crazy landlord

[rachel4]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois

hello. I have been paying $2000 a month for 2 yrs to rent a home, we are good tenants, neighbors love us, yes sometimes we pay late but always pay before end of month since my husband lost his job 1.5 yrs ago (works side jobs now along with my fulltime job). The owner recently broke a verbal agreement to continue to rent to us for the next 2 yrs because she has suddenly decided to try to sell the house. I refused her offer to stay renting month to month while she "stages" the home with my furnishings and walks strangers thru as prospective buyers while me and my kids still live there. unfortunately we cannot afford to purchase the home ourselves and besides that she is asking way too much --the home did not sell before 2 yrs ago and sat on the market until we rented from her). I do not trust her now and suspect she will keep my $2000 security deposit and don't want to pay May's rent because of that. Also, I installed granite countertops with a verbal agreement from her that she would pay for at least 1/2 (paid $1200 total), she is refusing to pay now. I think she may even try to kick us out before June maybe even change the locks in order to get $$ from us. What are my rights please? She is known to her ex neighbors here as a heavy drinker with police at her house all the time, and the police have actually come to the house late at night looking for her ex husband since we moved in 2 yrs ago!! please advise--we are determined to be out in a new place by June 1st but she will try to blackball us I'm sure (if she can)

thanks.
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[atomizer]

Pay your rent on time and you won't get kicked out.
Once your lease runs out, your LL can give you the appropriate notice to leave. It will be much sooner if you refuse to pay your rent. Verbal agreements are useless and should never be entered into.

 

[JETX]

I do not trust her now and suspect she will keep my $2000 security deposit and don't want to pay May's rent because of that.

What you 'suspect' or what you 'want' has absolutely NOTHING to do with anything. Pay your rent on time.....

Also, I installed granite countertops with a verbal agreement from her that she would pay for at least 1/2 (paid $1200 total), she is refusing to pay now.

HUGE mistake to spend ANYTHING upgrading property that you don't own.... without at LEAST a WRITTEN agreement as to compensation. Consider that one a lost cause.

I think she may even try to kick us out before June maybe even change the locks in order to get $$ from us. What are my rights please?

You're 'rights' are just the same as any other month-to-month tenant. You pay your rent on time in full.... you get to stay there for the next month. You miss (breach) your agreement, you are IMMEDIATELY subject to termination of your tenancy.
And yes, you have the 'right' to pursue improper (if any) deductions from your security deposit.
You have NO 'special rights' to anything.

She is known to her ex neighbors here as a heavy drinker with police at her house all the time, and the police have actually come to the house late at night looking for her ex husband since we moved in 2 yrs ago!!

Not relevant.... and didn't seem to bother you BEFORE!!!

 

[rachel4]

wow, do the genius members in here even READ the posts? paying my rent a few times late in 2 yrs was never an issue BEFORE now. She said so herself and just offered ANOTHER 2 year lease with us less than 2 weeks ago in SPITE of some late pays!! And now all of a sudden she is backing out and wants to sell, b/c she is in financial trouble herself. She also refused to show me a statement showing she has held my security deposit in a separate account because she PROBABLY SPENT IT! On alcohol probably HAHA! way to defend her people.

thanks for the useless free advice in here though, LOL!

 

[BL]

You were advised of your legal rights .

Nothing verbal will hold in court .

Follow your State's laws when you vacate .

 

[rachel4]

Pay your rent on time and you won't get kicked out.
Once your lease runs out, your LL can give you the appropriate notice to leave. It will be much sooner if you refuse to pay your rent. Verbal agreements are useless and should never be entered into.

um, no one is getting "kicked out" in fact, it's the opposite. she is po'd b/c I am refusing to STAY while she attempts to sell the home again--she wants to show the home with my furniture in it, she wants $$$ for rent until she SELLS.... what i SAID was I am afraid she will retailiate by locking us out b/c I am not paying May's rent and will be out by June 1st. i will eat the countertops (maybe) but I will not lose $2k security deposit. would you?

