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Finding a new place to live in is quite a task in itself, but for some people, the struggle doesn't end there. There are landlords who create such a toxic environment, their tenants' everyday life becomes a neverending misery. From installing secret surveillance cameras to ignoring ceiling leaks, these greedy bastards are full of dirty tricks.

Bored Panda has compiled this list to prove that you should always remain skeptical when hunting for an apartment. One thing's for sure, though, those sly foxes are definitely know how to save a penny.

However, even the worst landlords have to try real hard to come close to Steven Croman. He spent decades flipping rent-controlled Manhattan apartment buildings, buying them cheap and having his employees remove the apartment's occupants. Croman's employees referred to the tenants as 'targets,' and were competing to push out the most as they would receive a bonus for each tenant they forced out.

#2

My Landlord Pretended To Do Work In The Flat But Ended Up Installing This 360° Wifi Surveillance Camera Which Also Records Audio Without Telling Me About It

My Landlord Pretended To Do Work In The Flat But Ended Up Installing This 360° Wifi Surveillance Camera Which Also Records Audio Without Telling Me About It

lachsox Report

When the 'targets' refused to move, Croman enforced harassment. He turned their buildings into dangerous construction sites, refused to make repairs, and cut off heat, electricity, and hot water. If that wasn't enough, he ordered his companies to file baseless lawsuits against the residents. One tenant, for example, was brought to court 11 times, even though she was not behind on the rent; another tenant racked up $240,000 in legal fees.

#3

That Awkward Moment When Your "Thermostat" Is Actually Just Hanging On A Nail, And Doesn't Control The Temperature Whatsoever. Shout Out To The Best Landlords Ever

That Awkward Moment When Your "Thermostat" Is Actually Just Hanging On A Nail, And Doesn't Control The Temperature Whatsoever. Shout Out To The Best Landlords Ever

Waja_Wabit Report

If tenants continued living in the apartments, Croman would call Anthony Falconite. The retired police officer would pose as a repairman, a building manage or an inspector to get into people’s homes. Once inside, he would come up with an accusations, telling tenants they were occupying the units illegally. Falconite would demand their IDs, and take their photos without permission. 

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#4

Landlords Didn't Believe Me When I Tried To Tell Them We Had A Slug Infestation. Said They've Never Heard Of Such A Problem

Landlords Didn't Believe Me When I Tried To Tell Them We Had A Slug Infestation. Said They've Never Heard Of Such A Problem

tndvdson Report

After his tenants were gone, Croman ignored construction laws and performed work without permits more than on 175 occasions. Eventually, Croman’s shady methods drew the attention of officials, and he was charged with grand larceny and tax fraud. In 2017, he pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a $5 million tax settlement and $8 million to his former tenants. He was also sentenced to one year in jail.

#5

My Landlord Finally Installed A New Gated Entryway. I Feel So Much Safer Now

My Landlord Finally Installed A New Gated Entryway. I Feel So Much Safer Now

gnarlyj Report

#6

My Landlord Sucks

My Landlord Sucks

JonjakobJinkleHymer Report

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pseudo_puppy avatar
Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a structural / safety issue. If reported to the local government (or relative department), this could mean that the property would be deemed uninhabitable, and needing to be evacuated until repaired. The costs of moving etc, should theoretically be covered by the landlord.

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#7

I've Been Arguing With My Landlord About Water Seeping Into My Apartment For 2 Months Now. Found This Little Guy Today

I've Been Arguing With My Landlord About Water Seeping Into My Apartment For 2 Months Now. Found This Little Guy Today

BluePuma Report

#8

A Leak My Landlord Refuses To Fix. Is This Mold? Is It Dangerous?

A Leak My Landlord Refuses To Fix. Is This Mold? Is It Dangerous?

shaysoy Report

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#9

Landlord Decided To Turn Down The Heat Today In My Mn Apartment As It Reached -40°. But The Idiot Must Have Forgotten He Pays My Electric And Doesn't Realize That I Value My Comfort Over Safety Or Energy Conservation

Landlord Decided To Turn Down The Heat Today In My Mn Apartment As It Reached -40°. But The Idiot Must Have Forgotten He Pays My Electric And Doesn't Realize That I Value My Comfort Over Safety Or Energy Conservation

JohannReddit Report

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Anne
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember this story.. The heat turn down was at request of the energy company, so they could have every home not-freezing due to shortage on the grid or gas pipes. They had to be turned down to 15C (which is not warm, but above freezing). It was not the landlords idea to do this. This was an area-wide thing.

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#10

Landlord Charges Residents To Use The Elevator

Landlord Charges Residents To Use The Elevator

MeGusta1110 Report

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Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These costs, should be included in the quarterly Strata fees that all property owners should pay..... unless the entire complex is owned by one person, and they're just being a tight-a**e.

