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22 May 01 - 12:33 AM (#467605) Subject: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Peg Hi all. I have a home now. A lovely but overpriced apartment in Cambridge. Yes, that landlord is greedy and I suppose that is evil but I am having problems with the guy who bought my house and forced me to move out... I cannot move into my new place until June 15th (possibly a bit sooner). But the new owner of my current place says I have to be out by June 1st and if I'm not he will start doing renovations in my apt. while I am still living there. Even after having a conversation with the new owner saying I might need part of June to find a place, which he agreed to, but then went back on and presented me with a letter from his lawyer saying I had to be out by May 31st (which I assumed was just a formality). I finally asked him about it and he said he changed his mind. When I brought this up again yesterday (n the midst of talking about another matter I will mention in a moment) he admitted "well I just said that because I felt bad." In other words, he lied to me because he felt guilty. he even seemed to think he had "contacted" me to say he;d changed his mind; not true. he made no such effort. In the midst of a heated exchange yesterday (keep in mind; he is spoiled 20-something kid whose dad bought this $400,000 house for him as an investment; he works for his dad's construction company and is doing all the work renovating the place himself; so his response to me, a single woman in her 30s, is, well, predictable), he told me he would have to get into my apartment as of June 1st to work on it. I told him I did not give him my permission. He insisted it was legal, etc. and he would clean up every day, etc. He has to connect cables and pipes from the second floor to the basement. He was so insistent I finally gave in and said he could do it if he did not come into my apt. before 8:30 AM. I have thought this over today and also had a conversation with another landlord. He advised me this guy was totally out of line and it was illegal for him to do construction in my space without my permission, he further advised me that it woudl be dangerous to me and my pets because of the carcinogenic nature of plaster dust. I am also pretty sure my old landlord told me there is lead paint in the house (which is why he rented to me four years ago and a not a family with a child). So that is even more toxic. My dilemma: what do I do? Tell the new landlord I have changed my mind and do not want him in my space until I move out? How can I really stop him, though? Can I call the police if he enters the premises to do this work without my permission? Should I contact his lawyer before I talk to him? He can try to evict me if he wants; it would take him at least a month to get a court date and I will be long gone. I have diligently tried to find a new place to move into for June 1st, considering he only gave me 39 days notice (which he tried to say, yesterday, was actually 45 days notice. He is a liar as well as a greedy pig). He does not care that he is putting me out on the street or inconveniencing me or endangering my health or that of my pets. I am simply in his way. Any advice? At this point, I plan to call his lawyer, and write them a letter via certified mail. What else |
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22 May 01 - 12:38 AM (#467606) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Bert Assuming that's Cambridge England. Call your own lawyer, the Citizens Advice Bureau and the local housing authority. |
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22 May 01 - 12:44 AM (#467609) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Peg nope. sorry for the misunderstanding, that is Cambridge Massachusetts...
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22 May 01 - 12:48 AM (#467612) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: toadfrog You really, really need to talk to a lawyer! Don't believe anything you hear on line! As bert just pointed out, we don't even know what country you are in. I can tell you this, in California it would make a big difference, whether you are in San Francisco or South San Francisco. |
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22 May 01 - 01:00 AM (#467618) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: katlaughing Peg, I rented the whole time we were in MA and there are VERY GOOD renters laws in that state. Call Legal Aid, first thing in the morning. He cannot do this to you. When my landlady forced her way into our house and knocked on my locked bedroom door and ordered me to open it, which I did not, my lawyer told me later I could have called the cops and had her arrested, even though it was her house. Even when served with an eviction notice, which was due to a misunderstanding and which we worked out (this was a different landlord), my lawyer told us we had to be given a certain amount of time, from the serving of the notice, to get out, and even then we could fight it and stay longer. I think it was at least 30 days and that was without any kind of lease. Legal Aid had a bunch of booklets which had sample forms for you to copy and very easy to understand explanation of your rights as a tenant. DO not speak directly with this man, again, until you've talked to Legal Aid. He has no right, in MA, unless the laws have changed, to bulldoze you that way! Good luck and let us know, okay? kat, been there too many times! |
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22 May 01 - 01:04 AM (#467621) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Night Owl Peg...Cambridge/Somerville Legal Services (CSLS) should be able to give you some legal advice. |
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22 May 01 - 01:04 AM (#467622) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Peg kat, thanks. What is Legal Aid? Are they based in Boston? I will check the phone book. I will keep you posted. (sigh) I need this like a hole in my head; I have to start teaching my summer course tomorrow.
