When he first walked in he took his fingers and swept across the stove and then proceded to ask the same questions over and over. He was there for nearly three hours doing his inspection. Opening the refridgerator and asking me what cleaning supplies I used. Which must of not been good enough for him because he put a whole bag of cleaning supplies on my front porch. (I use Lysol/Bleach to wipe everything down and Bleach diluted with a little water to mop the floors with and some kind of cleaning supply to clean the inside of the toilet with.) Yes he even lifted my toilet seat up and inspected it. He got on all fours and checked all the floors in the house. He has been our house numerous times and it has never been messy once. I was wondering if there is something that I could do or is this ok for him to do? He said he was going to do this every month and it doesn't say anything in the lease about him doing this. I work third shift and he kept me up the entire time he was there. HELP!
2006-09-20 18:31:35 · 13 answers · asked by Lorrenda W 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Cleaning & Laundry
I'm not a hundred percent on who you are supposed to contact, but I def, know he shouldn't be doing that. Granted it is his place, but you are living there. Thats practically invasion of privacy.
2006-09-20 18:39:48 · answer #1 · answered by Jessica 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a landlord and here are my thoughts:
First, read your entire lease and see what it says about the landlord having access to your property. There should be a section called "Access" - or something to that effect. The lease that I use has the following "Access" clause, for example:
Access. Tenant shall allow Landlord access to the premises for purposes of repair and inspection. Landlord shall exercise this right of access in a reasonable manner. Landlord shall give Tenant reasonable notice before exercising this right of access, except in case of emergency.
Your lease probably also uses the word "reasonable" to describe how often and with how much advance notice the landlord can inspect.
I think two inspections per year - each with a 24 hour notice is reasonable. (each inspection lasting 20 minutes)
Nobody in their right mind would consider monthly inspections - or 3 hour inspections - reasonable.
If the refridgerator belongs to the landlord, then it is reasonable for him to have an interest in how it is being maintained.
Double-check your lease to see if it discusses access to the property. If not I would recommend that you have a polite, but very direct discussion with your landlord regarding this matter. Let him know that you will agree to two, 30-minute inspections per year - each with a 24-hour notice, but that you believe anything more than that violates your tenant's rights.
If you cannot agree, the next step is probably arbitration - which will cost you both money.
Finally: Be honest with yourself. Do you keep the place clean? is the refridgerator clean and well maintained? Do you pay your rent on time? If you are a bad tenant he may be trying to pester you into leaving. If you are truly a good tenant than he sounds like a nut.
Good Luck.
2006-09-20 18:47:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know where you live, but there should be something along the lines of a Landlord, Tenant Committee to talk to. It exists for this kind of reason. There are well educated people that help landlords with trouble tenants, and in your case landlord who, (by the sounds of it is over bearing). I believe that he can come and inspect the place whether you are there or not, if he gives the proper time period notification. It would be better to talk to the professionals though. I hope this has helped.
CyberNara
2006-09-20 18:48:15 · answer #3 · answered by Joe K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on a couple of things. Did you just move out of the property? If not, I'd be looking to do so REAL fast. I've never had a landlord come in and inspect while I was living in a property, and I would never do that to any of my tenants. Second, what condition was the property in when you signed the lease? If it was in superb condition when you signed, he's probably expecting it to be in that condition when the lease is up. Just a heads up when signing a lease, anything WITHIN REASON for your landlord to have to put any money back into that house (after hearing how picky he is) is going to be justifiable to him the keep your deposit. That's what it sounds like to me, is that he's looking for the smallest reason to feed you a bull**it story so he don't have to pay up.
2006-09-20 18:47:11 · answer #4 · answered by bullrider7903 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All the leases I signed had a clause about the landlord being allowed to inspoect the property. it generally specificies a period of time to give notice.
If this clause is not in the lease, he probably has no right.
Either way, if it isn't specifically stated, he has no right to require things like cleaning - the only concwern he can have is health hazards, illegal storage of combustibles and toxic chemicals, permanent damage, etc.
Ask him not to enter without your permission and notice, only if you are requesting maintenance and not unless it is required by law, and reject complaints unless they are in the above. Require him to visit at a time of your convenience or when you aren't home (not when you are sleeping). If he is there when you are, reply to small complaints "I don't care - its not permanent damage, its not illegal, its not your concern" and otherwise ignore him. Every time he vists, hand him a list of anything wrong, including small things like door slides, knobs, drafty windows, sticking doors, etc. as well as ask about lead paint, asbestos, radon, oil dumped by previous residents (EPA no-no) etc. so that he won't want to see you. Ask for complaints in writing, stating that if he is overboard you will file a harassment charge. If he persists, threaten a lawyer harassment action.
On the other hand, even if he does have the right for inspection in the lease, he probably doesn't have the right for the rest, so most of the above applies.
2006-09-20 18:51:29 · answer #5 · answered by schester3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
contact the rental bond board and find out if he can do this. this is insane. I can understand he is concerned that house be in good condition but to tell you what you can and can't use to clean the house is going a bit far I think as long as the house was kept clean and in good condition I cant see what business it is of his.
But now to the opening the fridge this is your property not his he has no right to be touching your things. There must be some sort of bond board or body to look after the renters where you are either in your town or at least in your state.
2006-09-20 19:49:32 · answer #6 · answered by Mrs Magoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh my goodness! Well, yes, a landlord can do inspections of the property WITH NOTICE to you beforehand. He can NOT invade your privacy, can NOT inspect your housekeeping, etc. That's none of his business! Your rental contract probably says things like you must maintain the property, upkeep the yard, not install anything permanant, not destroy any part of the property or alter anything. How you keep house or what products you use are nobody's business. How you LEAVE it is another story...but that's down the road. Ewww....I'd probably move. What a creep!
2006-09-20 18:41:59 · answer #7 · answered by maynerdswife 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow! This guy seems like he's obsessive/compulsive about his household cleaning requirements. I have never heard of a required monthly apartment check. Contact your states renter rights board but I do believe is waaaaay to abnormal! Next time Mr. Clean comes around, start documenting everything he did and said in case of issues later, that or move. Sorry to say but I think your landlord is 4 sandwhiches short of a picnic!
2006-09-20 18:41:58 · answer #8 · answered by Sumanitu Taka 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get yourself the "Tenants' Rights" booklet! Every landlord should be forced to give this to anyone he or she is about to rent to! California has very good tenants' rights laws in place to protect, among other things, from this kind of harassment! You can even get this document over the internet. Just contact tenantsrights.com - It's free, & you won't ever have to put up with crap like that again! By the way, I have sued landlords & won, using this document. Go for it!
2006-09-20 18:46:43 · answer #9 · answered by therealme 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell him he can do an inspection when you no longer live there. When he shows up next time, tell him to leave. Call the cops when he doesn't. I'm serious. I would risk being judged in violation of the lease before I'd let him continue.
2006-09-20 18:43:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is not proper. He can enter the premises for various purposes, but that is not one of the allowed ones. Tell him that he is not to enter the premises without specific reason and 24-hour notice; if he does, he will be in breach of the lease and you will move out. Send him a letter outlining all of this, certified mail with return receipt, and keep a copy. If it gets to be a court fight, this is the evidence that will prove your case.
2006-09-20 18:44:43 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