Another common one is when landlords use false accusations to evict tenants. They might claim the tenant has damaged the property when it's not true. I heard of a case where a landlord said a tenant had painted the walls without permission when in fact the walls were in the same state as when the tenant moved in. The tenant had to fight in court to prove their innocence.
I knew a tenant who was always on time with rent. But the landlord wanted to renovate the building to sell it at a higher price. So, the landlord started to make the tenant's life miserable by cutting off utilities randomly. Eventually, the tenant was forced to leave under duress. It was really unfair as the tenant had done nothing wrong.
Often, miscommunication plays a big role. The landlord might not clearly communicate the rules or expectations, and the tenant might unknowingly break them, leading to eviction. Also, financial problems of the landlord can cause issues. If the landlord is facing foreclosure, they may evict tenants even if the tenants have done nothing wrong. This can be a real horror for the tenants who are suddenly left without a home.
In many eviction horror stories, landlords may have false accusations. For example, they might claim damages that the tenant didn't actually cause. Sometimes, there are issues with the lease renewal process. The landlord may not be clear about renewal terms or may not want to renew for no good reason. Also, if there are problems with neighbors complaining a lot about a tenant, this can sometimes be a cause for an eviction attempt by the landlord.
One horror story could be a landlord who was relying on rental income to pay their mortgage. With the eviction moratorium, tenants who could afford to pay but took advantage of the situation stopped paying. The landlord couldn't evict them legally and faced the threat of foreclosure. It was a nightmare for the landlord who was just trying to make an honest living.
Common elements often include landlords being unresponsive. For instance, when tenants report issues, the landlord simply ignores them. Bad communication is also a big part. Some landlords are very difficult to reach or don't communicate clearly about important matters such as lease renewals or changes in terms. And then there is the issue of illegal eviction attempts. Landlords may try to force tenants out without proper legal procedures just because they can get more money from new tenants.
One common element is lack of proper maintenance. Like landlords not fixing broken appliances or plumbing issues. Another is invasion of privacy, such as entering the rental property without notice. And unfair rent increases also feature often, where landlords raise the rent without valid justification.
In many scary landlord stories, the landlord's over - controlling behavior stands out. They might restrict the tenants' normal use of the property, for example, not allowing them to have guests. Also, landlords who don't respect the lease terms are common. They break the agreed - upon rules regarding things like the length of the lease or the deposit amount. This can cause a great deal of stress for the tenants.
One common factor in eviction stories is property damage. If tenants cause significant damage to the rental property, the landlord may evict them. Also, illegal activities on the premises can lead to eviction. For example, if a tenant is using the apartment for drug dealing, the landlord will surely want them out. In some cases, the end of a lease term without renewal can also result in eviction, especially if the landlord has other plans for the property.
One eviction horror story is when a family was suddenly evicted in the middle of winter. They had nowhere to go and had to stay in their car for a while. The children were freezing and they lost a lot of their belongings which were thrown out on the street.
Unfair fees are also common. Landlords might try to squeeze extra money out of tenants for things that are not their responsibility. And there are also cases where landlords are extremely unresponsive to tenant requests. Tenants might have a legitimate problem, like a broken window that needs fixing, and the landlord just doesn't care and takes forever to do anything about it. This can make the living situation really difficult for the tenant. In some cases, it can even be dangerous, like if the broken window is a security risk.