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22 May 01 - 01:06 AM (#467624) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: katlaughing That second landlord, the one who served us and then we worked it out? He was a cop who owned lots of places. He and I had a very interesting discussion about how hard it was for him, as a landlord, to get people actually evicted. Sometimes it took months. The first house we rented, in Granvile, the landlady was in the process of evicting some non-paying tenants when she rented it to us. They dragged their feet, we put our stuff in storage and lived in a motel for over two months, while she went through hoops to get them out. MA is a strong tenant's right state, so that kid had better wake up! Esp. if you start in about lead paint and all! |
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22 May 01 - 01:11 AM (#467630) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: katlaughing Peg, Tenant's Rights and Responsibilities scroll down and look at the section about your right and when a landlord has a right to come into your home. If he tries to do so in an unacceptable manner you can get a temporary restraining order against him. I'll be back with a number for Legal Aid, in a moment. Take a deep breath and put up that Bubble of Light and Power, sweetie. You can do this. |
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22 May 01 - 01:15 AM (#467631) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Night Owl Also Peg...in the front of the phone book...(somewhere in the first few pages) you should find listings for consumer help. It should contain a listing for "Housing/Tenant" with numbers to call. |
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22 May 01 - 01:17 AM (#467632) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: katlaughing Here yo go: LEGAL SERVICES free for low income, and even if you don't qualify, they will have those booklets, I am sure and probably be able to answer your questions, over the phone. They always did for me. Probably the one you want is down a bit on the list, the Community one. Or, this one says they do landlord/tenant law, too, for free: Harvard Legal Services. Good luck! I'll be sending you some good thoughts and energy. kat
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22 May 01 - 01:17 AM (#467633) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Peg thanks, all! I found a couple of numbers for Legal Aid; the Harvard office is closed this time of year but I will try the Boston one tomorrow.
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22 May 01 - 01:18 AM (#467634) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: marty D Most of us don't like playing hardball, but sometimes it's the only way. The vast majority of Landlords deal with profits not people, and after a while they can justify any kind of personal dishonesty. Not ALL, but my experience has been that most will only respond to legal action. Good luck. marty |
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22 May 01 - 01:32 AM (#467642) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: DougR Peg, I can't give you legal advice, but I would think the last person you would want to talk to is HIS lawyer! You need to talk to someone who will be YOUR advocate. Get in touch with Legal Aid. They are in all the states, I would think. DougR |
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22 May 01 - 03:41 AM (#467675) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Clinton Hammond Exactily like DougR said... don't talk to this guy, or his lawyer... get your own... and just in case, I'd advise you keep looking for new digs... Better safe than living on the street... Good luck |
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22 May 01 - 05:51 AM (#467718) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: paddymac Peg - you didn't expressly say, but I get the feeling that you are a renter and the owner sold during your tenency. If you have a written lease agreement, you should first look at that. Then a trip to the local law library. In most states, there are several "self-help" options. Call the clerk of the local small claims or county court. They deal with these things fairly often and usually have booklets of pertinent forms, etc. If you haven't the time or interest in doing the leg work yourself, by all means hire an attorney. In many jurisdictions, the bad actor is liable for your attorney's fees. Nobody can make you a doormat unless you let them. |
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22 May 01 - 08:01 AM (#467747) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: InOBU Dear Peg: If all else fails, sing him the Persuit of Farmer Michael Hayes... (about a fellow who kills his landlord) Only kidding, DO get a lawyer and good luck. Larry |
