My landlady is SO ANNOYING. What would you do?

Question

1) Her room is right above mine. Her hairdryer wakes me up every morning. She also likes to sing but she is an awful singer and I can hear it just as loud as my own music through the ceiling.

2) She talks very loudly on the phone and likes to shriek. She also has phone sex, so I can hear her, um, sounds. If you know what I mean.

3) She always comes down here, sometimes she lets her kid come down here alone. The upstairs is where SHE lives. She doesn't even own the house, she just rents it.

4) She smokes a lot and since her window is above mine, she smokes right above out her window so the smell goes through mine and stinks up the room.

I am sorry to rant but should I say something or just keep my earplugs in 24/7 and stock up on the Febreeze? She is actually really nice, but I just would appreciate some peace and quiet and also some fresh air once in awhile.

Can't get a new place due to the lease. I am too poor to do that!

Thanks for the responses so far. I didn't mean to sound angry, but I've been having a bad day. :o( And I am sorry if I came off as whiny, I know a lot of people have it a whole lot worse.

In response to "If her coming down there is bugging you, don't answer the door. Easy as that."

No it is not like that at all. It's a two-level house. We live in the basement, and there's a door that she can lock on her side to come in whenever. The laundry is here. That's fine, of course she has to do her laundry. But she is down here a lot, sometimes she just walks around the lower level for no reason, and it's kind of startling to come out and make some tea and have her come up behind me while I'm at the counter.

"If she doesn't own the house, how is she your landlady?"

In my city it is common for people to rent out houses and then rent out rooms.

"Again, I'm sure you saw the place and did step foot in it before you rented it and I'm sure the place smelled like smoke when you first toured the apt."

Indeed I did but she didn't start the habit until many months later and the lease was signed.

I hope that clears up things.

Answer 1

Some of this you'll have to deal with, some you might be able to change.

For instance, it would be unreasonable to think she'll quit drying her hair in the morning, but you could ask her to try to keep her singing during daytime hours (she may be embarrassed that you can hear her and tone it down anyway). You might mention that you can hear her phone calls too, (perhaps blatently look away or something when you say "phone calls" so she gets the clue which ones you're talking about), and you really don't like to hear other people's... er... conversations.

the smoking - ask her to do it somewhere else, or if she doesn't change, say "since it wafts in may I buy an air purifier or A/C and deduct the price of it from my next month's rent?"

The kid... If she won't just stop sending her kid down, then tell her you're taking up a "hobby" that isn't kid friendly and you need her kid to stay upstairs or outside. If she asks, be ready with a hobby (meditation, knife throwing, pole dancing, whatever you can think of).

every apartment (it seems) comes with it's own trials. my last one came with a crack and pot smoking "musician" who didn't believe in cleaning the bathroom. EW.

Answer 2

As far as the noise, you really can't complain. You were aware that you were moving into a lower apartment, weren't you?

If her coming down there is bugging you, don't answer the door. Easy as that.

If she doesn't own the house, how is she your landlady? Is it a sublet? If there is a landlord to your landlord, then tell them about the smoking. It may be against her lease terms. Again, I'm sure you saw the place and did step foot in it before you rented it and I'm sure the place smelled like smoke when you first toured the apt.

Answer 3

I would try and make a little joke on being able to hear her conversations just to let her know that it isn't as private as she thinks. As for the dropping in (man do I hate that!) I would say something like "gee I wish I had time to visit with you but I am in the middle of some work that can't wait" and slowly shut the door. Try leaving a small dish of vinegar where you smell the smoke the most, it should absorb the odor. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Get an air purifier from the pawn shop. This will solve your smoke-smell problem, and your sound problem as well (If you buy an older model). As far as the kid or her coming downstairs, just start hanging around in your undies.

Answer 5

i think you need to speak with her, or write her a friendly but assettive note. start off by saying "overall i think your nice person and dont take this personally but it really bothers me when you....." then discuss the problrems you have. the ciggerettes might be too much to ask her to stop being that she has become accustomed. but let her know its not cool with her kids and u can hear her private phone calls so she might want to lower her voice when discussing personal things. just try to let her know wirthout attacking her and im surer things will improve.

Answer 6

Next time she does one of these things go up and politely ask her to stop. If she is a nice person I'm sure she won't be funny about it.

Answer 7

I think I would just be honest and tell her these things. Tell her as kindly as possible but if she doesn't know there is no way the problems are going to stop.

Answer 8

tell her you know what she likes in bed because she broadcasts it and burn some weed with the radio up. her being nice doesn't have anything to do with common courtesy.

Answer 9

get a new place.