 

[atomizer]

um, no one is getting "kicked out" in fact, it's the opposite. she is po'd b/c I am refusing to STAY while she attempts to sell the home again--she wants to show the home with my furniture in it, she wants $$$ for rent until she SELLS.... what i SAID was I am afraid she will retailiate by locking us out b/c I am not paying May's rent and will be out by June 1st. i will eat the countertops (maybe) but I will not lose $2k security deposit. would you?

By not paying your rent it is almost a sure thing that you will be kicked out before June. You will lose part of your deposit, incur late fees, court fees and possibly attorney fees. You will also be the proud owner of a bad tenant record that can be accessed by any landlord considering you for tenancy. Maybe you can plead stupidity in front of the judge. I bet the judge would agree that to be the case.

 

[rachel4]

By not paying your rent it is almost a sure thing that you will be kicked out before June. You will lose part of your deposit, incur late fees, court fees and possibly attorney fees. You will also be the proud owner of a bad tenant record that can be accessed by any landlord considering you for tenancy. Maybe you can plead stupidity in front of the judge. I bet the judge would agree that to be the case.

plead stupidity? what a stupid comment, lol excuse me ATOMIZER but have you ever heard of such a thing as a bad landlord?? tenants don't have to be pushed around standing by while people like her spend their security deposits. THAT is illegal. I have the right to see proof that she is holding my security deposit for me and she comes up with every excuse in the world not to show it to me. She promised to pay for 1/2 the countertops and now is reneging. The police have come to our door late at night looking for HER exhusband. She has come over drunk just to be nosy. Maybe you relate or something..?? fyi I have already put a deposit down on another home, bigger, nicer and CHEAPER than this one, so I guess all your nonsense about being the proud owner of a bad tenant record is just that--nonsense. It's annoying to be so off base, isn't it? haha!

 

[atomizer]

plead stupidity? what a stupid comment, lol excuse me ATOMIZER but have you ever heard of such a thing as a bad landlord?? tenants don't have to be pushed around standing by while people like her spend their security deposits. THAT is illegal. I have the right to see proof that she is holding my security deposit for me and she comes up with every excuse in the world not to show it to me. She promised to pay for 1/2 the countertops and now is reneging. The police have come to our door late at night looking for HER exhusband. She has come over drunk just to be nosy. Maybe you relate or something..?? fyi I have already put a deposit down on another home, bigger, nicer and CHEAPER than this one, so I guess all your nonsense about being the proud owner of a bad tenant record is just that--nonsense. It's annoying to be so off base, isn't it? haha!

She promised to pay for 1/2 the countertops and now is reneging.

Your bad! It was stupid for you to install a new countertop on your LL's property. That counter legally belongs to the LL now.

he police have come to our door late at night looking for HER exhusband.

So what? Tell them he doesn't live there!

She has come over drunk just to be nosy.

Irrelevant If you don't want guests, don't open the door.

Maybe you relate or something..??

As a matter of fact, I do. I too have stupid tenants that sometimes think I cannot enter or show a home with notice. I too have had tenants that think they can use the SD as last months rent.

I have already put a deposit down on another home, bigger, nicer and CHEAPER than this one,

Good! Better stay there for 5 or more years, because that's how long it might take for you to clean up your record.

I guess all your nonsense about being the proud owner of a bad tenant record is just that--nonsense. It's annoying to be so off base, isn't it? haha

Not really, don't pay your rent and find out. Yes, it is annoying to find someone so parochial and unyielding in face of the facts. Go to your state landlord website and know your rights before you proceed with your stupid plan.

 

[rachel4]

Your bad! It was stupid for you to install a new countertop on your LL's property. That counter legally belongs to the LL now.



So what? Tell them he doesn't live there!


Irrelevant If you don't want guests, don't open the door.


As a matter of fact, I do. I too have stupid tenants that sometimes think I cannot enter or show a home with notice. I too have had tenants that think they can use the SD as last months rent.



Good! Better stay there for 5 or more years, because that's how long it might take for you to clean up your record.