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22 May 01 - 08:40 AM (#467765) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Charley Noble Peg, Only a judge ultimately has the authority to order you to vacate, and enforce that order at some later date. Any direct "self-help" action on the part of your landlord or his agents is clearly illegal, and "should" not be happening. However, because of your landlord's unfamilarity (or contempt for) with existing MA law there is a risk that he might try some form of "self-help" eviction in fact. If you are determined to stay there for another couple of weeks, for your own peace and mind you might consider having the locks changed to reinforce your privacy, while notifying your landlord of that decision in writing, along with your awareness of your rights to stay where you are until a judge orders you out. Your landlord should also be advised not to pursue any other "self-help" remedies such as cutting off utilities, renovating your space, or changing your locks; these acts are known as "constructive eviction" (in effect eviction) and landlords have been discouraged from making use of them by state laws since the 1960's. Saying all of the above, I should also state that I am not an attorney, just a well-informed former tenant organizer and current landlady. Generally landlords like your own back off when they realize or learn that their tenants are familar with what the ground rules are supposed to be, and determined to exercise them. Ultimately, in your situation the landlord will be able to regain full possession of your apartment, but he should not be able to legally evict you or otherwise interfere with your "quiet enjoyment" of the premises for another 2-3 weeks. No bizarre songs today, just advice which you should sift through with someone in MA who is at least equally experienced to give advice. Warm regards, Landlady's Daughter, not to be confused with Charley Noble et al
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22 May 01 - 08:45 AM (#467771) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Charley Noble Hey, InOBU, what's this about "Persuit of Farmer Michael Hayes"? If it's a landlord/tenant hassle song I'd love to add it to my collection, always room for another dark song. Landlady's Daughter, not to be confused with Charley Noble et al |
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22 May 01 - 08:46 AM (#467773) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Peg thanks for all the advice everyone. To clarify: I have lived here four years: the first one with a standard one-year lease, the last three as a tenant-at-will. When this numbnuts bought the house, he inherited my security deposit and tenancy, which, legally, he can terminate with 30 days' notice. I am going to go try and talk to him now (he is upstairs gutting the place), and let him know what I found out, that I am concerned about the health risk, and respectfully request he not do this work until I have vacated the premises, and that he and his lawyer will receive a letter to that effect. Peg
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22 May 01 - 09:05 AM (#467782) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: GUEST,UB Dan I know you are probably a little frazzled because of all the stress you are under now, and I really do hope things turn out well for you. Maybe you could work with the new landlord to see if you could move in earlier..
One thing that surprised me was that whenever we have met in mudcat before you have vehement attacked perceived prejudices. In this e-mail you condemn your new landlord as greedy and evil and your old landlord as a spoiled brat. I'm sure the new place is high-priced, but if it is over-priced you should look elsewhere instead of condemning someone for charging for services, yes landlords charge money...so do teachers. The old landlord may be inexperienced (and I think you should teach him a valuable lesson) but to say he is a spoiled brat with a "typical" response to a single woman is just silly. If he were really spoiled, he wouldn't work at the construction firm and he would have had dad's company fix the house instead of doing it himself. And I'm really interested to hear what "typical" response all 20 year old boys have to single women...did he buy you a drink and ask you on a date? |
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22 May 01 - 09:09 AM (#467785) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Matt_R I think it's time for some Wiccan earth-magic to whup some evil-spirit ass! |
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22 May 01 - 09:20 AM (#467793) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Peg UB Dan; go screw yourself. This is a thread asking for advice; not your self-righteous disgruntled insults about some perceived slight against you in a thread no one remembers anymore... You know NOTHING about this situation. Allow me to know what the fuck I am talking about. *You* try renting an apartment in Boston right now and see if the stench of greed does not make you pass out... Your attempt to hijack this thread to demonize me because you are still sore from something I said to you WEEKS ago is just plain pathetic. Get a life, please. Ahem....to continue. I just spoke with the new landlord. I relayed my concerns about th elad paint and carcinogenic effects of the plaster dust. He said he has decided he will NOT do any work in the kitchen until I leave. He DOES want to drill a hole in the bathroom to extend some lines of some sort. I asked him to mask the area off with plastic. He is agreeable. I also asked him to put in writing his plans for any other work to be done in my apartment as of June 1st. He also said "the guy is here today" so he wants to do this work TODAY apparently. So I am leery of trusting him to go by my wishes. So... I am still contacting the legal office, to get their advice on what the wording should be in a letter to his lawyer, in which I state he does NOT have my permission to do any work until I vacate the premises, other than what we discussed today. Thanks for your advice, everyone.
