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Date Posted: 08:15:44 05/27/12 Sun
Author: Anon For This
Subject: I'd like some opinions about my rental situation and landlord relationship

In March, I moved into a cottage with access to the bathroom and kitchen in the main house. The landlady, "Katrina" courted me actively, in our initial interview when I responded to her ad, to take this cottage; she told me several times that I was welcome to store my extra belongings in the basement; that I could feel free to "hang out" in the dining room of the main house; that it would be nice to cook meals together (she has two middle school children of whom she has primary custody.) >>>> Inside the first post. This will go long.

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[> Inside, please>>>> -- Anon For This, 08:53:26 05/27/12 Sun

Aware that the main house is small and three people already live there, I asked her how they would feel about the loss of privacy, with a tenant --and essentially a stranger, at first-- coming into their living space to use the kitchen and bathroom on an impromptu basis, and Katrina said, "Oh, I'm a very easy going person. It will be fine." I went into my schedule in some detail and asked again, "Will this be a problem with all of us needing the bathroom early in the morning, trying to get to work, to school, etc. I was assured it wouldn't be. (It hasn't. I'm up way before the family.) This interview was in February. Prior to moving in in March, I did have a couple of indicators that something was a bit "off" about the situation: When I called her to confirm my move-in date, which was to happen after the floor of the cottage was installed, Katrina was vague and distracted and hemmed and hawed a bit, saying well, yeah, I guess I can do that, as if we hadn't discussed any firm dates. I then got an email saying, yes, the cottage would be ready by the agreed-upon date but "If I found something else in the meantime, no worries." I told her, no I didn't want anyplace else, I wanted her cottage, which is why I answered her ad in the first place. So, I moved in. After some of my things were stored in the basement, she told me it leaks in rainy weather. So, into the cottage my books went. Immediately, her whole sunny, open personality changed, and she let me know the family was tolerating my (infrequent) intrusions into their home. Her children never smile; almost never have friends in or go anywhere; and she is extremely enmeshed in their lives. The house has an atmosphere of tension, but Katrina "presented" extremely well in our first meeting. Even my friends were charmed by her. She behaves ill-at-ease around me and gives off "guilty" vibes (I am scrupulous in showering and cooking only when no one is home and I eat meals in my cottage, trying to invade their privacy as little as possible. I walk the dog regularly --I wish I liked K as much as I do her dog-- and water the yard. I'm trying only to relate relevant facts here, pertaining to my tenant/landlord situation, but a bit of context is added.) As soon as I moved in, I stayed at a friend's place for two weeks, caring for her cats, as she had to go out of town to deal with a family emergency. So, Katrina didn't see me for a couple of weeks. As soon as I came back "home" to the cottage, about two and a half weeks after moving in, she informed me that she was planning further construction to add a kitchen and bathroom, creating a self-contained small house, and the rent would be going up in a few months. I had just moved my furniture in. I told her I would've appreciated the Big Picture about her long range plans for the cottage in advance, prior to moving in. Katrina never called my references --excellent, by the way-- and I've signed no rental agreement. She did inform me a couple of days ago that my rent will double --no big shock-- and I will be asked for "first and last" and will have to sign an agreement. I have decided upon a course of action: I want to live around happier people; I want a landlord I can trust who is not a flake; I am looking for another place to live; I will tell her very soon (they're out of town now) that I am looking for another place, but will be able to pay the first month of the increased rent; that if I move out for several days due to construction (remember, my stuff is all in here) I expect a decrease in rent for that month; I also --I'm not telling her this-- will contact the local rent board to find out what my rights, if any, are as a tenant. Remember, I've signed nothing. In short, nothing she initially told me has been true, and she was not honest about the overall plan. I would expect anything --including her having another tenant waiting in the wings that she plans to give the cottage to, evicting me in the process. I find it odd that she never called my references and she has two young children! Another caveat: I found the cottage through an internet group that I belong to; a women-helping-women group; so, since I plan to advertise for something there (without going into all this detail) she may know about it. Katrina is not a member of the group, but a friend of hers is, who initially posted. I'd like the wise people of Lallybroch to weigh in on my situation.

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