Not really, don't pay your rent and find out. Yes, it is annoying to find someone so parochial and unyielding in face of the facts. Go to your state landlord website and know your rights before you proceed with your stupid plan.

wow. ok 1st, can you stop personalizing this please? I am NOT one of your "stupid" tenants. Judging by the apparent disrespect you have for all tenants (including me) you must be a JOY to have for a landlord. It so happens that this woman is a realtor who practically begged us to rent her home hoping we would buy it for some outrageous listing price. I have ZERO respect for her as I do for all unscrupulous realtors I have met just like her--she should get a real job. As a matter of fact, her ex neighbors (she used to live in this house before renting to us) cannot STAND her and just today advised me and my husband to "do whatever needs to be done to fight her, take her to court," whatever it takes to keep keep us in the house and neighborhood. Too late, we are moving on.
And while I try to mind my own biz I have heard horror stories about this woman over and over again form her ex neighbors. So, if you could stop calling me stupid for a second maybe you can be honest for a minute and at least admit there are some bad landlords out there. Maybe YOU don't spend up your tenant's security deposits and go back on verbal agreements or show up drunk in the driveway (or maybe you do, haha, who knows right?) but this woman does and she will regret her actions. I'm guessing she already does...here's an idea, next time you want to invade your tenant's privacy by traipsing prospective buyers thru their home, think about how YOU would feel. Tenants have rights BECAUSE of landlords like you and this crazy woman.

 

[Searchertwin]

Everything that Atomizer stated is correct. You are being to stubborn headed to listen, which will be your downfall. You dislike the LL and that is your problem not hers. Also how she lives is no concern of yours, BUT you are making it your business hoping to show that she is "bad" and you are "good". Doesn't work that way. Your posting alone show the mentally that you have.
I do not have to show a tenant that I have x amount of sec money to them unless I am collecting interest, that a different story.
You stated, "she wants to show the home with my furniture in it, she wants $$$ for rent until she SELLS".
How could she show the house and STILL want her money. Doesn't sound right to me. Let me see, if I show my house, do I have to pay the mortgage? That's all that mortgage company wants is $$$$ till I sell. I refuse to pay and they won't foreclose on me or will they? HMMMM
Stop your griping and do what is right and you won't get evicted and have a history on your record. But you deserve to have a eviction record but wait you stated, "so I guess all your nonsense about being the proud owner of a bad tenant record is just that--nonsense. It's annoying to be so off base, isn't it". HMMMMM Nonsense???? Time will tell.
What made you so mad at her, Oh, I know, she didn't share her drinks.

 

[Gail in Georgia]

What in the world??? Does one really believe they won't be evicted for owed rent because they have a tomato plant growing in the back yard?

The bottom line...it does not sound as if the OP has a written lease with the landlord. The landlord has offered a month to month tenancy which the OP has rejected. Thus, the tenancy has ended and the OP can move on with adequate notice and the payment of rent for May.

The concern that the realtor will withhold the security deposit is just an assumption. Failure to pay rent for May based on this will likely result in the initiation of an eviction; not a pretty thing to go through.

Far better to pay the rent for May, find another place, move out before the end of the month and wait for the return of the security deposit as required by Illinois law and as outlined below:

Illinois Security Deposits

The rest of the information the OP presented (i.e., the landlord drinks, she refuses a verbal agreement to pay for half of granite countertops) is irrelevant.

Gail

 

[rachel4]

Everything that Atomizer stated is correct. You are being to stubborn headed to listen, which will be your downfall. You dislike the LL and that is your problem not hers. Also how she lives is no concern of yours, BUT you are making it your business hoping to show that she is "bad" and you are "good". Doesn't work that way. Your posting alone show the mentally that you have.
I do not have to show a tenant that I have x amount of sec money to them unless I am collecting interest, that a different story.
You stated, "she wants to show the home with my furniture in it, she wants $$$ for rent until she SELLS".
How could she show the house and STILL want her money. Doesn't sound right to me. Let me see, if I show my house, do I have to pay the mortgage? That's all that mortgage company wants is $$$$ till I sell. I refuse to pay and they won't foreclose on me or will they? HMMMM
Stop your griping and do what is right and you won't get evicted and have a history on your record. But you deserve to have a eviction record but wait you stated, "so I guess all your nonsense about being the proud owner of a bad tenant record is just that--nonsense. It's annoying to be so off base, isn't it". HMMMMM Nonsense???? Time will tell.
What made you so mad at her, [B]Oh, I know, she didn't share her drinks.[/B]