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#11

My Landlord Is Super Serious About Fire Safety

My Landlord Is Super Serious About Fire Safety

DeuceActual Report

#12

Landlord Responded Right Away When I Sent Him The Second Pic

Landlord Responded Right Away When I Sent Him The Second Pic

gargameljr Report

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varwenea
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's just disgusting! Thank goodness the person wasn't under that when everything fell!

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#13

Told My Landlord That There Was A Drip Coming From My Ceiling About Two Weeks Ago. They Did Nothing About It And I Woke Up To This This Morning

Told My Landlord That There Was A Drip Coming From My Ceiling About Two Weeks Ago. They Did Nothing About It And I Woke Up To This This Morning

_deathgrapes Report

#14

My Ceiling Caved In And The Landlord Said They Won't Fix It Until It Rains Again And They Can Find The Leak

My Ceiling Caved In And The Landlord Said They Won't Fix It Until It Rains Again And They Can Find The Leak

mstPenguin Report

#15

Landlord Promised To Install A Cat Flap In Our Back Door After Some Security Issues. Came Home To This

Landlord Promised To Install A Cat Flap In Our Back Door After Some Security Issues. Came Home To This

jimmyevil Report

#16

Landlord Ignored Me For Two Months About My Sparking Outlet, Got Worried About A Fire And Did It Myself And I Find This

Landlord Ignored Me For Two Months About My Sparking Outlet, Got Worried About A Fire And Did It Myself And I Find This

_ilovetofu_ Report

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varwenea avatar
varwenea
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Insulation has turned into mold/moss from moisture. Wires behind these walls that aren't well insulated will spark, as this person has already found. The entire wall could be a fire hazard.

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#17

Welcome To Renting In London! My Landlord Has Just Put Our Thermostat In A Cage

Welcome To Renting In London! My Landlord Has Just Put Our Thermostat In A Cage

alexmilsom Report

#18

Each Time We Ask Our Landlord To Fix The Shower They Just Add A New Nozzle

Each Time We Ask Our Landlord To Fix The Shower They Just Add A New Nozzle

TheFoolman Report

#19

My Friend Asked Me If This Message From Her 53-Year-Old Landlord Was Creepy

My Friend Asked Me If This Message From Her 53-Year-Old Landlord Was Creepy

vocatus Report

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pseudo_puppy avatar
Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Run. now. Run, and never look back. This is HIGHLY ILLEGAL for him to be taking photos of you without permission etc, within this context of him being your landlord. I'd be changing the locks, and looking for hidden cameras now. Seriously

raroararoa avatar
RaroaRaroa
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What I don't get is why he told her. Was he hoping she'd be flattered?

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lilgand avatar
Phoebe Bean
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this the guy with the 360° camera??? I suspect there's more than a microwave in that place...

snorincats avatar
Kathy Baylis
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never ever allowed my landlord in my apartment unless I was there to supervise. In the US, a landlord is not allowed to enter an apartment unless the renter gives permission, and then can only complete whatever installation or repair was OK’d——it’s not blanket permission to snoop or take pictures. Yes, she did give permission by text, but only for installation of a replacement microwave, nothing more. This guy is completely out of line and should be reported. ASAP. Remember, he has a key to your home, and has broken your trust that he will not invade your privacy further.

geebrain avatar
GB1997
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it could of been a funny pic/ caption we need more context. Or a pic of the pic in question

max_lombardi_mi avatar
Max L.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"That'd be my sister, she's minor age, cops are coming, they asked you to be present when they arrive or they will issue a warrant for you. See you later."

xsnowmercyx avatar
SnowMercy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like that's awful of course but why out himself? Is he hoping she's like... Oh no problemo! Whack it to me whenevs ya get the urge. In fact, you seem financially stable and not creepy at all, you wanna do this thing for reals?

ami_e avatar
Paper A
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay... Even as some of you are saying this was meant as a joke it's hard to find to find a joke like that funny as a woman. People you actually know and trust do terrible things with our pictures. E. G. Revenge porn. This is not funny or legal or okay at all. Were I to recieve this message I would only find it horrifying

jane-bateman avatar
The Frog
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is just a joke, my landlord would say something like this, hes a funny man.

luyendao avatar
Lu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s only what he told you he did. Yeah creepy

erinwelch_1 avatar
ERIN W.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WELL he DARN well SHOULD of resisted! THAT IS EXTREMELY WEIRD AND A "LITTLE SPOOKY!

barborabobkov avatar
no_name
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretty sure he has peepholes or cameras somewhere in the flat

charisfarmer avatar
Charis Farmer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is so creepy. You need to leave, or else your landlord will probably do something worse next time. He is totally a pervert.

edmondsgayle avatar
Djaris Edmonds
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I took a pic too a screenshot and I hope its ok with you when I sue your azz

jibblywobb avatar
Gemma Lees
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is literally the start of at least a dozen horror films.

amanda_35 avatar
Amanda Dorn
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eeewww yuk never talk to me like that again, now lower the rent - would have been my reply

catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It would be creepier if she came home and found the pic missing from the fridge.