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22 May 01 - 09:33 AM (#467800) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: GUEST,UB Dan Peg, I don't think you ever insulted me...before. And I didn't mean to upset you so much. My two points were...I hope things work out for you...and keep a level head, don't try to demonize the people you are working with and it may go smoother. |
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22 May 01 - 09:37 AM (#467801) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Charley Noble Peg, you are right to have misgivings about granting permission to your landlord to begin "work" in your apartment, unless it has something to do with the "health and safety" of the building. Once such a project is "begun" it's much harder to get it stopped...but you're the person on the spot dealing with landlord #1 and landlord #2. Landlady's Daughter |
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22 May 01 - 09:43 AM (#467806) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Peg Landlady's daughter: Well, since this guy has lied to me before I have no reason to believe he is telling me one thing and planning to do another. So protecting myself with something in writing seems like a good idea. I think the dangerous nature of this work means little to these workers. They do not even wear masks most of the time when kicking up all this dust. I have noted that local "lanscaping" companies also wear no protective gear when spreading herbicide and pesticide. I mean, that stuff is killing US as surely as it kills bugs and weeds, it just takes a lot longer. I was surprised to hear the new landlord say he had decided against gutting my kitchen when I was there because "it's too much." I have a feeling he spoke to his lawyer and found out he is not really within his legal rights to do such a thing...or maybe it was a flash of compassion and sanity. Who knows? Anyway THANK YOU so much for all the free advice, everyone! I will keep you posted. Peg
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22 May 01 - 10:10 AM (#467814) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: SINSULL Peg, The sooner you can get yourself and your pets out of there the better. Do the legal stuff but also make alternate temporary living plans for your own sanity. Keep in mind by Fourth Of July, this will be nothing more than a bad memory. Good Luck! Mary |
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22 May 01 - 10:26 AM (#467822) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Peg well they just shut off the water for the day; at least they gave me ten minutes to take a shower. (NO I was not warned about this in advance; I guess they thought it would be okay if I was gone for the day...) I think your suggestion is a good one, Mary...
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22 May 01 - 10:58 AM (#467835) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: SINSULL Unfortunately Peg, they can make your life miserable - no water, noise, disrupted electricity. Better to move on. Anyplace you can crash for two weeks? Rent a U-Haul, put your stuff in it, and sleep elsewhere. If you were in NYC, you'd be welcome at my house. In the chaos, we wouldn't even notice you even with pets. Any chance of a dorm room where you teach? Expensive but an alternative: Motel 6. They at least will leave a light on for you. |
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22 May 01 - 11:47 AM (#467877) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Charley Noble Peg, if you are talking to a housing attorney or tenant counselor, you could ask them what the legal penalties are for "self-help" or "constructive" eviction. Knowing that and then informing your landlord that you know, could slow him down. It could also piss him off and it make make better sense to move, as Sinsull suggests, and forget about "your rights." Better luck for tomorrow. Landlady's Daughter |
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22 May 01 - 12:05 PM (#467898) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Naemanson Well, you asked for "Evil Landlord Advice" and I am an Evil Landlord so I am qualified more than most of these respondents. My advice? See your lawyer. If you have a lease and it has not yet expired then you have certain rights that he can not violate. The legal people can clue you in to those. Good Luck! |
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22 May 01 - 12:07 PM (#467901) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Hollowfox Good luck with all this mess. The only advice I can add is that a dust cover over your computer, VCR, radio, and other such electronics, when they're not in use, would probably be a good idea. There's a candle going up for you tonight, lady. |
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22 May 01 - 01:40 PM (#468000) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: SINSULL And Inobu has gotten the lyrics to "The Pursuit Of Farmer Michael Hayes" posted on a thread of that name. Hum it when things are at their worst. |
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22 May 01 - 01:46 PM (#468006) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Clinton Hammond Are you in the same situations as we are? A landlord can only ask you to sign one lease, and after that you are under no legal obligation to sign another? Just curious... |
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22 May 01 - 07:39 PM (#468214) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Murray MacLeod Peg, my heart goes out to you. If I were still based in MA I would pay this guy a visit myself. I cannot believe he has the legal right to do what he is doing. Can I reassure you though, that you are almost certainly being over-anxious about the health risks to you and your pets. I mean, you don't want to breathe plaster dudt any more than you can help. but it is almost certainly only gypsum, not asbestos. And unless they are burning the paint off, the lead content won't cause a problem. I hope it all works out for you. Many people here will be thinking of you and wishing for a happy outcome. Murray |
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22 May 01 - 11:31 PM (#468373) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Peg thanks, all. It seems like all will be well. The workmen entered my place today and punched a holke in the bathroom wall for their plumbing work. It is patched. I think that means they are now DONE working in my unit until I leave (if the landlord was being straight with me today). He left me a note saying the water will be turned off again tomorrow morning at 8:30 am, and thanked me for my cooperation... We'll see what happens. Thanks, Murray for the reassurance about the dust. I am more worried about the cats than me...I know better than to walk in it and lick my feet afterwards...
