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Landlord: Questions

S

StarsFan4Life

Golden Member
My wife and I are two weeks from closing on our first home. We have been leasing a townhouse in north Dallas for nearly 2 years at $1200 a month.

We have never asked for anything from our landlord. From the beginning he advised that he would get us new carpet installed...but never did....but we never established this in the original contract.

We gave him 45 notice about the move...which is what he asked for.

Two weeks ago, we got a rude wake up on a Saturday at 7:30am from a painter who was doing an estimate to paint the house.....then again at 8:30am from ANOTHER painter to do the same. We never heard a peep about this before....

No big deal....just kind of rude. They came and painted the house a freakin ugly ass dark tan color....all the neighbors HATE it....but the painters plugged themselves into MY utilities (water and electric) without them or my landlord even ASKING my permission....."sure Mr. Landlord....let me pay for the utilities that are needed to paint and fix your house"......fuck that.

Then, we had the landlord come in to discuss our deposit and "work" I did to the house. We took down the crappy and old mini blinds all throughout the house and installed 3" faux wood blinds......only cost us $200....but it really improved the image. I also love yard work....and when we moved in, the landlord cared less and pretty much had a small patch of grass....lots of weeds and dirt. I have since put down St Augustine grass in places and got the yard looking great.....a lot of work but I did it because take pride in any house I live in.....I don't want to come home to a crappy house and a crappy yard.

Our discussion with the landlord was to see if he would compensate us for the blinds and for the yard work. He basically said no....in a nice way....coming off that "most landlords don't pay for this kind of stuff".

Ok.....fuck it....I will take the hit and remember NEVER to treat my landlord nice again (given that I ever have to have a landlord).

So....the landlord and his wife call us up on Monday saying that they are going to lease out the house again instead of selling it.....and says that they wanted to bring by a property manager by yesterday to get a feel for the house and take pictures....basically they said they will be there no matter what. Now....we are in the middle of packing....the house is a wreck because of it...and we believe that this kind of shit should be done on their dime....not while we are still living there.

Now they want to possibly show the house to possible tenants.....while we are still living there......while we are still paying. I have been pretty freakin cool with a lot of this shit, but now I realize we are being taken advantage of and I want to know what I should do.


What can I do here? Can I make him pay for the utilities used while the "workers" used them to fix up the house that is NOT mine? Can we refuse the "showings" of the house while we still live there? Can I make him pay us back for the blinds and yard work I did? If not, I am ripping out the blinds and killing off the grass and removing the bushes and plants I put in.....putting it back to the original state it was in.


What do you guys suggest I do here? Before all of this, the landlord was super cool (not but 5 years older than me and I am 26). Now after talking to the neighbors about all of this...they let me know they are not surprised based on what he has done in the past with other tenants......


F!

 
It is standard practice to show a rental unit while you are still living there. I'm sure its in your contract. Mine says that after a certain date, they can start showing it.
 
Nothing you can do really. Maybe walk around drunk and naked while they are showing the home?

KT
 
Being able to show the house to prospective tenants is most likely in your lease and expecting to get pay for your yard work is.....
 
Landlords are not always the devil, if he has been cool until now I would just let it go until you move. Being paid for yard work and blinds is unheard of. He probably needs to get it rented because the economy probably hit him too.

Its not a bad idea to sit down and discuss everything in your post with him directly.
 
Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life
My main problem is the use of the utilities that I pay for......
Click to expand...

How much electricity do you really think it cost? $5, 10?

Its really not a big deal.
 
Landlords need to give you 24 hours of notice that they're showing the house where I live (British Columbia) and I think that is totally acceptable.
 
I can't say without seeing your lease. Are you using the Texas statutory lease found here?

If so, you're hosed. The blinds, landscaping, etc are now "chattel"- personal property that, because it is attached to real property, is treated as real property. Removal is theft. Texas does not make landlords give notice. If you deny them entry, you owe them damages. They can show up whenever they like. I had hoped that they needed to give you 24 hours notice, which would mean that the painters were in violation of the lease and you'd have a cause of action, but nope. You're hosed.
 
landlord is in the right

utilities is minor bitch issue (he could have at least asked), other than that nothing out of the ordinary.
 
I know you definitely can't pull out the grass and shrubs. However, did you happen to keep the old blinds?
 
Originally posted by: CPA
I know you definitely can't pull out the grass and shrubs. However, did you happen to keep the old blinds?
Click to expand...

Yes I did...and I sure as hell can take the shrubs/bushes with me. I paid for them...
 
Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life
Originally posted by: CPA
I know you definitely can't pull out the grass and shrubs. However, did you happen to keep the old blinds?
Click to expand...

Yes I did...and I sure as hell can take the shrubs/bushes with me. I paid for them...
Click to expand...

