Landlord constantly enters tenant's apartment without telling her, makes excuses to use her Wi-Fi: 'He said I was being dramatic'

When you live in an apartment, things can get a little more communal than they do when you own a home. You probably have neighbors you have to contend with, and a landlord who might have some input and influence in your life. Who hasn't dealt with a bad landlord once in their life? It's much easier to come across a bad landlord than it is to come across a good landlord. It's the type of role that tends to reward bad behavior and often goes unpunished. They are in control of the property, so they often get to make decisions unilaterally. 

A 2026 study about what renters want to see from their landlords revealed that almost all renters (97% of those surveyed) believed that bad landlords are common today. It's obviously a big issue with a lot of effects on our day-to-day life. If bad landlords are that common, then we should have good ways of dealing with them. The problem is, landlords can be bad in different ways, and you probably don't want to risk something as precious as your housing when dealing with them. You have a lot to lose, and they can always find another tenant. 

In this story, though, the tenant in question was already putting up with a lot. They were tired of constantly having to field visits from their landlord. They wondered if it was normal that he kept coming in without warning. She wondered if it was in fact even legal. But she wanted to take it slow and see what she could do before going nuclear. 

When someone has access to your house and uses it unfettered, this can be a huge breach of privacy. You want to feel like you have control over who enters your home and when. This is not an unreasonable expectation. The tenant in this story, though, wasn't getting that. She was tired of feeling like a guest in her own home. Read on to see what happened here, and the thoughts from internet commenters that came in after. 

Am I in the wrong for changing the Wi-Fi password after my landlord kept coming into my apartment?

My landlord lives in the same building and has a spare key to my apartment. I understand that landlords sometimes need access for repairs or inspections, but lately he’s been coming in way more often than I think is normal. That’s cool me okay.

The first few times, he gave me notice, so I didn’t say anything. Also FYI I am a girl and he is gay so I didn’t really bother. But recently, he started coming in to “check something” without telling me beforehand. Nothing was missing and he wasn’t doing anything creepy, but I’d come home and notice things had been moved around.

-u/feifanhotpot

I finally told him that I wasn’t okay with him entering without letting me know first.

He said I was being dramatic and that it was his property, so he should be able to check on it whenever he wants. Sure I hate conflict so I let it go.

A few days later, he asked me for the Wi-Fi password because apparently he needed to “check the router.” I gave it to him.

Then I noticed my internet was being used at weird hours when I wasn’t home. I changed the password and didn’t give it to him again.

He confronted me about it and said I’m making his job unnecessarily difficult. I told him he can contact me if he needs access to the apartment and I’ll arrange a time, but I’m not giving him unrestricted access to my Wi-Fi or letting him come into my home whenever he feels like it LIKE FR I AM PAYING RENT!!!

He said nobody visits anyways and that I am being entitled and will be cancelling my lease once it ends.

Now I’m wondering if I went too far or I am actually the ******e.

-u/feifanhotpot