it was an "oversight" and not actually in the contract.
    via Elegant_Minute9236
  • I later found out the "maid" is actually his aunt. I feel like this is a "spy mission" to check up on me because he keeps telling me stories about how the "last tenants broke a light switch." Because I refused the maid, J now insists on coming in personally every month for "inspections." I told him that was fine, but since my husband is on the lease and pays the rent, I requested that J include him in our group chat and all discussions.
    via Elegant_Minute9236
  • Middle-aged man looking through the plants with a pair of binoculars
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • J has been completely ignoring my messages about my husband. He won't reply to him in the group chat and only tries to message me privately.
    via Elegant_Minute9236
  • He also has his read receipts off, so I never know if he's seen my concerns about the broken washing machine (which hasn't worked right since day one).
    via Elegant_Minute9236
  • Where I might be the asshole: Jis coming over this Thursday to "inspect" the place.
    via Elegant_Minute9236
  • I've decided to have my husband on a permanent video call the entire time J is in my house so he can't corner me or ignore my husband's presence.
    via Elegant_Minute9236
  • I also have a security camera running inside the apartment because I'm nervous he's going to go through my personal drawers (where my underwear/clothes are) under the guise of "checking the furniture." I feel like I'm being "difficult" by refusing the help of a maid and forcing a video call, but I also feel like my privacy is being invaded.
    via Elegant_Minute9236
  • AITA for setting these boundaries when the landlord claims he's just "protecting his property"?
    via Elegant_Minute9236
  • Successful_Voice8542 Anytime he sends you a text outside of the group with your husband, make a screen shot and put it in the chat that includes your husband and respond that way. Every.Single. Time. Never respond just from you, even if it is to tell him to stop. He'll have to eventually give up trying to contact you alone. And definitely do a video call anytime he is around. If he knocks on your door, before you open it start a video call if your husband isn't available loop in a relative. He c
    via Elegant_Minute9236
  • Man lying on the couch and video calling his girlfriend on his laptop
    via gettysignature

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Grymflyk Are the mandatory inspections listed in the contract? If not, you can probably just refuse. It does seem like he is up to something and were it me, I would get out as soon as possible.
    via Grymflyk
  • ReadMeDrMemory NTA. The landlord's behavior is outrageous. He has no right to prowl through the apartment. Film his tour and retain that recording. Object strongly and vocally to any behavior you find unacceptable, such as trying to rummage through your dresser. If you have one or more friends available to participate, all the better. And move out ASAP if you can.
    via ReadMeDrMemory
  • Icy-Mix-6550 NTA. I don't know about the laws in the Caribbean, but I'd be looking for a new place to live.
    via Icy-Mix-6550
  • International-Fee255 You need legal advice.
    via International-Fee255
  • Educational-While202 NTA but I think you will find it difficult to find anyone on reddit with knowledge of the "standard" rules for rentals in the Caribbean. FWIW, I think "monthly" inspections is too much, but without knowing what's normal, that's nothing more than an opinion. I would definitely have the visit recorded. But I would also be looking to see if I could get out of the lease a "broken light switch" is hardly major vandalism. He is seriously over- reacting if that even is the truth
    via Educational-While202
  • bathroomstallghost yall might have to find a new place. this dudes being weird!!
    via bathroomstallghost
  • NTA. Yearly Depression If I were you, I would speak to a lawyer familiar with tenant laws where you are located.
    via Yearly Depr*ss*on
  • BeeFree66 You are not being an a-hole in turning on cameras when LL shows up. If you don't have another human with you, a camera is a useful backup. LL's behavior is on the creep side. I wouldn't want to be alone with LL anywhere. I wouldn't trust him to stay out if I'd just left to go run an errand - I suspect he'll go snoop around. His insisting on coming in to do a monthly "check" is not a good sign. A "broken light switch" doesn't merit this much attention - that's a dickee doo fix. Having t
    via BeeFree66

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