Replace the new blinds with the old ones. Take the new ones with you. Leave the shrubs. They're legally part of the lot now. They're not yours.
 
Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life
My wife and I are two weeks from closing on our first home. We have been leasing a townhouse in north Dallas for nearly 2 years at $1200 a month.

We have never asked for anything from our landlord. From the beginning he advised that he would get us new carpet installed...but never did....but we never established this in the original contract.

We gave him 45 notice about the move...which is what he asked for.

Two weeks ago, we got a rude wake up on a Saturday at 7:30am from a painter who was doing an estimate to paint the house.....then again at 8:30am from ANOTHER painter to do the same. We never heard a peep about this before....

No big deal....just kind of rude. They came and painted the house a freakin ugly ass dark tan color....all the neighbors HATE it....but the painters plugged themselves into MY utilities (water and electric) without them or my landlord even ASKING my permission....."sure Mr. Landlord....let me pay for the utilities that are needed to paint and fix your house"......fuck that.

Then, we had the landlord come in to discuss our deposit and "work" I did to the house. We took down the crappy and old mini blinds all throughout the house and installed 3" faux wood blinds......only cost us $200....but it really improved the image. I also love yard work....and when we moved in, the landlord cared less and pretty much had a small patch of grass....lots of weeds and dirt. I have since put down St Augustine grass in places and got the yard looking great.....a lot of work but I did it because take pride in any house I live in.....I don't want to come home to a crappy house and a crappy yard.

Our discussion with the landlord was to see if he would compensate us for the blinds and for the yard work. He basically said no....in a nice way....coming off that "most landlords don't pay for this kind of stuff".

Ok.....fuck it....I will take the hit and remember NEVER to treat my landlord nice again (given that I ever have to have a landlord).

So....the landlord and his wife call us up on Monday saying that they are going to lease out the house again instead of selling it.....and says that they wanted to bring by a property manager by yesterday to get a feel for the house and take pictures....basically they said they will be there no matter what. Now....we are in the middle of packing....the house is a wreck because of it...and we believe that this kind of shit should be done on their dime....not while we are still living there.

Now they want to possibly show the house to possible tenants.....while we are still living there......while we are still paying. I have been pretty freakin cool with a lot of this shit, but now I realize we are being taken advantage of and I want to know what I should do.


What can I do here? Can I make him pay for the utilities used while the "workers" used them to fix up the house that is NOT mine? Can we refuse the "showings" of the house while we still live there? Can I make him pay us back for the blinds and yard work I did? If not, I am ripping out the blinds and killing off the grass and removing the bushes and plants I put in.....putting it back to the original state it was in.


What do you guys suggest I do here? Before all of this, the landlord was super cool (not but 5 years older than me and I am 26). Now after talking to the neighbors about all of this...they let me know they are not surprised based on what he has done in the past with other tenants......


FML!
Click to expand...

Fixed
 
Originally posted by: Leros
It is standard practice to show a rental unit while you are still living there. I'm sure its in your contract. Mine says that after a certain date, they can start showing it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm looking at renting a place and the landlord asked me to delay the visit by a day so he could give warning to the occupants (another plus for the place, in my book).
 
So....the landlord and his wife call us up on Monday saying that they are going to lease out the house again instead of selling it.....and says that they wanted to bring by a property manager by yesterday to get a feel for the house and take pictures....basically they said they will be there no matter what. Now....we are in the middle of packing....the house is a wreck because of it...and we believe that this kind of shit should be done on their dime....not while we are still living there.
Click to expand...

Absolutely nothing. There is nothing to do or be done. The property owner is showing his house to potential lessee's. He's given you the requisite notice (every state is different, but if the LL gives you 24 hours its pretty standard).

This type of shit WILL happen on your dime, the property owner is showing his property in accordance with the law. Yourself and your wife could politely excuse yourselves and begone while it happens, or you can be there when the new tenants look at all your stuff.

You have to do nothing but try to get the house "presentable", which means no drugs/booze/hookers, and clean up the puke.



What can I do here? Can I make him pay for the utilities used while the "workers" used them to fix up the house that is NOT mine? Can we refuse the "showings" of the house while we still live there? Can I make him pay us back for the blinds and yard work I did? If not, I am ripping out the blinds and killing off the grass and removing the bushes and plants I put in.....putting it back to the original state it was in.
Click to expand...

With no agreement - you are free to remove your property (bushes and blinds) - and replace them with the original.

The only way to make him pay you anything is to sue him - good luck with that.

You cannot refuse the showings - it would likely run you afoul of landlord tenant law and give grounds for eviction without opportunity to cure. However lookup your states statutes on the subject and make sure he abides by the letter. If not - you may have a case against him.

 
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