Am I Wrong For Being Mad

I'm not home 5 min. from being out to dinner with a friend of mine and my landlady comes by with the water bill in her hand to show me that its almost $200 higher than last month and when I say show me i'm meaning like in my face. So she tells me that Mr. V came inside to check it out and I said well the toilet runs a lot and she said i figured thats what it was. she tells me she's not blaming me. BLAMING ME. THE TOILET WAS LIKE THIS BEFORE WE MOVED IN!!! i'm saying to myself. anyway, to make a long story short, i told my FI what happended and that mr. v just helped himself inside. I was super that he just let himself in with no one home. Now, I know he's the landlord and the house used to be his FIL's, but we pay rent now and we live there. I don't think he should just be waltzing in just cause he's the landlord. I feel thats an invasion of privacy. I was also upset cause i had a few dishes in the sink and our bedroom is a bit messy and now he saw that i'm sure. I'm i wrong to be pi$$ed about this. My FI doesn't mind that he comes in, but I do and I think its very rude and impolite to do that.

opinions?

I would be mad also. They could have at least called you to let you know. And it wasn't like it was an emergency! They could have waited till 5:00-hello!
Can you install a top lock so that in order for them to come in they need to tell you-so you can leave the top lock open?

You're not wrong for being mad, but I personally wouldn't be upset.

You are renting from them, and do not own that space, so the landlord (by law) has every single right to go into your apartment at any time. It is a courtesy for them to contact you and try to arrange a time that is convenient for the both of you, but it is only a courtesy, and not a requirement.

Hopefully the landlord will fix the toilet and you're not responsible for the water bill.

It stinks renting b/c of this, but don't worry - I'm sure they don't care about the dishes in your sink or the messy bedroom...now, if they found a dead person lying on the floor, then I'd worry.

Cheer up sunshine! Wedding plans await you!

My landlords come over EVERY WEEKEND to 'check the sprinklers'. Hello! My FI owns a sprinkler company, I think he could handle it if somethings wrong!

They hang out by our bedroom windows and even started talking to me once while I was brushing my teeth at my Bathroom window. Hello! What if I was going potty? AAhh!

I hate them!

Yes you have a right to be mad.. A similar thing happened to me. One night, I come home to find that my garbage was taken out. Im like 'What the fuu???' I asked him if he took my garbage out and he told me that he come into my apartment because he 'thought' he heard the TV on and wanted to do me a favor by turning it off. (He seen me leave for work that morning, so he knew that no one was home. I told my FH and he was PISSED Needless to say I moved out 2 months later. Who knows how many times he came into my apartment when I wasn't home.

thats what i'm saying. thank u ladies. man i had no idea i wasn't alone.

another thing last night was when i got home (around 8pm) the porch light was out. now i had turned it on before i left for work in the morning cause i knew i was gonna be home after dark. when i saw the light was out i knew he was in the house and turned it off on me.

this isn't the first time they've come in to check up on things. I've even had times when they take the garbage cans back to the back of the house after the garbage men were there. r u kidding me. we can handle putting the cans back ONCE WE COME HOME FROM WORK. I feel like i'm living next to my grandparents. they sneak up to the door and yell in to make sure that its ok that the sprinkler is hitting my car. if it bothered me i wouldn't park in the line of the water. a week ago we were sitting in the living room eating dinner and watching the yankee game. she comes up to the door and yells in for something. i feel like i'm being spyed on all the time. we're only in the place since july so i'll give it a chance, but if this continues i'm gonna make kevin talk to them since he knows them from the fire house or we're leaving. i had more privacy when i was home with my parents.

I totally agree with you 100%. That is a horrible way to live. My landlord used to call me to tell me to lower my tv because his wife is sick. Are U KIDDING me???? My TV is never that loud (unless you have your head against the floor) I felt like they were always spying on me. Even WORSE.. when the landlord knew I was moving.. he brought someone over to look at the apartment (while I was in the shower) He didnt warn me, so when I heard someone knocking,, I had to come out in a towel to ask him what he wanted... He had the NERVE to tell me to 'hurry up' in the shower so he can show the potential tennant the apartment.

