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Landlord advice?
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| RJT |
So, I apparently choose the absolute worst landlords possible. This morning, for the second time in as many weeks, our landlord stormed into our apartment with absolutely no warning (no phone call, not even a knock this time), claiming they had an "emergency leak" to fix. This leak was supposedly already fixed once, and wouldn't fill a ceral bowl in a week.
We had called two months ago about getting it fixed, but they only responded when the leak started running into their store.
Our lease stipulates 24 hour notice for all maintenance, and makes absolutely no mention of emergency situations. Wisconsin's department of agriculture (the governing body for landlords/tenants) states that only when landlords are preventing "significant damage" can they enter an apartment without warning, and may be asked to provide evidence to support their reasoning.
Now, I spoke with the manager of their store, as we do not have a working number for our landlord (disconnected in the last month), and she has promised to relay my number and concerns to the landlords. I was very considerate, and got the impression that this lady understood my concerns as reasonable, and would help to rectify the situation.
Do you think this is the best appraoch? Should I be more direct, and attempt file a grievance with the WDA?
I'm really afraid of living with another unpredictable landlord - But I do not want to make them upset, as with my last apartment that only exascerbated the problem. |
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| stren |
lock the door
kill the light |
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| lücid |
| put a sign on your door that says "CAUTION: Gay sex orgy in progress. Enter at own risk." |
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| RJT |
| We don't currently have a dead bolt, but I'm thinking of putting one on the door for just this reason. |
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| RJT |
| quote: | Originally posted by lücid
put a sign on your door that says "CAUTION: Gay sex orgy in progress. Enter at own risk." |
:haha:
Nah, you know as well as I that the landlords are down. ;) |
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| jonSun |
| wow your lanlord has got some balls & some problems. A minor leak that YOU called about is not reason to walk in without knocking, at least in Illinois it isnt. |
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| lücid |
| quote: | Originally posted by RJT
We don't currently have a dead bolt, but I'm thinking of putting one on the door for just this reason. |
i'd be wary of doing that. it might be violating the rules in your lease... at least that's how it is at my place. we cannot install any additional locks on any of the doors/windows.
maybe just get one of those chain things like they have at hotels? at least that way you're not really installing anything in the door and it can only be locked when there is someone in the apartment. |
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| lücid |
| seriously though... if you can't get a hold of the landlord, you should write them a letter and include it with your next rent payment. |
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| RJT |
| quote: | Originally posted by lücid
i'd be wary of doing that. it might be violating the rules in your lease... at least that's how it is at my place. we cannot install any additional locks on any of the doors/windows.
maybe just get one of those chain things like they have at hotels? at least that way you're not really installing anything in the door and it can only be locked when there is someone in the apartment. |
Oh yeah, I meant deadbolt like this:
We could get rid of it easily when we leave, and it'd only work when we're home, but may buy us some very necessary minutes ;)
Edit: I think if I don't hear from them by the time we leave for NY, I'm sending a letter saying that until we have contact information and have spoken regarding our issues, I'm not sending a rent check. |
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| all-nite-freak |
| check the local laws because what they did is very illegal here. |
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| RJT |
| quote: | Originally posted by all-nite-freak
check the local laws because what they did is very illegal here. |
I'm pretty sure it's very illegal here as well, but I don't know how to go about taking care of that - I'm fairly sure I can't just call the cops and say "My landlord trespassed on my apartment earlier today, go arrest them."
I really just don't want to put up with bull landlords yet again :( |
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| colonelcrisp |
| impose a new house policy, no clothes allowed pass the door threshold. so that way next time they barge in and your eating your sugar crisp in the nude. they may want to knock before. |
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