If I rent a room, it is mine to keep as I please during the duration of that rental. The secruity deposit ensures that if it is not up to par (upon giving it back) that I maintain some level of decency. But between when I move in and out, I can keep the room the way I see fit (like leaving clothes all over my bed, etc.). seems not. Clean at the end and if there is damage or excess dirt, I lost out on my secruity deposit, sure. But Landlord tries to come in every week to check on cleanliness. 875 is too much for that kind kind of shit! Can't take it. Need to find a new place with more peace!
It is a room with private bath within someones house. Now if there are roaches crawling under my door or something, she has every right to burst in and start doing weekly checks. This is not the case. I can take photos as the room is now, people can see for themselves. This is not filthy is she describes...
Where do you live? You might want to check into the real estate law in you area. I think that a landlord usually has a right to access to an apartment for things like repairs, but not beyond that. Often you have a legal right to what is called "quiet enjoyment" (or some similar such term), which means that there are certain things that your landlord can not do, such as the things that you are describing that your landlord in doing now. Depending on your income level, you may be eligible to get free legal aid, such as from a student law clinic (if there are law schools in your area). Unfortunately, some landlords try to cop a power trip, and it sound like that is what your landlord is doing. If there is a quiet enjoyment clause in your area, you may have to document what is going on. Then you should be able to legally break the lease. The landlord may try to screw you out of your security deposit, so you should try to document the original condition when you rented, if possible, or at least document the state in which you leave the room. Either negotiate with the ll or get the hell out. Ll sounds like a nightmare.
Yeah, when I first read your OP I was wondering if you were renting a room in someone's house or not- but you have answered that. I don't know (I mean it DEF. does seem messed up/too extreme), I have never rented a room in someone's house... the closest I have ever been to that was a few years ago we rented the bottom part of this HUGE house. The 2nd floor was the owner's cousin and her boyfriend and the top floor was the house's owner/our land lord. We ended up having issues with the guy renting it out because he got these dogs that he didn't train and he would leave them there all the time and at all hours of the night you'd hear them barking and tearing up shit there... I mean, it was bad and who are you gonna complain to, ya know? Well, I did respectfully talk to him about it and he didn't take too well to that and after that proceeded to start coming into our floor once or twice a week to "have a look around" and started complaining about stupid shit.. so, anyways I got out of that situation and moved here. I really do not like the idea of the landlord being RIGHT THERE (in the same house in any way).... In any case, where the hell do you live to be paying $875 a month to rent a ROOM in someone's house? Around here you can pay that much to rent a house yourself (or maybe pay a little more than that, but not much) and you can rent a room in a person's house for $300-$500 a month... that seems to me to be a CRAZY price to be renting a room in someone's house, ya know? I also think that if you ARE paying that much then you should defiantly have a certain level of respect for your privacy. And yes, you are right... your security deposit is for damages above average wear and tear... I think that is def. messed up if you gave her no reason to be "suspicious" (that you are ruining things in her house or what not) and she is checking on things once a week... You could try to talk to her respectfully (I'd go with the...."I understand this is your house and I don't mind you stopping by to check things out now and then, but.... yadda yadda yadda... you feel that with the amount you are paying and the fact that you've given her a security deposit and no reason to think you are ruining/damaging things that she is being excessive and you are a pretty private person and you don't feel comfortable not having a certain level of privacy and respect given....etc., etc."----- the thing is though, by all means go ahead and say those things (I def. would!!), however, don't be surprised if it doesn't get you very far. Some people are just very....(well, for lack of a better word) weird about stuff like that and they're likely not to be changing anytime soon, or ever.... and it's probably not gonna get you anywhere good. If I were you I'd be looking for somewhere else. Like.... a place that is not a room in someone's house.
I've looked into landlord laws in my state pretty thoroughly because I have the ultimate landlord from hell. I'm sure it depends on where you live but I know in my state a landlord has a right to request a REASONABLE inspection. They have to give 24 hours notice. The inspection is not to inspect the messiness or cleanliness of the house, but rather to make sure the tenant is not in violation of the lease in some way, and/or to make sure everything the landlord is responsible for is in working order. An inspection every few days is definitely unreasonable. also, keep in mind when you move your landlord is required by law to either refund your security deposit within 30 days or provide an itemized receipt noting what damage you did and the cost to repair. They have to refund the difference.
The thing is though--- that whether or not that is true with renting an apartment that is a separate residence (not in someone's house)--- and it may be true or something close to it... I'm just not exactly sure... That when you are renting a room in someone's HOUSE I don't think those things apply (exactly)... I could be wrong but I really don't think it's the same.
^ in the case of renting a room in a house, I think they would still only have the right to enter the room for repairs or maintenance. it depends on the area laws, but I think a "quiet enjoyment" provision is pretty common in real estate law. never live with a land lord, imho. they are always psycho.
Yeah... seriously. (to your last statement)... as I mentioned in the story I gave in my first post, just having my landlord on the top FLOOR (separate, keyed, entrances) was too much for me. Never, never. And yeah, you may be right.... but the thing I kept thinking of though- an example of a distinction that may be different (although I could be totally wrong, and really this is something the OP should look up for his state and where he specifically lives), is that when someone is renting a room in your house... it would seem that all you would have to claim (rightfully so- or not, as it couldn't really be proven, I wouldn't think...), is that you had reason to be checking up on the state of the room because the person started making you feel uncomfortable (read-scared) of having them in your house, for your safety.... for whatever, whatever reasons.... If that makes any sense to you that is the main reason I could see it as being different... but again, I could be totally wrong here.
^ if a ll thought a tenant was dangerous, I think the main remedy would be to evict them. There's probably provisions for extenuating circumstances, but if there is a quiet enjoyment provision in the law, they would still have to demonstrate that infringing on this right was justified.
Every week to check if you've picked your clothes off the floor?? Landlord is not your mother. or are you actually renting a room from your mom? 0.0 I think you should move to a new place..
Ugh, how creepy! I mean, if you had food everywhere and there was a trail of ants leading to your room, that would be one thing, but seriously, your room, your business. Maybe you should look up your rights as a tenant in your area, and definitely start looking for another place to stay.
Was this a condition of renting to you when you rented the room? I think, like most others have stated, you need to find out if legally she can do this and if not I would suggest you first approach her and explain that it makes you uncomfortable and ask that there is a compromise. Possibly moving is a better option. This is not a great situation and I am sorry you are in it.
not really, the only right you have secured by placing a deposit and keeping up on your rent, is the right to live there as long as you do. and even to that there are caveates. rights and restrictions for renters vary from country to country, state or province or other local political boundry, to the next and so on. there are no universally guarnteed rights involved. only those which exist currently wherever you happen to reside. most do not grant the right to physically alter the premisses. but even that is not universally consistent. generally though, you are not granted any right to physically alter the physical structure or its external appearance. there may even be restrictions on superfiscial, non-physical alterations to its interior. such as, for example, painting. pretty much all you're actually granted the right to do, if it is unfurnished, is to provide your own furnishings. some places you don't even have the right to hang pictures. pretty much the only thing rent gets you, is not having to share living space with anyone you don't want to, as long as you are the one actually paying the rent, and your own income actually covers doing so. one restriction on landlords that is pretty universal though, is the need your permission and a damd good excuse for requesting it, to enter your appartment while you are living in it. one of those damd good excuses though, is if you are in some way annoying your neighbors, or your landlord has reason to suspect you are engaging in unlawful activities. and in the latter instance, in many places the landlord may also be subject to criminal penalties if they do nothing to stop or prevent unlawful activities from taking place. said unlawful activities may be those involving controlled substances.
