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landlord harassment

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landlord harassment

Postby harassedtenant » Sun Jul 08, 2012 6:13 pm

I feel as if my landlord is harassing me.

In Oct 2010, she informed me that a city inspector would be coming by
to inspect my complex. After the inspection occurred, I heard nothing
further until a letter appeared the week of Thanksgiving 2010
informing me that I had a week (over the Thanksgiving holidays,
thankfully i had no travel plans) to clear a 36 inch path to and from
all windows and doorways; yes, I had clutter, stacks of books papers
and magazines, etc. So I cleared them. The inspector came again and i
heard nothing further, and I had phoned the inspector to confirm that
I had satisfied him, and also to inform him that I suspected she had
sat on the letter and purposefully given it to me Thanksgiving week.

That was that, until Friday June 29 she left another letter that due
to ongoing violations another inspection would be done July 5th, again
over another holiday period. I had let some clutter amass (not that
she would know unless she entered my apartment without my permission),
but I cleaned it up. She calls me on Friday July 6 to ask if I'm ready
for inspection, which surprised me since I had thought she had done it
July 5th. I agree, I'll be at work anyways, and ask if the city
inspector is also coming. She says no, they are going to rely on her
report. That bothers me, as I don't trust her. She comes by Sat July
7th and tells me she wants 50% of my stuff cleared out, as she claims
it is a fire hazard, although it is in neat stacks. She wants stuff
moved so that firemen can climb in through the windows if need be.
This bothers me as the city inspector did not say anything back in Nov
2010. I even asked her why nothing was said to me between then, Nov
2010, and now, and she just kept going on about how she wants stuff
cleared. I said something about getting it in writing from the city
inspector, and she said she can do what she wants because it's her
building.
harassedtenant
 
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Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 6:11 pm

Postby TenantNet » Sun Jul 08, 2012 6:52 pm

First, please change your user name to something not resembling your real name or email address. LL's do watch this forum.

You don't say where you are other than "beyond New York" -- so we can't offer comment on legalities of what might be happening. Nor can we comment on the degree of the problem. What might seem OK to you might in actuality be a real fire hazard for you, but also for other tenants. It's a real problem.

From your description, it sounds as if you might have "Collyer's syndrome" or "Collyer's Disease." Research it on this website and on this forum. Also see http://tenant.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7688

A letter coming on Thanksgiving from an October inspection is hardly harassment. What happened between then and July is anyone's guess. Apparently you don't know either. Are you allowing them to come into your apartment while you aren't there? It sounds like it. Don't do that.

You are also unclear as to who is doing the inspection. Referring to "she" doesn't help me understand who is doing what.

You might want to get an independent opinion if your situation is Collyer's related, and if it is a problem and what can be done. Some cities have help available for this type of situation.
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Postby harassedtenant » Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:17 pm

I'm in California.

I called the city inspector in January 2011 to confirm that I was no longer in violation, so for the landlord ("she") to still be harassing me about things with which I confirmed the city inspector had no problems with is annoying.

I have not explicitly allowed the landlord to come into my apartment. If they do so without my knowledge, I'm not likely to know about it.

The city inspector is not involved at this time. "She" always refers to the landlord.
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Postby TenantNet » Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:43 pm

She calls me on Friday July 6 to ask if I'm ready for inspection, which surprised me since I had thought she had done it July 5th. I agree, I'll be at work anyways, and ask if the city inspector is also coming.


It sure sounds like you're letting the LL come in when you're at work.

I suspected she had sat on the letter and purposefully given it to me Thanksgiving week.


Why is the LL handling your mail? Do they not have postal service where you live?

Seriously, if you have Collyer's issues, you should address that.
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Postby harassedtenant » Mon Jul 09, 2012 3:13 pm

Well, I can't know without instaling a webcame or something.

The letter was not sent by mail. It was just something the inspector gave the LL.
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Postby TenantNet » Mon Jul 09, 2012 4:07 pm

Half of what you're saying just doesn't sound right. In any jurisdiction a violation against a tenant would be sent by the municipality to the tenant, not the LL. If the LL got the violation, that might be different.

As for entering your apartment, how is it that the LL is entering your apartment. Does the LL have keys? Then change the locks!
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