30 Times Landlords Neglected Their Tenants So Much, They Had To Take Pics As Evidence
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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
The division to halves, fourths etc tells me the measuring tape is in inches. That makes the measured slug a whopping 16,5 cm. Heck, burn it with fire!
I was creeped out, more when I realized those weren't centimeters but inches!
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Get the same problem in my kitchen during summer. Damn things can squeeze through the tiniest of gaps in my door. Thing is they're not stupid; they only come in at night and are gone by daylight. But, because the little sh#ts eat EVERYTHING I try to grow in the garden, I once threw salt on one. Never did that again, for all their faults it truely was a horrendous way to die.
My husband was out of town once and I was horrified to find a massive slug had made it's way through the dog door into the kitchen. My young boys, 8 & 6 yr old twins, laughed at me as I squealed and dithered about what to do. As one of them told me to "man up" and deal with it I turned and asked if any if them wanted to make an easy $10...my eldest bravely entered the kitchen with broom and dustpan only to run out of the kitchen squealing even louder than his momma. He's now in his 20's and we still laugh about it. Of course I ended up manning up because the alternative (leaving it) was too horrific to imagine. But I'm still traumatized, lol. And no on offered me a penny.
At least they are sloooow and easy to catch...unlike house Centipedes >:(
If you mean the ones with spider legs, than yes, those are a true nightmare.
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I had one because my long haired Maine coon would get slugs trapped on his fur and bring them in unintentionally. Luckily we got rid of them when I had my lounge, kitchen & entrance room gutted and re done. Builders said they found about 30-40. They said it was hard to see some as they were almost clear, because they only came out at night and so never saw sunlight. I used to find them in my cats water bowl and so got used to finding 'clear' slugs but forgot how weird they would be to the builders! Now I check my cat (thankfully my other 4 are short haired) every time I see him come in, but he hasn't had any for ages thank god!
I would literally curse my landlord out if they complained about checking it out. if you would do the same make the arrow going up, green!
My grandma used to get rid of slugs in the garden by putting down a pie pan and filling it with beer. In the morning, it would be full of slugs.
get a box turtle. when slugs get in my house my baby (tortoise) Shelly eats them
I remember the joy of stepping on a slug when going to the bathroom at night (reason why I always put my slippers on now). And, of course, there was the time my then 5 year old daughter was lying in our bed and I heard the immortal words, 'slug on ceiling! slug on ceiling!'
To be fair, I have never heard of a slug investion either. How the hell does that even happen??
It's funny, I honestly didn't know it was actually possible to be scared/totally disgusted with slugs/snails until reading these comments. I'm that way with spiders, and roaches and stuff, but I adore snails, and could never harm a slug either.
That house would have a "slight electric problem" and be razed to the ground!! Can not abide by those creepy buggers!
OMG that is Hideous! I think the owner wants you to burn it down maybe his premiums are too high and he wants to cash in.
I legit would have died too!! I hate slugs! I bought a really nice furry rug For my bedroom that was 160$ and I found a slug on it one day and instead of trying to take it off and clean it I just threw it away!! To this day I have no idea how the slug got on it!!
Were they in Washington State? They have GIGANTIC slugs there....they make t-shirts about them.
there needs to be an upvote that includes the emoji of my eyes widening open and my jaw being dropped on the floor.
Please be careful if you have pets. If they eat them they could die very painfully. Those slugs can be poisonous to cats. I found that out, sadly.
And this is were I leave! One or two maybe three like every once in a while is ok ( I live in Hawaii) but this? That is ridiculous.
G R O S S ! Just some salt will take care of that...but where the heck did they come from????
i Wouldve flippin dieeeeeeeeeee sooooooooooooooooooo baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddddddddddddddddddddddd:(
Get some beer and put it out in a deep dish, and let the slugs come drink their fill... That will kill them quickly...
They've got huge slugs here in NC...I think they call them banana slugs but whatever their name it's a truly horrific thing to step on!!! It's cold...squishy and the slime won't come off!!! Blah blah!!!
Im not sure but i guess some french people would love this place... or thats what i heard...