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23 May 01 - 12:17 AM (#468401) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: katlaughing Peg, I hope the cats will be locked in a room while the workmen are in and out, so that they can't escape. Also, that you are getting things in writing from this landlord. He doesn't sound trustworthy. Good luck and good for you for trying to work it out with him. |
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23 May 01 - 12:21 AM (#468403) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Dicho (Frank Staplin) Lots of talk here, but the only meaningful advice is to go to your lawyer. Didn't you have one on the original transfer? Never, never let the other fellow's lawyer set up the sale. |
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23 May 01 - 12:24 AM (#468406) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Peg I never had a lawyer in any of this; I am merely a humble renter...I do plan to call that Legal Aid office though and ask their advice. I did ask him to put all this in writing, kat; whether he will or not who knows?
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23 May 01 - 12:28 AM (#468411) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: katlaughing Were I you, Peg, I'd write it up myself, in plain and simple English and ask him to sign it, then give him a copy for his records. And, I agree with Dicho, even though you weren't in on the sale. |
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23 May 01 - 09:21 AM (#468588) Subject: LYR.ADD Mary's Little Lot From: Charley Noble INTERLUDE – excerpted from working draft of The Pity the Downtrodden Landlord Songbook This parody of a familiar nursery rhyme was inspired by the "Single Tax Movement", an economic plan advanced in this country by Henry George in the 1880's. George argued that the imposition of a single tax on income from rental property equivalent to what the landlord charged would end real estate speculation and high rent, while providing the government with adequate funds for redistribution to the poor. The lyrics were composed by Mary C. Hudson who had it published in the Standard, a progressive New York periodical of the time. We have the federal W.P.A. Writers Project to thank for bringing this song back to light around 1940. MARY'S LITTLE LOT (Words by Mary C. Hudson. – Circa 1880 Tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb) Mary had a little lot, The soil was very poor; But still she kept it all the same And struggled to get more. She kept the lot until one day, The people settled down, And where a wilderness had been, Grew up a thriving town. They grew, as population comes, And Mary raised the rent; With common food and raiment now, She could not be content. "What makes the lot keep Mary so?" The starving people cry; "Why, Mary keeps the lot, you know," The wealthy would reply. Then Mary rented out her lot, She would not sell, you know, And waited patiently about For prices still to grow. She built up a mansion fine, With bric-a-brac galore, And every time the prices rose, She raised the rent some more. And so each one of you might be "Wealthy, refined, and wise" If you had only hogged some land And held it for the rise. Good luck, Peg! Warm regards, Landlady's daughter, not to be confused with Charley Noble et al
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23 May 01 - 11:03 AM (#468644) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: GUEST,Phillip It's both sad and amusing to read this thread. Someone with a gripe against a landlord launches into a tirade against him with "evil" as their chief adjective, and everyone is counseling "get legal advice". Let's face it, the time for signing documents, agreements, leases, contracts, etc. is BEFORE the conflict arises! This is to make certain that just such a circumstance is foreseen and that BOTH parties have a framework of reference during the transitional period. A little discussion, combined with some give-and-take would probably have served well here, long before the need to resort to legalistic remedies was even contemplated. oh, what a litigious society we live in! |
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23 May 01 - 01:13 PM (#468765) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Peg Philip: this is not about SUING the landlord. This is about his acting unlawfully, perhaps because of his ignorance of the law. I am NOT a "litigious" person. I am only out to protect my self and my pets. I want nothing from this guy but for him to respect my rights. I am a tenant at will, hence there is no lease. I don;t know what other "contracts" and "documents" you are referring to. HINT: the fact that I started this htread asking for advice perhaps implies I don't know much about this. You do not really know enough about the situation to be criticizing me, or my friends here who have tried to help. And if you read the thread, you will find that I HAVE spoken with him and we seem to have resolved much of this.
