Posted by Dee on March 12, 1998 at 11:44:58:
Please help. I am one of those fortunate people who really does have
a decent landlord. Seriously, he really isn't too bad. In general,
if there is a problem he will take care of it asap.
Ok, but the story goes something like this. On February 7th I paid two
months rent, good till April 1st, stating, specifically, to the secretary
of the managing company that the reason for paying rent 2 months in
advance is because I was going on vacation and wanted to make sure that
the rent was taken care of before I left on vacation. That same evening
I left for Europe and wouldn't be back until the 2nd of March, 1998 (23
days later).
My sister was watching my place - feeding cat, changing cat
liter, watering plants, checking messages, etc. on the days that she would
be in the city, which was not everyday. Before I left, I hid my jewelry
box under some clothes, but there was this one ring (16 small diamonds on
a gold nugget man's pinky ring) that I had in a box slightly hidden in a
unit pushed up against the wall) because I would soon be giving it back to
its owner. There was no need to tell my sister of its whereabouts because,
as far as I knew, she would be the only one allowed in the apartment.
On either the 11th or 17th of Feb, as my sister told me when I arrived
back in the states, the owner of the building sent around a notice that
my sister did not see right away (maybe it was mixed in with the mail).
The notice said that they were soon to begin working on individual
apartments to install an intercom system. Anyway, the owner's son
continuously called my apartment and left messages on the answering
machine, threatened to break the door down should he not have proper
access to the apartment. What was my sister to do? So she set up an
appointment on February 25th with the owners son to allow the workers
to come in and begin work. She stayed for one hour, but had to go to work.
She went to the managing office to leave the keys and asked if the
apartment would be ok to leave with the 6 contractors who were doing work.
The secretary replied that they have been working with this company for 40
years and not to worry so my sister left and went to work.
I didn't notice right away, but after I settled in, unpacked and began
cleaning the apartment, I checked the box and the ring was missing. Not
only was the ring missing, but they urinated all over my bathroom,
splattered feces on the bowl, left stains on my carpet, and cigarette
ashes on the floor.
Like I said, the owner is not a bad guy - his son, though, is a little
crazy, so I bit my tongue and didn't go nuts on the guy, but instead
spoke calmly to him and informed him of the theft. He said
he would get back to me in a couple of days. I asked him if I should fill
out a police report and he suggested no and to first let him get in touch
with the contractors and ask them first. I finally, after 4 days spoke to
the owner, and, just as I thought, they all denied it. The owner said that
he will take care of the cost of the ring, which he may not even do if it
is too expensive or if I do not have a receipt.
In addition, I lived in another of his buildings close by 3 years ago
and they robbed me of all my jewelery, clothes, TV, etc.
WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS?
ANY SUGGESTIONS?
COMMENTS?
IDEAS?
Thank you
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