Can my landlord do this? I'm so mad!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not legally valid because it was handwritten? I've heard that one before - when manager was trying to take advantage of a foreign-born individual. That's pretty low and total BS. Corporate should be aware of what the manager is doing. She's a lawsuit waiting to happen and if she's treating you like this imagine what she does to people with less education and fewer resources. I'd be torn between:

1. Asking one last time for a complete copy of the leasing documents and. Let her know if they're not provided she is in violation of the law and that you will be reporting her to the local housing authority and corporate.

2. Reporting her refusal to provide the documents and her statement that your handwritten pet addendum isn't legal to the local housing authority and to corporate. Then asking her for the documents and telling her you reported them.

Agree- you can also report a fair housing complaint to HUD- even though not sure if a dog falls under this technically - my stepson's mother had this same issue, and she contacted HUD, and HUD began an investigation. Just the beginnings of something like this would not delight any mgmt company.

You might even bluff a bit and let her know you've already talked to a lawyer and you'll be reporting her actions to her management, HUD, and local HA if she does not comply. I think HUD office on Fair Housing may be more helpful than local HA.

If I were the apt owner (and I work with them through work) I'd be WAY more concerned about a renegade employee than making once exception to my dog rule. To any reasonable owner of the property (corporate OR individual) the employee's actions are a WAY bigger issue than your dog.

[Anonymous]

Those property management companies are horrible. Truly horrible. A couple of years ago we sold our house and decided to rent for a while as we were moving from MD to VA and weren't completely sure where we wanted to settle. For the first time in over ten years we found ourselves renting an apartment run by one of those large property management companies. It was a brand new facility, truly beautiful and it amazed me they had a very young woman fresh out of college running the entire property. It was obvious she had no experience or idea how to manage the property. She spent most of her time in the office flirting with the maintenance guys. It was also very clear she was used to tenants who were young and inexperienced themselves or foreigners. It is amazing these management companies don't face more lawsuits as they seem to do lots of shady things.

Good luck -- listen to the advice you've received.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, they can't do that. By putting it in the lease and accepting your deposit, they approved you have a dog in excess of the size restriction. They might get a little snippy but they can't evict you. You have a contract and there is consideration. If that doesn't shut them up, post back here and we can walk you through the next steps.

Can anyone with knowledge in this advice me? I have requested a copy of my lease verbally last week and by email early this morning and have received no reply whatsoever. can they just refuse to give me copies of what I submitted? I just want to know what my rights are here... thanks

[Anonymous]

If you submitted paperwork and didn't keep a copy, there's not much you can do if they throw it away or refuse to give it back to you. How are you going to prove that it was in writing?

[Anonymous]

" If you submitted paperwork and didn't keep a copy, there's not much you can do if they throw it away or refuse to give it back to you. How are you going to prove that it was in writing? "

Untrue. Don't always assume that the judge will believe the other side, especially if they are lying. If the OP documents with dates and specifics, contacts a lawyer and is as precise and consistent in her account as possible chances are the judge would see through the attempt at lying on the other side. They also need to explain why they gave you a key and had you move in without having you sign a lease which would lend credibility to your statement.

[Anonymous]

The are charging me pet rent and collected a $300 pet deposit so I can prove they have a Pet Addendum, which I filled out as part of my lease and returned to them. If they just toss that page out they will need to come up with another one to replace it... otherwise how can they justify taking my pet deposit? My dog is also listed in the approval letter they sent me by email and I do have that. I did not keep copies of the lease because they had not signed it yet so it was worthless. I asked for copies and they said once they had signed all the pages, they would make copies and give them to me. It's been 13 days...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:" If you submitted paperwork and didn't keep a copy, there's not much you can do if they throw it away or refuse to give it back to you. How are you going to prove that it was in writing? "

Untrue. Don't always assume that the judge will believe the other side, especially if they are lying. If the OP documents with dates and specifics, contacts a lawyer and is as precise and consistent in her account as possible chances are the judge would see through the attempt at lying on the other side. They also need to explain why they gave you a key and had you move in without having you sign a lease which would lend credibility to your statement.

