Ok. So my roomates and I have been living in this apartment complex for about two years now (this year is the second). We signed our leases at the end of July and its a year long lease. Recently they've really been making life hard. The first time trouble came was this summer when we asked for an exterminator for our apartment because ants were in our living room. The bug guy comes and the next day we get an angry letter from the managers saying that our place was "unsanitary" and a "breeding ground for cockroaches" and we would have to pay for the entire complex to be fumigated. We're college students and yes we leave dishes in the sink but we are by no means unsanitary. I immediately took pictures of our apartment to cover our asses. I talked to the manager and I told her that I have pictures and its not unsanitary. Then we never heard from them again. Then a month later we needed the exterminator again because the ants were once again in the living room. This time, not only did the exterminator come up, so did the manager and some guy I've never seen before. The next thing I knew they were walking around in the living room and kitchen and telling me how much it would be to repair everything. They even counted how many pets we had. (we have 4 cats and a pup). They asked if we had a pet deposit and I said yes my roomate has paid his share but I have been paying in installments. Another letter came a week later saying the pet deposit was now $1000 per pet and we had three days to pay otherwise the pets go. AGAIN... we're poor college students... we dont have $5000 lying around. Besides, when we signed the lease they told us it was $250 per pet but they let us get away with $250 per person. After we brought that up, they lowered the price back to $250 and we needed to sign. A few days later I get a letter that states that there are absolutely no pets allowed in the apartments and we're in breach of contract. We have to get rid of the animals in 3 days or we have to surrender the property. WHAT THE HECK DO I DO??????? I already tried calling them but they slipped the letters under the door on Friday at about 4pm. I called the office but they were already gone. Please... can anyone out there help????|||Check your phone book for legal aid. They often handle such issues. This is not like a public defender but is low cost or free legal help and advice.
Or consider a legal services plan for like $17 a month like the one we have http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/caringha鈥?/a>
Unless your lease says you agree to not have to go through eviction proceedings and will just get out of they say to get out you can not be evicted w/o a court order. That means they have to9 go pay around $75-125 to take out a request for an eviction order. a date is then set for an eviction hearing. You go to court and show your original documents, (lease and all amendments) all receipts, and the pictures,pictures of the pets may be good to have in case the judge asks for them, maybe take a couple of witnesses who can and will say the place is not unsanitary when they have visited. The judge will then make a decision as to whether you have to get out and if so ow long you have to do it, Judge will also decide if you do or don't get your deposits back (my experience has been you probably will not) If you know of anyone else unfairly treated by these apts especially someone no longer living there ask them to come too as witnesses.
Alternative is that you find who can keep the pets for at least a while.
If you choose to stay it would probably save as lot of trouble if you chip ijn together and buy some ant treatment that is not toxic to pets or people and use it yourselves (it's usually under $10).
There are some things that it is very appropriate to call home and ask parents advice about. This is one of them. |||Here is a web site that may help you with the answers. Go on www. tenant.net. They are a good resource site for you. You can also google your state and landlord tenant laws.
Your landlord cannot change the contract without at least 30 days notice. If you had a lease, he can't change anything unless the lease is up or he gives you notice he is adding onto the lease. He can't throw you out in 3 days. You can make him evict you, which could stall for about 6 months. If there is no way you can talk to him and let you stay, you will have to move, but, he can't get you out that quick. He will have to go through the eviction process.
Definitely check out those sites. He is responsible for exterminating, you have the right to be messy as long as you aren't violating any health codes. Ants like wood and if the building is made of wood, you will likely have ants.
Good luck!|||First off I would prob. put the pets in boarding or with a friend for a few days till early next week to get this sorted out. If the terms of the pets and the fees were in the lease they cannot change the terms by merely deciding to do so. It is sad, but so many of these complexes that cater to college students seem to take advantage of them, mostly by means of intimidation. The fact is most state laws are extremely tenant friendly and protect you above the landlord. You will have to check your state's landlord tenant act or statutes, but in most states there is a series of events that need to occur and the passage of a lot of time before the landlord could come in and take your pets out or evict you, so if they do anything wrong let them know you will sue them, and def. don't let them push you around, there is nothing they can do without court orders and the court sending a cop to come make you leave, but that takes weeks, and you will have notices prior to each series of events that takes place in the eviction process. That three day notice means nothing more than have your pets out within three days or we will then take legal action, it does not mean that you have to be out or the pets do within 3 days. And yes, they put that there at 4 pm on Friday strategically and to ruin your weekend. Additionally, state statutes determine how time is calculated, not the landlord, so most likely three days is three business days, not weekends. If your lease says that you can have pets and you have proof of payment of a pet deposit it is obvious they agreed to you having the pets, they cannot change the terms of the lease without your consent or court approval. Don't sign anything or agree to anything with them without legal assistance, they may try and get you to agree to new terms by invoking fear in you of powers they don't have. Unortunately most colleges see this happen very very often, so most colleges offer free or very affordable legal services to students, often as part of your tuition, additionally many areas have free or super cheap legal services clinics, and most county courthouses have attorneys that can answer state law specific questions for you and can look at your lease. I know in my county you can see a county attorney for like $20 in 15 min. blocks to answer these types of questions to help people represent themselves in matters like this. You may also want to call local attorneys, search online for legal services like I have said in your county, or ask someone in a student service office of the college, they usually have services, or on staff attorneys, or alumni attorneys who will help free or cheap. The schools do not like to see their students taken advantage of which many complexes do, and if you are telling the correct facts, this seems like that case. Don't fret about it now, enjoy your weekend, give your place a good scrubbing and don't let them push you around. If anything you may be the one who can sue them for not providing you with a sanitary place against statutes if you aren't causing the bugs and they aren't remedying it. Don't let them push you around, most of the power is in your hand, let them know that and odds are they will back down and move onto the next person they can take advantage of, they play the numbers game and unfortunately most people cave and pay them money.|||Wow! I'm a landlord, but I do volunteer work with folks who live in apartments and need a 'go-between' with their landlords in disputes. So I am coming from both sides!
First of all, how bad is your apartment? The landlord in me cringes at 4 cats and a pup! Does the place smell bad? You need a disinterested 'third party' to come in and assess the smell!
Also, how messy is the place? You refer to "dishes in the sink." But how about the rest of the place? REALLY?
Now, let the volunteer/advocate kick in. Re-read your lease. If you have paid the pet deposit/ apt. deposit/ and rent on time, there is really not much that can be done to put you out. The landlord cannot 'change horses in the middle of the stream' and decide that he wants a bigger pet deposit or change the pet policy after the fact. However, when your lease is up, you may be on the street!
Your big mistake was inviting the landlord into your unit with the complaint about the ants. You should have gotten a can of Ant Spray from Walmart %26amp; taken care of it yourselves. Never, ever, invite the landlord into your unit unless everything is shipshape %26amp; smelling good!
In conclusion, I think that y'all are okay for the rest of your lease, but should sure be looking for new digs before it expires.
Good luck!
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