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23 May 01 - 01:20 PM (#468768) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Charley Noble I'm not sure "evil" is the right word either, and the term is probably offered originally tongue in cheek as a thread title. After years of counseling tenants and landlords, and training volunteers, in Michigan I found that the usual case involved differing degrees of knowledge of what the rights and responsibilities were, and the willingness of a landlord or tenant to make use of what they knew to get their way. The disputes we heard over the phone were generally settled without the expense of resorting to attorneys; usually one party or another had an obvious advantage and if they were assertive enough they usually carried the day, or at least arrived at a working compromise. Then, there were those few extreme cases which I'm sure someone is still grinding their teeth over. Peg needs to decide how much time and energy she wants to focus on hanging in at her apartment with an unhappy landlord wandering around, Sazall in hand. Or if she wants to secure the services of some legal intermediary to cool him off. We're (Mudcatters) not there at ground zero now, and we won't be around later if the situation gets messier. That's my moral advice to all of the above who appear more judgmental than counseling... Cordially, Landlady's Daughter, not to be confused with what's his name |
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23 May 01 - 02:17 PM (#468812) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: UB Ed Oh my. Peg, I'm glad you posted. I was wondering about how this apartment thing turned out. I'm glad you got a place, but am sorry to hear of your current difficulty. Now, before I go any further, this is not intended as "judgemental." From reading the above, it sounds like you are in a real grey area. You mention 39 days notice and then later 30 days as required. You seem to be on a month to month and, if you got your 30 days notice, that's kinda it, from a purely legal, letter of the law standpoint. So now you have to somehow work with the guy to bridge until the 15th. Bear in mind, I've only got the info in this thread and have not done the research, but there may not be much recourse. So you're probably gonna have to work with this dude and you may not have a whole lotta leverage. With this premise in mind, my suggestion would be to be "nice as pie." This southern expression does not mean kissing his ass, rather adopting an attitude of unflappable cordiality. When confronted with an unresaonable request, politely and cordially explain your situation and how might the two of you work through it together. Regardless of the other person's deameanor, you are cool, calm, collected and ready to find mutually agreeable, reasonable solutions to an unfortunate situation. Peg, good luck; let us know how it goes. I'll be thinking of you as I move on June 15th.
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23 May 01 - 07:33 PM (#469065) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Peg all is well today; they finished up their work for the day just as I arrived home (at 7:30). The water was on. I am gonna take it day to day at this point. I will draft a letter and send it to his lawyer with my understanding of where we have left things. Good advice, UB Ed. Since our last confrontation where he pressured me into agreeing to let him in, we have been communicating pretty well and I believe him when he says he will not try to coem in and work until I have moved out.
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23 May 01 - 10:16 PM (#469163) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Sorcha Peg, try to use "How can we" rather than "I"....usually works better. |
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14 Jun 01 - 06:20 PM (#483635) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Charley Noble I wonder what ever happened to Peg? Landlady's Daughter, not to be confused with Charley Noble |
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14 Jun 01 - 06:29 PM (#483641) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Stevangelist "...way up there in old Massachusetts, With the lights on the Common so bright, There's one less spoiled-brat greedy landlord in old Massachusetts tonight." (to the tune of 'Philadelphia Lawyer' by Woody Guthrie) Peg, hope it all goes well. I too have had crappy landlords, and I sincerely hope my little piece of wishful-thinking singson will help you smile, if even for a second. May The Road Rise To Meet You, Stevangelist
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14 Jun 01 - 07:04 PM (#483672) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Stevangelist by the way, I meant 'singsong'. Stevangelist
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15 Jun 01 - 09:54 AM (#484114) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: UB Ed In another thread she mentioned finding another place that would not be available until today. So hopefully she's moving abd getting settled! Ed |
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15 Jun 01 - 10:06 AM (#484133) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Peg thanks for inquiring, folks! All is well. The new owner decided to wait until I was out to do any renovation in my apartment. I will finish my moving to my new digs tomorrow, and maybe come back here on Sunday to clean etc. Moved a big van full of stuff Wednesday night; hurt my back and it was exhausting even with friends helping. Moving the rest tomorrow, including the kitties! Anyone have advice on how to get a skittish young cat who runs away every time I go near her into a cat carrier? Looking forward to being in a new place I guess (I will miss this one but no sense approaching the change with bad feelings; all change is fo rthe best eventually, usually).
