I signed a one year lease on an older apartment that apparently has no sound proofing. The landlord knew I had 2 small children. Within a week of being in the apartment the landlord was knocking on my door telling me to stop letting my kids run across the floor because it was too noisy. I try to keep a 4 & 6 year old from running across the floor. I asked her if there was anyway I could get out of the lease since I was unaware that the kids could not play. She stated that she would have to rent my apartment to someone else first. Months later she tells me that she found a renter for my apartment and I can move. I applied for a new apartment. I disclosed to the new landlord the problem that my kids can't run in my current apartment. The new landlord's screening company sent the paperwork to current landlord who apparently states my kids were up running at 6 AM!! My kids NEVER get up that early. Also told the potential landlord that I have an "unapproved" boyfriend living in the apartment. The boyfriend was actually moving out that week (he was waiting for his apartment to be ready to move into) which is why I never thought to mention him to the new landlord. So I did not get the apartment and when I called my landlord and asked why she told them that my kids were up at 6 AM but never told me this information she tried to give excuses. Ultimately I told her not sure how I could get out in a week when I have no place to go. She excitedly announced that I can stay were I'm at because she had another apartment come open for the new tenant! (Bonus for keeping a full complex??) Anyway the unapproved boyfriend who had applied for and apartment 3 months prior, that she had no problem telling the new landlord about, was suddenly approved for an apartment about 6 weeks after all this foolishness. Today I get a call from her that my boyfriend (who no longer lives here--does visit) is throwing his cigarette butts onto her porch and burned holes into her furniture. He has never thrown a butt over the balcony! AND (here is the kicker!) to our surprise there were 2 cig, butts laying on my balcony when I came home today. We KNOW they are not his!! I don't know what to do..any advice would be greatfully appreciated!

Oh wow!!!

The joys of apartment living. I feel for you. Been there, done that and don't ever want to do it again!

Sounds like this lady is a piece of work, who really is too much of a busy body.

I think you are trying to do all of the right things, and it seems like your hands are tied. This lady sounds like such a control freak!! I am so sorry you are living under (over) her reign.

I don't have much advice, but I do sympathize with you and will stomp on the floor with you, will that help??

Thank you, stomp very loud
It has been a long time since ive rented and i think she is going to make it difficult for me to go anywhere else. I forgot to add I always pay my rent on time or even early!

Maybe you could look for an apartment like a half double block (common here, not sure about your part of the counrty) or over a business, where they wouldnt care?? My best friend has a three bedroom apt with walk up attic over her beauty shop for rent. She just painted, put in new cabinets and new carpeting...also, there is a small yard for BBQ ing or play. Too bad you dont live here!!
She (my friend, before she became a homeowner) (her first house purchase was a double block house, she lives on one side, rents the other side out to a family. they pay her mortgage) used to live over a daycare center...he noise from there botherered HER (they opened at 5 am)

The apartment I had applied for that the landlord kept me from getting was 1/2 of a double. I was so excited that I would not have to worry about my kids playing. I guess I'm just stuck here until my lease is up. Just hate being treated like a criminal. thanks for listening.

How much longer do you have on the lease? First, I would have a sit down, face to face meeting with the manager with a witness-- your mom, a co-worker. I would discuss specific allegations. I would write out a specific list about the complains on each side and the resolutions. Each person would sign the list, then when you apply for the next place you will have documentation of problems.

Is this the owner of the property or just a property manager? If it is a manager, and step #1 did not work, then I would consider writing the owner and complaining that "due to their poor soundproofing my children are not allowed to be children in their own home." Request a interview with the manager, owner and you. See what happens. If she is putting heat on you then return the favor.

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Lyn Clarke

Lynn,
Thank you so much for your advice. I actually just spoke with the building inspector in my area. He told me to write a letter to the owner of the building. The problem is I have to get that information from the manager (she is the manager not the owner). Lease will be up in November. I am worried that if I even ask for the address for the owner she will retaliate. At this point I don't even know if its worth a fight or not. But just like you said "my kids can't be kids." I've even invited her to come in and see what they are doing because it is normal play noise nothing excessive. I have always had respect for my neighbors and do not allow my kids to make noise after 8:30 (their bedtime) or before 9:00 am. Her son is up at 12:30 or 1:00 in morning playing and she even admitted how lucky she is that her son sleeps until noon. Yea, so would mine if they were up until all hours of the morning!
Thanks again.

