horror landlord stories

I heard of a landlord who charged extra fees for the most ridiculous things. A tenant had a small plant on the balcony, and the landlord claimed it was 'decorative damage' and added a huge amount to the rent. It was like a nightmare for the tenant, constantly worried about what new charge would come up next.

There was a case where a landlord entered the tenant's apartment without any notice. He would just barge in whenever he felt like it, claiming he had the right to check on the property. The tenant felt so violated and unsafe in their own home. It was a nightmare for them. They had to constantly be on guard, not knowing when the landlord would show up unannounced.

One of the scariest aspects is the invasion of privacy. Just like the landlord who entered without permission.

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.

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.

There are landlords who suddenly increase the rent by a huge amount without proper notice. For example, a tenant might be paying a reasonable amount one month, and then the next month the landlord demands double the rent with no valid reason like improvements to the property. This leaves the tenant in a difficult situation, either having to pay an unaffordable amount or look for a new place to live in a hurry.

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.

One landlord horror story is when the landlord refused to fix a leaking roof. It rained heavily and water was dripping into the living room, ruining the furniture. Despite multiple requests, he just ignored it. Another time, a landlord entered the tenant's apartment without permission while they were away. It made the tenant feel very violated. Also, there was a case where a landlord suddenly increased the rent by a huge amount in the middle of the lease term without any valid reason.

One of the worst landlord horror stories I've heard was about a landlord who refused to fix a leaking roof. It rained constantly, and the tenant's belongings got soaked. The landlord just ignored the calls and messages about the problem.

Sure. One landlord horror story I know is that the landlord suddenly increased the rent by a huge amount without any prior notice. The tenant was already on a tight budget and couldn't afford the new rent. Another one is that the landlord refused to fix a broken heating system during the cold winter, leaving the tenant freezing in the apartment.