Yep, I've had the exact same thing. Crushed slug between the toes at 6.30am when you are staggering to the kettle is a fate sent from the 7th level of hell!
Believe it or not, I actually find slugs (and snails) cute. However, if there was an infestation of slugs, especially these big ones, I would definitely be demanding the landlord do something about this.
Dang. We just don't get enough articles on Cephalopods these days. Big Thank You to Bored Panda. Mondo Sluggo, updated. Can't wait for the film !!
cephalopods would be squid or octopus. These would be mollusks. But you're right. We don't get enough articles about either one.
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A lava rock barrier will keep them outside. They wont crawl over because it cuts them.
...i dont want to ruin the party but... landlords say they never heard of such problem... and, now that you live there, this problem is...
I had a millipede infestation in my old apartment (to the point where I had to go stay with my mother because the things were FREAKING EVERYWHERE). Landlord actually had the nerve to say it was no big deal, I was just being a sissy little girl afraid of bugs.
Rank though this is probably less of a landlord issue and more a tenant issue as slugs don’t usually venture inside.
Did the landlords see the slugs in your apartment? If they only saw your photos they could accuse you of Photoshopping slugs. You could try picking them all up with chopsticks, putting them into a plastic bag, and mailing them to the landlords. ;-)
Whoa, slugs inside? Not good. Don't they mostly eat decaying plant matter? Doesnt make sense to have them inside.
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.
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My Landlord Sucks
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.
I've Been Arguing With My Landlord About Water Seeping Into My Apartment For 2 Months Now. Found This Little Guy Today
A Leak My Landlord Refuses To Fix. Is This Mold? Is It Dangerous?
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
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.
Landlord Charges Residents To Use The Elevator
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-arse.
Landlord Responded Right Away When I Sent Him The Second Pic
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
My Ceiling Caved In And The Landlord Said They Won't Fix It Until It Rains Again And They Can Find The Leak
Landlord Promised To Install A Cat Flap In Our Back Door After Some Security Issues. Came Home To This
Landlord Ignored Me For Two Months About My Sparking Outlet, Got Worried About A Fire And Did It Myself And I Find This
Welcome To Renting In London! My Landlord Has Just Put Our Thermostat In A Cage
Candle beneath it: Heat goes down. Icecubes on top of it: Heat goes up.
Each Time We Ask Our Landlord To Fix The Shower They Just Add A New Nozzle
My Friend Asked Me If This Message From Her 53-Year-Old Landlord Was Creepy
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
Landlord Fitted A Shower Head Holder, Perfect For When I Finish My Shift At The Chocolate Factory
Our Landlord Installed The Locks To Our Front Door Backwards
My Landlord Said There Was A Pool, He Failed To Mention It Is Closed. Forever
Landlord Hung The Microwave, This Is As Far As It Opens Before Hitting The Wall
My "Oh So Awesome" Landlord Quit Cleaning My Pool Cause Kids Who Weren’t Living Here Were Playing In It
We Asked Our Landlord For A Bigger Table. He Built Us This
I don’t understand how a table is the landlords responsibility unless the place already came furnished (which isn’t common where I live).
The Landlord Decided To Get Rid Of This Tree For No Reason, Additionally Killing Newborn Birds In The Process
My Landlord Promised To “Redo The Bathroom Floors.” This Was The Result
Note: this post originally had 56 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
So much illegal and dodgy work. Hope these landlords were reported.
So many people who don't understand that the whole world doesn't work exactly the same as where they live…
So we mention what we know and our experiences where we are. It just might help someone else in our same country who might not be aware of their rights. Discussion of what appears to be a common problem in more than one country is not a bad thing. It just might spur change on a grassroots level. If nothing else, it let’s people know they’re most definitely not alone in what they’re going through. My advice to you, Phil, is to just go back down in your mother’s basement.
I doubt he's talking about the people who are explaining the situation where they live. There are a lot of commenters making blanket statements about how things work without realizing that it's simply not true everywhere. Either way, that last sentence is a tad extreme.
When I use to rent I would just fix the problem myself, then send the bill to landlord.