elsneirinckx avatar
KoalaLa
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This reminds me of my landlord! I always e-mail him in a formal style.. He answers in whatsapp, all creepy & with emoticons. Dafuq.

jmrmpd avatar
Jonathan Reiter
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, this sounds like a creep. A creep of the f*****g magnitude...

valerea_king avatar
Valerea King
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He took a pic of a pic, still creeptastic but not like he installed a Nest system. Still check for one though 👀🎥

jezzi_ avatar
Stacey Grant
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not only illegal to steal your property but also illegal for him not to give you ATLEAST a 24 hours notice before entering unless it's an emergency ! This LL gave less than 30 mins notice....

sarah-lennie avatar
TheKnightOwl
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This reminds me of when I was living alone with my young daughter. The landlord would take my washing off the line for me because "it will get damaged if you leave it in the sun too long". I found it strange, but didn't think too much about it. Then one day after being out the entire day I noticed the back sliding door wouldn't unlock from the inside; long story short, it had been locked with the key, and the landlord was the only other person with a key. As I started looking elsewhere to live, the landlord visited me often, and during one of the more gross conversations he said, "you should have more kids while your daughter is young. I don't know why you haven't found someone to help you, I'd be happy to have babies with you if you want". I was in my mid twenties, he was in his mid sixties. So incredibly inappropriate.

sistence avatar
Lenka Smetanová
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well, yeah it creepy but at least he confess, I mean... he can be silent and not say a word but he did, so I think that is a plus for him. But I dont know. I knew a man who would do such think and also tell the person he did it, yeah he is a liiiiitttle creepy, but he would never hurt a fly, he just loved pretty woman, he was also a land lord, he rent an apartment to a single mother with handicap boy, he was really great guy, when she need something he did it for free, he also forgive her some month rents and told her its okay, and he helping her with her son too, he's also helping at the dog shelter and buying a dog food for them... yeah he was deffinetly creep, he always hugging me in weird creep way, but he had a golden heart.. He died at cancer year ago :(

merlestechow avatar
LuckyL
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought - what's wrong here - until I came to the last message.

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HorrorWeirdo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would be like ‘PERVERT ALERT!!!!!!!!’ And proceed to bash him with the law.

captaindash avatar
Full Name
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who says the picture is sexy? Could be a really funny picture of somebody dressed in an inflatable sumo costume, or maybe it's a gorgeous landscape and the ladies are super, super tiny silhouettes in the photo. Better find out before casting judgement. No the landlord should take the pic in the first place but you have zero proof it's for sexy reasons

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#20

Landlord Fitted A Shower Head Holder, Perfect For When I Finish My Shift At The Chocolate Factory

Landlord Fitted A Shower Head Holder, Perfect For When I Finish My Shift At The Chocolate Factory

jbrgn Report

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#22

Our Landlord Installed The Locks To Our Front Door Backwards

Our Landlord Installed The Locks To Our Front Door Backwards

In7erted Report

#23

I Told My Landlord To Fix The Leak In The Ceiling. She Ignored Me

I Told My Landlord To Fix The Leak In The Ceiling. She Ignored Me

hellsoundsfantasticrightaboutnow Report

#24

My Landlord Said There Was A Pool, He Failed To Mention It Is Closed. Forever

My Landlord Said There Was A Pool, He Failed To Mention It Is Closed. Forever

Velosoul Report

#25

Landlord Hung The Microwave, This Is As Far As It Opens Before Hitting The Wall

Landlord Hung The Microwave, This Is As Far As It Opens Before Hitting The Wall

etchasketch4u Report

#26

My "Oh So Awesome" Landlord Quit Cleaning My Pool Cause Kids Who Weren’t Living Here Were Playing In It

My "Oh So Awesome" Landlord Quit Cleaning My Pool Cause Kids Who Weren’t Living Here Were Playing In It

abendlichter Report

#27

We Asked Our Landlord For A Bigger Table. He Built Us This

We Asked Our Landlord For A Bigger Table. He Built Us This

redditmarmot Report

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Foxxy’s #1 fan
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t understand how a table is the landlords responsibility unless the place already came furnished (which isn’t common where I live).

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#28

The Landlord Decided To Get Rid Of This Tree For No Reason, Additionally Killing Newborn Birds In The Process

The Landlord Decided To Get Rid Of This Tree For No Reason, Additionally Killing Newborn Birds In The Process

Darkcomer96 Report

#29

My Landlord Promised To “Redo The Bathroom Floors.” This Was The Result

My Landlord Promised To “Redo The Bathroom Floors.” This Was The Result

tinderinbrooklyn Report

#30

A Rodent Died Under Our Sunroom This Winter And Stunk Up The House. This Was My Landlord's Answer To Fixing The Smell

A Rodent Died Under Our Sunroom This Winter And Stunk Up The House. This Was My Landlord's Answer To Fixing The Smell

TheRealRyanP Report

Note: this post originally had 55 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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