I did sign a lease. And returned all pages with signatures and initials on the day they gave me the key. THEY did not sign it in front of me, she said she would do it later that day and provide me copies of everything. When she called me last Friday to tell me I needed to move out she had obviously not signed my lease yet because she said she would sign and give me copies of everything EXCEPT the pet addendum. She said she would not sign that because I had handwritten some info and that made it void. that's when I started feeling like something is off...

[Anonymous]

OP here again - I'd really like to know if I have the right to demand a copy of my lease or if legally they are entitled to deny it. thanks

[Anonymous]

Sorry OP but no sympathy from me.

You knew going in what the apartment rules were and you knew they were bending them and you even had an office person say "oh yeah just do it and it will be ok...forget what the lease says..."

Once you realized the dog needed to stay with you, you should have found a rental that could accomodate you and the dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry OP but no sympathy from me.

You knew going in what the apartment rules were and you knew they were bending them and you even had an office person say "oh yeah just do it and it will be ok...forget what the lease says..."

Once you realized the dog needed to stay with you, you should have found a rental that could accomodate you and the dog.

I knew what the apartment general rules were and when I realized I had to keep the dog for a while I discussed it with them. This was weeks BEFORE signiing or paying anything. They agreed to make an exception and let my dog stay. I put it in my lease and paid all the fees and rent and that is what my lease states.... If they had told me before signing the lease that my dog could not stay I would have found another place. I agreed to stay under the terms of my lease (the one I signed and gave them, not the one they are trying to make me resign). Where did I do something wrong here?

[Anonymous]

I've had nightmare tenants with a destructive dog that was NOT supposed to be in our condo rental. OP is being sneaky and wrong and it will bite her in the ass one way or another. I would not get legal advice on DCUM, BTW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had nightmare tenants with a destructive dog that was NOT supposed to be in our condo rental. OP is being sneaky and wrong and it will bite her in the ass one way or another. I would not get legal advice on DCUM, BTW.

how is OP being sneaky? if the dog is in the lease and the apartment complex is collecting pet rent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had nightmare tenants with a destructive dog that was NOT supposed to be in our condo rental. OP is being sneaky and wrong and it will bite her in the ass one way or another. I would not get legal advice on DCUM, BTW.

You must not have read OP's full post. Or you are stupid. The leasing company accepted the dog in the LEASE and TOOK HER PET DEPOSIT AND PET RENT.

READ, MORONS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry OP but no sympathy from me.

You knew going in what the apartment rules were and you knew they were bending them and you even had an office person say "oh yeah just do it and it will be ok...forget what the lease says..."

Once you realized the dog needed to stay with you, you should have found a rental that could accomodate you and the dog.

I knew what the apartment general rules were and when I realized I had to keep the dog for a while I discussed it with them. This was weeks BEFORE signiing or paying anything. They agreed to make an exception and let my dog stay. I put it in my lease and paid all the fees and rent and that is what my lease states.... If they had told me before signing the lease that my dog could not stay I would have found another place. I agreed to stay under the terms of my lease (the one I signed and gave them, not the one they are trying to make me resign). Where did I do something wrong here?

You did something wrong when you didn't walk away when you knew their policies didn't fit with what you needed.

You did something wrong when you didn't get anything in writting - you admit that you do not have a signed copy - signed by both parties in the agreement- of a lease that includes a pet addendum.

If you don't want to move again, you could: 1) call tomorrow and ask them to put your options in writting with a signature and then fax or email a copy to you and then also ask them to send a hardcopy. If that's too hard for them, tell them you will come pick it up, 2) Call the Landlord/Tenant office in your county/city and ask what rights you have, if any, as a tenant, and 3) Request a signed copy of your lease be given to you tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: You did something wrong when you didn't walk away when you knew their policies didn't fit with what you needed.

You did something wrong when you didn't get anything in writting - you admit that you do not have a signed copy - signed by both parties in the agreement- of a lease that includes a pet addendum.

You not only can't read, you're an idiot.