In some places, depending on your contract, you could get in big trouble for doing that.
It can void the insurance the landlord has on the property, so it's highly discouraged.
Yes, I lived with that system for 20 years and became rather handy. It was understood that the place was a 'fixer-upper' and you should deal with the small stuff directly.
Yeah, if your landlord is okay with that. I had a friend who was evicted for replacing the boards on his back porch. The old ones rotted out, he put down some new ones and was kicked out. Didn't even ask the landlord to pay for the timber. So depends on your landlord.
Exactly the way I handle things except old man used to died so no matter what I spend or how I fix it the bill will stay on me because she does not reimburse anything that we fix course we could wait months or maybe never get fixed what is wrong so we just fix it ourselves eat the bill but I keep the receipts
Please familiarise yourself with punctuation. This was difficult to read.
Uhm... don't get me wrong, but why do people stay in such conditions and don't move out? I've been in a few rented appartments when I was younger and the first signs of mould / roaches / leaks etc would make me move out immediately. I'm not familiar with renting market in GB/ US but I just can't understand people who put up with that instead of finding a new place to live in decent conditions.
If it is like Australia often tenants have to put down a big cash "damage deposit" and / or insurance for the Landlord. So moving can be *extremely* expensive.
I see. Here we have specific agreements that secure the tenants from such situations. If the landlord doesn't provide / repair etc, then the tenant can leave and the full deposit has to be returned. Than again deposits here are usually the sum of 1 month rent.
damage deposit is half a months rent, hardly "big cash"
It must be nice to always have money to move. In the US, first, last & security is common. And if your current landlord sucks, it can be difficult to get your deposit back.
Renee, I don't know what state you live in, I live in Iowa and all states that I've ever been to only require deposit (usually equal to 1 months rent) and first months rent... Not first, last, AND deposit!
In Köln Germany. Affordable apartment are very difficult to find and kindergarten also (2 kids). Open house day at 10 o'clock until 11 can be visited for around 40 family. You give your papers and pray to be chosen by the landlord. Some don't like black people, others don't like kids, others don't accept that my ex is kind enough to pay my bills while I learn the language and don't depend on government. Others think single mothers are rolling stones and gonna party all day, some don't like the fact that I speak 5 languages but not (yet) proper German. Just some of the excuses I listen when I was looking for a apartment.
That's easier said than done. Rents in U.S. cities are horrendously high. As of November 2019, the average apartment rent in Los Angeles is $1,474 for a studio, $1,890 for one bedroom, $2,650 for two bedrooms, and $3,783 for three bedrooms.
And in other areas of the US where rents are lower, so is the pay scale (cost of living). So you can’t win either way.
In the UK you have quite a few rights as a tenant and as there is a housing shortage it is recommended that you stay put and exercise those rights and get the problems or the landlord dealt with by the various legal routes at your disposal. There is Citizens Advice Bureau and Shelter who can advise. Between rentals a landlord must deal with most problems anyway so at some point they'll have to face up to it. Gas must be checked and most get electrics checked though that isn't always required (can invalidate insurance if they aren't checked though so not really worth skipping). Houses of multiple occupation (more than three separate tenants sharing either a kitchen or a bathroom) must have the electrics checked every five years. If a problem is a safety concern Environmental Health should be notified if the landlords won't deal with it. The problems in the UK come, mainly, from property that is illegally rented.
In principle, I 100% agree, that tenants should leave asap & find better conditions. Problem is though, that typically they don't leave quickly, because they sign a legally binding lease, for X period of time. To leave before the end of the lease, will cost weeks (if not months) worth of rent, in penalty fees. Yes, they can be taken to "court" (what kind of "court" depends on the country), but that will cost money in applications fees, and time off of work / lost wages etc. And even if the tenant wins in "court", the landlord still has X time to do it, and if they don't, the Tenant has to take them back to court, which costs more application fees / time off work etc....
Wow. Here we just have a clause in the contract that you need to provide a month's notice and you don't have to pay anything.
The rental market in Australia is extremely tough (Don’t know about other countries.) There is a High demand but not enough houses, so finding somewhere else isn’t as easy as some think.