questionable landlord practices

[Tim Wilkinson]

Hello BP,

Although I am an investor, currently the home my wife and I live in is leased to us. As part of the lease agreement, the LL retained one of our three attached garages unavailable to us. It is all open inside, but we are not allowed to use the third bay. 

Since we moved in eight months ago, we get frequent requests to get things out of the garage that belong to the owner. There is a legal clause called "quiet enjoyment" that speaks of our right to be left alone. I don't appreciate the frequency with which she comes over unannounced. 

Secondly, she mows the grass weekly and makes a big deal if we missed a pile of dog droppings in our yard. We clean it regularly, but she will leave a high spot in the grass and put sticks to mark it, then call us and let us know. 

She can see our house from her house and calls us when we leave a garage light on at night. I also just put in my window A/C units and she called to say she doesn't like how one of them is installed. She micromanages everything and it feels like prison!

Shortly after we moved in, I noticed that one of the forced hot water baseboard units was cold. I verified it was air-locked and bled it until it worked. She chastised me and said she would rather me not make any repairs, that she would call a professional. 

I have been in the trades my whole life, a General Contractor, and thought she was crazy to not allow me to save her a service call. 

That isn't as exhaustive a list as it could be, but I would like to know what you folks think I should do about it. Should I have an attorney draw up a complaint? Go to the Housing authority? She is an employee of the town I live in. Aside from being a lot OCD, she is okay to get along with. 

One other thing: We were three days late with last months rent because my wife's company was bought and her payroll frequency changed. She called my wife and asked her to provide proof from her employer that this happened. Now I say WTF?

[Max T.]

As a tenant you have every right to move to another apartment, or better yet, buy your own place.

Your landlord is a micromanager, thats it - the only real issue here is her not giving you proper notice. If she calls you when a light is on let it go to voicemail. If she comes over without proper notice send her away.