How are new tenants chosen? It sounds like you are actually roommates and not in completely separate apartments. Current roommates should be able to screen new roommates. |
OP here, the tenant across the hall is also new, been here about 4 months so before the upstairs people. We've talked (they entered his unit without telling him but he knew because they left the lights on) and while he is not happy with these people, he is reluctant to get involved in a dispute with them. So I've tried to honor his request and handle this on my own. |
It's described in my lease as a roommate situation alleviating the landlord of all normal protocol in a standard rental agreement. I know my bad, I signed, it was a great deal. However we all have separate units with locks and the downstairs people have a separate entrance. Look I said it was a unique living situation. Not even sure of what the zoning is here. But that's another subject. |
That's not an answer. How many times has this happened? |
I live in a similar type of situation and have my mail delivered to a post office box. It's a hassle and not ideal, but it's a solution to the problem. All mail is kept secure, no one opening credit card offers or new cards that come, packages aren't left out to be stolen or rained on etc. Just get a PO Box and call it good. These people sound like complete nightmares. |
FFS, and this is why you don't have multiple families living in a SINGLE family home. |
Times that I know of? Opening of mail? Packages moved to an exposed location different from the location they were actually delivered too? Who knows? It's hard to prove a negative. They have opened our packages three times that we know of over a period of time and the last two were after reprimand. |
See I know you're right, but it pisses me off! I've lived here with two other lovely families and we all communicated with and respected each other and it was a nice place to live. I know, I know, who moved my cheese and all but still. |
SSSSHHH, you're gonna get us all kicked out onto the streets ![]() |
I've had my current box for about 6 yrs and what's nice is I don't have to change my address when I move. You can't put a price on that. |
HOnestly, OP, it seems like you're overreacting. Yes it's annoying that they have opened your packages and put them in the elements. I think they're retaliating against you. But it's an easy problem to solve - ship your packages somewhere else. Like PPs have said, I've accidentally opened my neighbors' packages a couple of times (Amazon prime boxes) and I apologized, wrote a note, and it wasn't a big deal. Maybe you overreacted the first time and now they're doing it out of spite? Either way, they're kind of being jerks but you need to disengage. |
This sounds like a mess all around. First, I bet that none of the units are legal. You can complain all you want to the landlord (who at least seems to be trying), but the last thing he probably wants to do is make waves and bring his property to the attention of city officials. You don't want that either, since you would be promptly displaced. Under the circumstances, I don't know if the landlord could evict these people even if he wanted to and had grounds to do so (doesn't sound like it). Not that it really matters, since it's basically impossible to evict people in DC. I really don't see that you have any option here other than to stay or move out. Next time move to a legal apartment and sign a valid lease, one that makes clear everyone's responsibilities and that protects you as a tenant. |
Tell your landlord you're going to start making complaints to the police about these neighbors. I bet this is what will make the landlord take action, because there are probably a few illegalities in the house/tenant set-up that he/she does not want anyone official to notice. |
OP here and thanks. My logical brain told me what you said awhile back. If our home were to be declared illegal zoning and we could be kicked out, how soon would that happen? I'm not the only one who lives here. Wouldn't the upstairs people be displaced as well? |
OP here and I am not calling the police for a non-emergency situation. |