Renters Beware

I recently moved out of this apartment after six months due to repeated harassment and untrue accusations from the landlord. My partner and I are happily situated in a new place: The sole reason for this post is a sense of ethical responsibility to prevent others, if possible, from going through what we went through. Renter beware: the landlord has a victim complex and will persecute you for... [more]

I recently moved out of this apartment after six months due to repeated harassment and untrue accusations from the landlord. My partner and I are happily situated in a new place: The sole reason for this post is a sense of ethical responsibility to prevent others, if possible, from going through what we went through. Renter beware: the landlord has a victim complex and will persecute you for perceived slights that are not based in reality. She repeatedly yelled at me (with false accusations), including banging on my door in the middle of the night. She even accosted my partner on a public avenue to yell at him. She requested access to the apartment to "close windows when it was raining or turn lights off," and when I politely declined she called me "strange and secretive" and accused me of "making her feel unwelcome in her own home." She did not permit me to use the deck as I wanted, even though I (and the realtor) had understood it to be part of the rental. Her constant vigilance regarding my behavior made me feel watched and anxious at all times while renting this unit. Additionally, everyone I have spoken with regarding this landlord has reported that she has made them or someone in their family cry. We regret any inconvenience that this warning might cause to the broker and the landlord's family. But we do need to balance that concern against the opportunity to prevent the prolonged anxiety and distress that we experienced. [less]