Dealing with Difficult Landlords

Landlords… they can be crazy, nutty, and intrusive – but mostly they just want their rental business to run smoothly and be profitable. Someone recently asked me for some advice on how to deal with the less than cooperative landlord, and I’m more than happy to share.  Like it or not, if you are renting, you are involved in a business transaction. The landlord is not your mother or father, not your college dorm Resident Assistant, and most times – not even your friend.  He or she is a business man or woman, and what do business people like to do?  Negotiate.  There are no promises that things will be fair, ethical, or even honest in some instances.  To paraphrase a familiar quote, It’s not personal, it’s strictly business.  The best way to stand up to the cantankerous or less than cooperative landlord is to stand your ground and know your rights as a tenant.  So, let us look at some of the more common scenarios you are likely to encounter:

· The washing machine broke, and your landlord refuses to fix it.  He tells you to “just take your clothes to the Laundromat.” Sure, you are perfectly capable of finding an alternative way of getting your clothes washed; however, the home or apartment that you are renting came with a washer and dryer, and they are included as part of the rent you pay every month.  Let your landlord know that a washer and dryer was part of the deal, and you need for him to hold up his end of the bargain.  You may also negotiate a lower price for rent, since you are without a critical appliance that was originally part of the contract.

· Your landlord claims he will use your security deposit to fix normal wear and tear on your rental.  NOT going to happen!  You signed a lease to live in an apartment or home, and normal living comes with some normal wear and tear.  Small holes from thumb tacks and hanging pictures, scuff marks on the floors, discoloration of some walls, and a couple of scratches here and there.  You know – the normal stuff.  Your landlord does not have the right to keep your security deposit because of normal wear and tear.  Let him or her know you ARE aware of your rights.

· The lazy landlord. The number one most frustrating issue with a landlord (which eventually can be described as “abusive”) is laziness.  An absentee landlord can be one of the most exasperating situations a renter has to deal with.  Unreturned phone calls, unanswered written correspondence, and bouncing emails may indicate any number of things: a landlord on vacation; an overwhelmed landlord; or outright neglect.  If you have tried multiple ways (a letter with the rent check, phone messages, emails, etc.) to notify a landlord of a serious problem and received no satisfactory response, it’s time to seek outside help.

· “I would appreciate it if you would NOT have your girlfriend spend the night.” That is an example of a landlord leaping over the line.  He or she certainly does not have any right to tell you how to live your life.  As long as you are not damaging their property, or violating any aspect of the rental agreement, then you are entitled to have your girlfriend sleep over as often as you like.  His complaint is valid though if she has basically moved in and your closet is now her closet, or there is an increased change in the use of resources, such as water, heat, or electric for example.  But her spending a couple of nights is definitely none of the landlord’s business. In a situation like this, I would whip out the rent agreement and show your landlord that you are not violating any conditions of the agreement and document how many nights she actually stays over to prove she is not living there.

Your rights vary from state to state, but staying informed can save you a lot of heartache. Did you know in many places landlords can only raise your rent a specified percentage every year, or that in the U.S. it is against the law to discriminate against minorities or parents with a colicky baby?  An eviction cannot be arbitrary.  And don’t forget about the landlord’s legal obligations dealing with how often rentals must be painted, how frequently carpet must be replaced, what must be done in case of pest infestation, and so on.  In general, just make sure you know the terms of your Rental Agreement and your legal rights.  It’s not always the landlord who has the last word!