P.S this is the greatest board ever!!

Do you have an apartment association in your area? We have one for our apt building that we own and they are an invaluable resource when it comes to either side of renter's rights. That is where I would start to find out what to do.

OP, if you don't want to ask the manager for the owner name/address you should be able to look up the info
through a state/county website, or some other public records website.

Our city tax records are available online and it tells who the owner of the property is.
Maybe you can find out that way. Or maybe you could call downtown and ask the tax people who the owner is?
Is there an apartment above you? If so maybe they are throwing the cigarettes out?

I spoke with the appt association in our area, they referred me to fair housing who told me to get an attorney. I then called the civil rights board and the building investigator is the one that told me to write a letter. Finding out the owner thru tax dept is a great idea. I will try that. I also thought about calling the appt. assoc. back to see if they know who the owners are.

We are on the top floor. The manager made a point to tell me that my friend and one other tenant on the front side of the building are the only smokers in the building. I informed her that her information is incorrect because the neighbors next door also smoke. She then stated "they have a can for their butts" (huh? thought no one else smokes??) I noticed the neighbor has an ashtray on their porch--no can (but guess they don't need one since they don't smoke

Thanks for everyones advice. You all are wonderful!

they can't make you get out in a week-tenants are probably more protected than landlords. In order to kick you out of there, they will have to go through a court process-could take a month or so. Go check out your landlord rights. In the meantime, start looking hard at other places.

Try the face to face meeting with a witness who is prepared with a yellow legal pad of paper and a pen, BEFORE you go to the owner. Make each side WRITE specific compaints. Once a complaint is in writing it 1. shows a patern of minor infringements and 2. truly people are rarely able to make sense of the crap they spew when they are emotionally charged up. (Emotions are centered on one side of the brain, language is located on the other side of the brain. Most verbal complainers can talk and talk and talk with tons of emotion and "you did......." BUT when told to write it down- the complaint sounds ridiculous. Trust me here.

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Lyn Clarke

Thanks Lynn. That is a great idea. I am very intimidated by her. Guess I need to get over that. I constantly feel like she is going to make things worse for me. Thanks again.

[quote=(Emotions are centered on one side of the brain, language is located on the other side of the brain. Most verbal complainers can talk and talk and talk with tons of emotion and "you did......." BUT when told to write it down- the complaint sounds ridiculous. Trust me here.[/QUOTE]


Wow - that is really interesting! Thanks for the tip.

Is it possible to maybe rent from a private owner or try, yet again, another complex? It sounds like living where you are at is miserable. My thought is going elsewhere, where you do not have to use the previous landlord/apt. manager as a reference and move to some place where you do not feel like you are living on egg shells.

I did apt. living for almost 5 years, and that was enough for me. My heart goes out to you and your children. Good luck and hope all goes well.

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We're off to never never land

thank you Hueston. I can't move anywhere until my lease is up or she finds someone else to rent my apartment again. I am nearly counting the days until my lease is up in November. It is miserable for my kids and me. I feel like I have to watch everything I do. I will just have to check out my options once the lease is up!

Thanks for your input.

How much can your childred weigh to make so much noise? Perhaps it is their pet elephant, the one that smokes!
Tell landlord that you have noticed that the floor makes an exceptional amount of noise and inquire if these floors are safe if they are making that much noise. Also I would ask if they are going to contact housing concerning the noise or would they prefer you to make the call at which time you might just remember a few other things that should be brought to thier attention!
I also will join you on the jump just tell me when and where. Good luck

My daughter weighs 29 lbs and my son 39 lbs! My friend and I were joking last night when the tornado sirens went off that she will blame us for that too!! ROFL

We lived underneath someone that had a 5 year old and when he would run through their apartment, it would sound like a herd of elephants was running through. It was absolutly awful! It was the beginning of summer when they moved in, so the kid was there all the time. I worked nights and TRIED to sleep in the daytime. We were spoiled I guess because a single guy had lived there before. We had to move very soon after they moved in because I just couldn't stand the noise anymore, even after I was able to move to the day shift, the noise was just too much. That was just from one kid, and I had my own kid the same age, so it was not like I wasn't around kids, the noise is quite different when it's over your head pounding down.

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