proba tive org archived entry

[Eventually, this will be part of a planned but as yet unrealized Landlordly Tales portion of the new, improved proba.tive.org (Steph's blog is prettier than mine and that's just not right ;-) also in the pseudo planning stages.]

My current landlord (the one I blogged about a day or so ago and who likes to remind me that that's who he is when he calls or leaves a message - "This is [name name], your landlord calling") sent me this email message today.

The roof on the property is being redone next week. It will require for no cars to be parked in the driveway. They are scheduled to begin on Monday and work until Wednesday inclusively.

If there is a change because of rain they may delay for one day or so. I will keep you informed of the situation.

We are sorry for the inconvenience, but it needs to be done and it is better than to have leaking ceilings.

Thank you for your understanding

You already know that I am fresh out of "understanding" so here's my reply. Pay attention you neophyte tenants, there be lessons here!

What would you suggest I do with my car? If I park on the road for the length of time you are suggesting I will very likely get a few tickets. The neighbouring property owner agreed to pay any parking tickets when she requested I move my car for her roof to be done. Are you willing to do that for myself and the other tenant who normally enjoy ticket-free parking?

The neighbour's roof took required the driveway clear of vehicles for only one day. The job you describe sounds much less well-defined. There is no indication in your communication regarding when work will start and stop each day or whether the car(s) are to be off the driveway the whole time. Please see what you can do to make this less problematic for me. How will I know whether or not the workers are coming on a given day? How will I know when they are finished? Are you willing to pay for my tickets for the whole week?

I expect notices for such things to comply with the Tenant Protection Act - in writing, 24 hours in advance and have specifics such as the answers to the questions I have just posed.

While we're on the subject, yesterday there were several rounds of unanticipated loud pounding on my door. It startled me to the point that if it had occurred again I was going to call the police. Your phone messages put it in context, but I was still dealing with the panic reaction and more than a little steamed that you hadn't seen fit to inform me before hand.

This is unnecessary and unwarranted. I have no intention of honouring unknown persons knocking on my door by opening it for them. For that matter, I have no way to view the person (no peephole) and no chain to secure the door so I can speak to them. What would you do were I to send someone unannounced to your door and have them pound on it repeatedly? Would you be feeling cooperative after that? I surely wasn't.

When I rented this apartment in March, you stated several times that you didn't want to be a slum landlord. There were plans stated to improve the backyard, put in a trash can "shed", put a storage shed in the back and replace the windows. It was all very encouraging and I was extremely cooperative in accomodating your workmen's schedules in hopes that it would all be completed soon and I could relax in peace and quiet.

Instead, there is still a mud patch at the back of the property with construction materials stored against the fence. The grass and weeds reached the height of my shoulder and nothing was done about cutting them until I finally mentioned it to George. And then yesterday a disturbance of my quiet enjoyment. I am very glad I wasn't in the middle of a phone interview for a job because it sounded for all the world like the place was being broken into by force. There is no doorbell and people seem to think it helps to bang louder and louder if I don't answer immediately.

From now on, I will expect 24 hours notice in writing (in my mail box) of any need you have to access my apartment or restrict my parking rights.

If you don't see the lesson, add a comment and I'll elucidate. [Sheesh, look at my brain sans narcotics - big words and everything. Only one little cut and paste error in my email, too. Oh, and a spelling mistake. Yeah yeah...]

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