"Oh, I know, she didn't share her drinks" seriously? is that all you got? you must be a landlord too OR a realtor. either one. they both aren't real jobs LOL

 

[atomizer]

It so happens that this woman is a realtor who practically begged us to rent her home hoping we would buy it for some outrageous listing price. I have ZERO respect for her as I do for all unscrupulous realtors I have met just like her--she should get a real job.

So, you are saying that she may be guilty of not properly screening her tenants and foolishly rented to an undesirable? Is that her sin? Your LL does not need your respect nor does she care whether or not you place any value in her occupation. All that is legally required is that you pay your rent, keep the lease terms and allow the showing of the home as is her right!

As a matter of fact, her ex neighbors (she used to live in this house before renting to us) cannot STAND her and just today advised me and my husband to "do whatever needs to be done to fight her, take her to court," whatever it takes to keep keep us in the house and neighborhood. Too late, we are moving on.

Really, and is that the legal standing you will be using when you stand before the judge? Who cares what your neighborhood friends or your posse thinks? Would they feel the same if they owned the property and had you as a non paying tenant living for free on their property?

but this woman does and she will regret her actions. I'm guessing she already does...here's an idea, next time you want to invade your tenant's privacy by traipsing prospective buyers thru their home, think about how YOU would feel. Tenants have rights BECAUSE of landlords like you and this crazy woman.

To knock on someones door while intoxicated is not illegal. Maybe in poor taste and unprofessional but not illegal. If you plan to not pay May's rent because she wanted to show the house, you better look up your state laws. She is entitled to show the house. Yes, even if you your furniture still there. As for your deposit, you are entitled to an accounting of it within 30 days AFTER you vacate the property.I am sure the judge will point that out to you.

 

[rachel4]

So, you are saying that she may be guilty of not properly screening her tenants and foolishly rented to an undesirable? Is that her sin? Your LL does not need your respect nor does she care whether or not you place any value in her occupation. All that is legally required is that you pay your rent, keep the lease terms and allow the showing of the home as is her right!


Really, and is that the legal standing you will be using when you stand before the judge? Who cares what your neighborhood friends or your posse thinks? Would they feel the same if they owned the property and had you as a non paying tenant living for free on their property?



To knock on someones door while intoxicated is not illegal. Maybe in poor taste and unprofessional but not illegal. If you plan to not pay May's rent because she wanted to show the house, you better look up your state laws. She is entitled to show the house. Yes, even if you your furniture still there. As for your deposit, you are entitled to an accounting of it within 30 days AFTER you vacate the property.I am sure the judge will point that out to you.

ATOMIZER you are so lame. you keep saying the same landlord-y things and it's boring. once again, I am NOT YOUR tenant. I pay my rent EVERY MONTH. ON TIME, a few time late so what? Things happen, I pay the late fee. I am NOT PAYING THIS CRAZY UNSCRUPULOUS LAZY CAN'T GET A REAL JOB REALTOR May's rent so she can trump up some BS complaints against us to justify keeping my 2k security deposit. You'll have to accept that buddy (sorry ) and so will she. Landlords like you always try to steal $$ from their honest tenants and you never keep your word to fix things like furnaces and hot water heaters and plumbing--just like this crazy landlord. I have known people who have had their security deposits kept by landlords just like her. I should have known better than to come to a "free advice" forum...you jokers all sit at your pc's and pretend to dole out"professional" advice cuz you have nothing better to do, AND you all back each other up--how touching! Like I said before, there are tenant laws because of bad landlords, like you and your buds in here...I bet you feel really powerful calling your own tenants who YOU rent to to pay YOUR rent/mortgage "stupid" LAME I think my work is done in here, LOL