Let's Lynch the Landlord...

[Structo]

It could always be worse.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/20/sa ... -felonies/

[ER]

My philosophy has always been to get the worst house in the best neighborhood, or conversely if you're in a bad neighborhood to be the bad neighbor, the one that everyone is afraid of. If people don't cross the street when they pass you're house you're not doing it right...JK

Living in a "fixer upper" with one to few bedrooms right now but it's in a beautiful setting and the best schools our kids have been at yet, staying put till they finish and move on to middle school.

Last house was cheaper, had room for my music and a pool but had to bounce back and forth between homeschool and private school. Priorities...

My dream has always been for my kids to grow up and have the opportunity to enjoy the things I did, riding my bike, playing in the creek, fishing, sleeping outside in the summer, reading good books, getting to know their grandparents, doing chores and growing a garden, doing art and music. So far so good.

It seems like places that have the most government and people that live in that type of reality, the fewer opportunities there are for all that kind of stuff. So you either need to be in a rich neighborhood, or out in the sticks with all the old hunter/rancher types. Anywhere in between and there's just too much materialism and ignorance, be it for designer crap or walmart crap, makes no difference. I want my kids to be happy whether they have everything or nothing.

[crbowman]

Totally sucks!
I would definitely familiarize myself with tenants legal rights for your state.
Still, it's never fun being in a contentious relationship with the landlord.

[romberg]

How much is the increase? I'd call the bluff if it were me. If you leave, he is looking at 3 options:

1 - Find someone else to pay his new rent.

2 - Find someone else to pay the rent you currently are.

3 - Pay his mortgage without any renter at all.

And options 1 and 2 leave him with an "unknown" renter. I'd explain all this nicely and prepare to move. He may change his mind.

Mike

[briane]

Yeah, I'm in Ballard. I don't want to pull my kids out of their current schools.

yep - got you. ballard is bigger money though its mainly pay for location - easy commutes - etc...nice area back when I used to live there - couldnt afford that long term myself though. If you move you have to stay close...

[cbass]

How much is the increase? I'd call the bluff if it were me. If you leave, he is looking at 3 options:

1 - Find someone else to pay his new rent.

2 - Find someone else to pay the rent you currently are.

3 - Pay his mortgage without any renter at all.

And options 1 and 2 leave him with an "unknown" renter. I'd explain all this nicely and prepare to move. He may change his mind.

Mike

If he is in a high demand area he may have no trouble renting it.Our houses have waiting lists for people wanting to rent them.If some one gives me some trouble I say well we can forget the lease and you can find a new place.

Lefty You can move down here I'll sell you newly remodeled 5BR 3 bath on the country club course for $150,000 or I'd rent it for around 900.Its down the street from my house so you would have the perk of hangin out with cbass.
It ain't seattle though. Its about a million times better

[LeftyStrat]

I have to post this email conversation.

Landlord: "Re your email, weeks ago, stating the [redacted] are staying in the house. And because you've already deposited the former rent figure please add the additional/new amount, difference that is, on 15 Aug. Then....beginning 1 Sep simply deposit the new rent-monies amount."

Me: "Just so I understand. The notice was for the 15th. Our old rent was $2086, and the new rent is $2295. For half a month, that would be $109?"

Landlord: "Please deposit $164.55, next Thursday, 15 Aug 13. Yes you're correct: beginning, 1 Sep 13, the rent's $2295/month."

Me: "Can you explain to me why the amount is $164.55? Our old rent was $2086 and the new rent $2295. That is a difference of $209. Half a month would be 104.50. What is the other 60.05?"

Landlord: "New rent: $2295. divided by 30 = $76.50 per diem x 15 = $1147.50
Former rent: $2086. divided by 30 = $65.53 per diem x 15 = $982.95
$1147.50
-$982.95. = $164.55 "

Me: "2086/30 = 69.53
69.53 x 15 = 1042.95

1147 - 1042.95 = 104.55"

Landlord: "I will be damned, The calculator I WAS using stated $65.53/day AND it showed that times 30 = $2086. Plus every time, even now, it makes the same mistake!
Yet it computed $2295. correctly.
A newer calculator showed that you're correct. That is $69.53/day.
Therefore, deposit $104.55 on 15 Aug...........................por favor."

[LeftyStrat]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogypBUCb7DA

[Leo_Gnardo]

Landlord: "I will be damned, The calculator I WAS using stated $65.53/day AND it showed that times 30 = $2086. Plus every time, even now, it makes the same mistake!
Yet it computed $2295. correctly.
A newer calculator showed that you're correct. That is $69.53/day.
Therefore, deposit $104.55 on 15 Aug...........................por favor."

That "old" calculator must be a landlord "special."

Wonder how many other dis-calculations it made for him. Including reaching the conclusion that he had to sell or else raise rent. How many other people got a similar notice and just wrote the check without doing the math?

Hey at least he owned up to the mistake, and adjusted accordingly.

I take it you have elected to stay at the same ol' place at least for now. Are you month-by-month now, no lease? Still scanning for a new location?

[cbass]

I need to get me one them "special" calculators

[LeftyStrat]

I take it you have elected to stay at the same ol' place at least for now. Are you month-by-month now, no lease? Still scanning for a new location?

Only until we can find another place.

[Leo_Gnardo]

I take it you have elected to stay at the same ol' place at least for now. Are you month-by-month now, no lease? Still scanning for a new location?

Only until we can find another place.

Now that tobacco spending is nil you can patch up the budget a bit that way, and month-by-month renting not be in a panic searching for your next home. And the landlord turns out to not be as much of a stinker as first thought. Can put away the rope now. Wishin' you the best of luck!

[LeftyStrat]

Well, his last "fix" was to break the pipe running from the kitchen sink into a hole in the ground in the back yard.

It has attracted rats. I complained and he said the rats were attracted by my dogs feces.

Then he told me I had to be out by Sep 30th.

Fortunately, Karma is an evil bitch.

I'm really good friends with all of our neighbors. They've been quietly putting up with his shit because they like us (my daughter has babysat most of their kids for the last five years, she makes sure every kid learns about The Beattles and sees Yellow Submarine).

They're going to complain to the authorities once we move out. It's going to cost him at least $10k to make this house rentable or sellable.

I'm thinking of a Joni Mitchell tune...

[Leo_Gnardo]

Well, his last "fix" was to break the pipe running from the kitchen sink into a hole in the ground in the back yard. It has attracted rats. I complained and he said the rats were attracted by my dogs feces. Then he told me I had to be out by Sep 30th. Fortunately, Karma is an evil bitch. I'm really good friends with all of our neighbors.They're going to complain to the authorities once we move out. It's going to cost him at least $10k to make this house rentable or sellable.

I'm thinking of a Joni Mitchell tune...

Just when things were looking better... wow that's a major major bummer. Wonder what else his new calculator revealed to him?

Better document EVERYTHING as is right now so he can't blame you when the spit hits the fan. Make sure the building inspector knows WHO broke the pipe.

Best of luck, hope you find a new place that's compatible, fast.

[Firestorm]

I don't know about Washington law, but in many states you can get a court to approve paying rent into an escrow account to force a landlord to fix problems (like a broken pipe). Once you do that, you have some additional protection against eviction efforts.

That said, you don't want to live there anymore. Once a landlord/tenant relationship goes bad, there's no way back.