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15 Jun 01 - 10:12 AM (#484140) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Les from Hull Yes, our Flossie the cat turns into a starfish every time we bring out the cat carrier. The best advice I have is to wear gloves, put the cat carrier down with the open door facing upwards and drop the cat in. Or wrap the cat in a towel before she sees the cat carrier.
May your new home be full of happiness and music! |
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15 Jun 01 - 10:36 AM (#484157) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Hollowfox I'll light a candle for you tonight, and bring liniment to Old songs for you. Long sleeves, gloves and tangling the cat in a towel all contribute to success. So does getting the cat into the bathroom (small space, the door closes). The cat's going to be shook up anyway, but if you have the time, it can be less trying for both of you. If you're in a hurry to grab her, and miss, it will be that much harder to get closer to her for the next try. When you pick her up, if you can hold her so that the front paws are "back" that is, next to her ribs (elbows not bent), not stretched out in front, you'll have a bit more luck inserting her into the carrier. Do you have an alternate carrier, perhaps a large cardboard box, so you have a larger area to put the cat in? So remember, take a deep breath, calm yourself, don't seem too eager, ...and good luck. M |
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15 Jun 01 - 10:40 AM (#484163) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Sorcha Put the crate in a quiet place, open the door and stick some canned tuna or salmon in it--works a treat! Not too much canned fish, tho; it has a very high ash content. Just enough to lure her in and slam the door on her. |
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22 Nov 02 - 11:51 AM (#832631) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Naemanson Jeri suggested I could add on to this thread. Not a bad idea. I have a new landlord who is also a good friend and Mudcatter Charley Noble. Of course, he doesn't count as an evil landlord.... |
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22 Nov 02 - 01:34 PM (#832732) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Charley Noble You can't escape by switching threads, Naemanson. Charley Noble |
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27 Nov 02 - 02:58 PM (#835909) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: GUEST,Brian F . Hannon In Ireland here we used to be up till our eyes balls with BIG BAD Absentee English LANDLORDS . We got rid of them all except for One who still owns Irelands Largest Lake The 102,790 acres LOUGH NEAGH . He still gets his RENT for his permission to the Native Irish Fishermen to harvest the Fish . We are Aspiring to the Return of our Collective Fishing Rights. |
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27 Nov 02 - 03:36 PM (#835932) Subject: Putting a Cat into a Cat Carrier From: SharonA It's 'way too late to give helpful advice to Peg about the cat carrier but, just in case someone else reading this thread has the same problem fitting a furry "starfish" into a plastic box, here's what my vet suggests (and it works!): Place the cat on the floor in front of the carrier butt first, facing away from the carrier door. Put the flat palm of your hand in front of the cat's nose and move your hand toward the nose. The cat will back away, into the carrier (if necessary, gently guide his butt into the carrier with your other hand). Keep moving the nose-hand toward the cat until (s)he backs into the carrier completely, then close the door quickly. Peg, I hope your new place is working out well for you and your kitties! Sharon |
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27 Nov 02 - 04:30 PM (#835968) Subject: RE: BS: Need Evil Landlord Advice... From: Charley Noble Sharon- That's good advice, which fortunately I didn't need when I rounded up our two cats this morning and stuffed them into their carriers, and the neighbor's cat into one of our spare carriers and evacuated the building until the fire department determined what the upstairs tenants had done to fill their kitchen full of smoke. Of course, as I'm the landlady in this situation, I was royally pissed when we discovered that the tenants' kids had been using the toaster oven for an experimental ignition chamber for paper towels. Landlady's Daughter, who cohabits with Charley Noble |