What should I do about this creep?

Question

I live in the city and I pay a good amount of rent for my apartment which I rented because I am allowed to have a washer & dryer in the basement. I purchased a nice washer and dryer and had them installed in my hook-up. My landlord does not live in the building. There is this creepy guy who lives in a one room apartment in the basement. It is an illegal apartment. He keeps me up half the night because his video games are so loud. He and his girlfriends are constantly using my washer and dryer all the time even though I have written him letters to stop. They even leave their clothes in dryer all the time. The landlord tells me to work it out among yourselves. 2 weeks ago I found a crackvile in the dryer and my baby's clothes go in that dryer. Also, my luggage was stolen from storage area. If I report this illegal apartment to the city, then the landlord will know I did it and I am afraid I will have to move. I am in no finacial position to look for a new place now.

Answer 1

First, take pictures of this guys clothes in your washer/dryer with date and timestamp, if possible.

Did you report that your stuff had been stolen? There isn't much the police can do unless you have some sort of proof of what has been going on. When you have some documentation, take it and copies of the letters you have written to this guy to the police. If he has sent anything back your way, also save it and take it to the cops.

Make an anonymous call to the police if you feel that uncomfortable, otherwise, take what proof you have and show it to them- I don't think there is anything your landlord can do to you if this guy is illegally using YOUR stuff. Besides, the landlord isn't showing much interest anyway, so why should he care if this guy is taken care of??

Answer 2

You need to consult a lawyer regarding your rights as a tenant. Read over your lease with him or her to determine how you can be kept safe. Some lawyers will give free consultations, and that should be good enough to ease your mind concerning your tenant's rights. You might even be able to find a non-profit lawyer.

Because you've already talked with your landlord, he knows what's going on and doesn't care. You could call the cops on the creepy guy anonymously while he's away, and get him arrested for drugs, but who's to say your landlord doesn't put *another* freak down in the basement. If you're pretty sure it's crack, then I would be scared. Crackheads (among other hard drug users) will steal, hold you up at gunpoint, etc. to get money for another fix.

Call your landlord to complain once more. Make sure you mention the crackvile and stolen luggage, all this time screening the call- so there's proof. You need to call the police, turn in the crackvile as evidence (if you didn't already flush it), report your missing luggage and tampering with your washer and dryer, and get him out. Then tell your landlord if he puts another problem in the basement apartment, you will report the apartment to the city, and turn in the recorded call. He doesn't live in the building so you would probably never have to deal with him much. If you still feel uncomfortable, you will have bought some time (at least till the end of your lease) to find a new place and save some money.


I don't know if you meant New York, but here is a nifty little handbook that could help you. There is a section (viewable by links for faster access) on safety and tenant's personal rights concerning landlord retaliation.

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/realestate/tenants_rights_guide.html

Answer 3

Okay... so Housing Authority is out. There are several things you need to do. Trust me - I've survived worse encounters with dangerous scum.

1. Disable the washer and dryer until you are ready to use it. When you rig it after you're done, they won't be able to use it. These people don't seem to be the handyman type.

2. If clothes are left in YOUR washer and dryer, throw them out. Since the W/D are your direct property, you have every legal right to do so. You also told them not to leave their clothes in there.

3. Check your local laws and get a weapon. Crackheads are very violent people.

4. Keep your luggage elsewhere.

Now, I would not reccomend this last option, but as I've had a similar problem, I went around the side of the building and found the fuse box. I then disabled the electricity for that basement. And guess what happened. Those fuqs haven't been back since.

Answer 4

I would start looking for a new apartment. Sell the washer and dryer and use that money for the deposit or whatever it is that you have to pay for the first month. You shouldn't be miserable in your own home and if I had a child, I sure as hell wouldn't want him/her around the **** that's going on in that basement. Who knows what kind of person this guy is? THEN, when you move out, you could report the landlord and maybe even get some money that way? Maybe you could report this guy to the cops about the crackvile? Maybe he'd get kicked out of the apartment? Then you're good to go. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

report the noise to the police. You can try and have someone put a locking device on both the washer and dryer or have some type of electronic gismo that you need a code to access to keep these people out. I understand that you don't want to look, but maybe you should try and find something else, get it all lined up and turn the landlord and the dirty creep in to the authorities. That way you have Plan B if you have to move.

Answer 6

Report the drug stuff you find to the landlord. If he does nothing, then inform him that you'll report it to the cops. Then do it.

It's illegal activity & you have the right to live there free from any criminal activity. If you are harrassed, report that also.

If you're not going to make any reports, then speak to the occupants in the basement apartment. Voice your concerns to them & tell them that the washer & dryer are not for public use that they are your personal property.

Be prepared to start looking for another apartment if you have to. The landlord sounds like he's being irresponsible.

Good luck to you.

Answer 7

wow, i can't even imagine what you are going through. it has to be hard when you have a landlord that says work it out between yourselves. all i can suggest is letting the other people know that if they use your washer and dryer again they are calling the cops and report they are trespassing when they use your things and also report them for drug possession and let them know about the crackvile. if that doesn't work get a gun. that always scared people off.

Answer 8

Report the illegal apartment. The worse that could happen is you'd then have to move out -- big deal!

The landlord obviously doesn't care about his building, so wouldn't you be happier somewhere else, somewhere safer, even if it cost you some money? You only live once, so don't waste time in a dump like this.

Answer 9

Social problem. Ask the creep if he would like to chip in for a new, deluxe washer and dryer or anyting else that both of you could use in the basement. Leave your soap on the washer or something to offer a truce. Don't be simple minded this problem won't get solved unless you smoothen his feathers, they act reserved the next time you see him. Be a good neighbor and put your pride aside.

Answer 10

First of all, sorry to hear of this tough situation.

Judging from the tone of the place, putting bleach in their clothes or "playing tricks" will only get you hurt. The thing to do is to get a good handyman to put a hasp on both the washer and dryer doors- I am assuming there is no separate small lockable area in that basement-and put good, heavy padlocks on them. It won't be cheap, but it'll keep them out of your laundry.

Of course, they could always retaliate by cutting the pipes and so on. . .the best course is to move on to a better place ultimately.