Needless to say.. I took my time.

I apologize for being misinformed...here's some information:

1. Does my landlord have the right to enter my apartment whenever he or she
wants?

It depends on the state. In all states, a landlord or manager may enter
rented premises while the tenant is living there without advance notice in
the case of emergency, such as a fire or serious water leak. And, of
course, a landlord may enter when a tenant gives permission. Beyond that,
laws in many states guarantee tenants reasonable privacy rights against
landlord intrusions.

2. What are examples of situations when a landlord may enter, but only
after giving the tenant reasonable notice?

Typically, a landlord has the right to enter rented premises after giving
tenants reasonable notice in order to make needed repairs (or assess the
need for them) and to show the property to prospective new tenants or
purchasers. In addition, a landlord may enter rented premises in instances
of abandonment (that is, when the tenant moves out without notifying the
landlord) or by court order. A landlord may not enter just to check up on
the tenant.

3. Assuming it is not an emergency, but the landlord has a valid reason to
enter -- for example, to make repairs -- what kind of notice is required?

States typically require landlords to provide a specific amount of notice
(usually 24 hours) before entering a rental unit. In some states, such as
California, landlords must provide a reasonable amount of notice, legally
presumed to be 24 hours. Landlords can usually enter on shorter notice if
it is impracticable to provide the required amount of notice.

4. May a landlord enter a rental unit any time of day, as long as he's
given the required amount of notice?

No. In most instances -- except emergencies, abandonment and invitation by
tenant -- states allow a landlord to enter only at reasonable times,
without setting specific hours and days. However, some states, such as
California, require that landlords may enter only during normal business
hours.

5. What are the landlord's options if a tenant refuses to allow entry even
when a landlord has given adequate notice and has a valid reason to enter?

A landlord should not force entry except when there is a true emergency,
such as a fire or gas leak. However, if a tenant is repeatedly unreasonable
in denying the landlord access, the landlord can legally enter anyway,
during reasonable times, provided he does so in a peaceful manner. However,
in no case should the landlord enter if the tenant is present and saying
'stay out.'

If a landlord has a serious conflict over access with an otherwise
satisfactory tenant, a sensible first step is to meet with the tenant to
see if the problem can be resolved. Often, neighborhood mediation programs
will, for a low cost, help work out an agreement. If these attempts at
compromise don't work, a landlord can usually evict the tenant for
violating the lease or rental agreement, assuming it contains an
appropriate right-of-entry provision.

6. What should a tenant do if a landlord repeatedly violates her privacy
rights by entering the rental unit with no good reason and/or advance
notice?

As a first step, the tenant will usually first meet with the landlord to
ask for assurance that this conduct won't be repeated. If this doesn't
work, the tenant (depending on the laws of her state) may be able to simply
move out, claiming that the landlord's repeated violation of her privacy
amounts to a 'constructive eviction.' Finally, if the landlord's conduct
seriously interferes with the tenant's peace of mind, the tenant may have
grounds for a successful lawsuit, asking for damages. Typically, a tenant
will file suit in small claims court without a lawyer. For details on small
claims court procedures and the maximum amount for which someone can sue,
see Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court (National or California
Edition), by Ralph Warner (Nolo Press).

7. How can I find out the specific laws on privacy in my state?

Find your state's statutes at a law library or large public library. If
possible, look for the larger annotated version which will also contain
brief notes as to key court decisions. Look in the index under
Landlord-Tenant and then for the subheading Privacy. You may also be able
to get information from a local apartment association or tenants' rights
group. Your state Attorney General's Office or Consumer Protection Agency
can also provide advice. Nolo Press publishes two books on the subject for
California: The Landlord's Law Book, by Brown and Warner and Tenants'
Rights, by Moskovitz and Warner.

Copyright (c) 1995 Nolo Press
You may copy this article as long as you include this copyright notice.

Christine,

thank u so much for this. i have printed it out and going to show my FI when I get home tonight.