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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.
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#1
So My Friend's Landlord Thinks This Is No Big Deal
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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#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
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
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.
#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
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
#6
My Landlord Sucks
Pseudo Puppy 5 years ago
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.
#7
I've Been Arguing With My Landlord About Water Seeping Into My Apartment For 2 Months Now. Found This Little Guy Today
#8
A Leak My Landlord Refuses To Fix. Is This Mold? Is It Dangerous?
#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
Anne 5 years ago
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.
#10
Landlord Charges Residents To Use The Elevator
Pseudo Puppy 5 years ago
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.
#11
My Landlord Is Super Serious About Fire Safety
#12
Landlord Responded Right Away When I Sent Him The Second Pic
#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
#14
My Ceiling Caved In And The Landlord Said They Won't Fix It Until It Rains Again And They Can Find The Leak
#15
Landlord Promised To Install A Cat Flap In Our Back Door After Some Security Issues. Came Home To This
#16
Landlord Ignored Me For Two Months About My Sparking Outlet, Got Worried About A Fire And Did It Myself And I Find This
#17
Welcome To Renting In London! My Landlord Has Just Put Our Thermostat In A Cage
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
Candle beneath it: Heat goes down. Icecubes on top of it: Heat goes up.
#18
Each Time We Ask Our Landlord To Fix The Shower They Just Add A New Nozzle
#19
My Friend Asked Me If This Message From Her 53-Year-Old Landlord Was Creepy
Pseudo Puppy 5 years ago
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
#20
Landlord Fitted A Shower Head Holder, Perfect For When I Finish My Shift At The Chocolate Factory
#21
Our Landlord Fixed Our Deck
#22
Our Landlord Installed The Locks To Our Front Door Backwards
#23
I Told My Landlord To Fix The Leak In The Ceiling. She Ignored Me
#24
My Landlord Said There Was A Pool, He Failed To Mention It Is Closed. Forever
#25
Landlord Hung The Microwave, This Is As Far As It Opens Before Hitting The Wall
#26
My "Oh So Awesome" Landlord Quit Cleaning My Pool Cause Kids Who Weren’t Living Here Were Playing In It
#27
We Asked Our Landlord For A Bigger Table. He Built Us This
Foxxy’s #1 fan 5 years ago
I don’t understand how a table is the landlords responsibility unless the place already came furnished (which isn’t common where I live).
#28
The Landlord Decided To Get Rid Of This Tree For No Reason, Additionally Killing Newborn Birds In The Process
#29
My Landlord Promised To “Redo The Bathroom Floors.” This Was The Result
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What do you think ?
Foxxy’s #1 fan 5 years ago
So much illegal and dodgy work. Hope these landlords were reported.
Phil Boswell 5 years ago
So many people who don't understand that the whole world doesn't work exactly the same as where they live…
Kathy Baylis 5 years ago
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.
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Electric isopod 5 years ago
When I use to rent I would just fix the problem myself, then send the bill to landlord.
Parmeisan 5 years ago
In some places, depending on your contract, you could get in big trouble for doing that.
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Foxxy’s #1 fan 5 years ago
So much illegal and dodgy work. Hope these landlords were reported.
Phil Boswell 5 years ago
So many people who don't understand that the whole world doesn't work exactly the same as where they live…
Kathy Baylis 5 years ago
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.
Load More Replies... Electric isopod 5 years ago
When I use to rent I would just fix the problem myself, then send the bill to landlord.
Parmeisan 5 years ago
In some places, depending on your contract, you could get in big trouble for doing that.
Load More Replies... Related on Bored Panda
