Actually, I am the landlord who illegally entered my tenant's apartment because I suspected that multiple animals were living there. I saw no signs of animals but many food bowls and multiple litter boxes. But then I didn't go into the bedroom and there were no working lightbulbs in the basement so I could not see if an cats were down there.
The reason I entered was because when I went to pick up the rent check the community enclosed front porch reeked of animal urine. When I entered the unit the place was trashed, the carpeting looked like dandelion puffs from cats tearing at it and the place was utterly filty with a huge plate of meat sitting on the kitchen floor.
The odor from the porch was so strong that the upstairs tenant, who has only lived there for less than two months, had to burn incense in her apartment because of the odor. And yes, she says the lower tenant had a dog there that barked for two weeks straight.
I have an eviction court date next week because I gave my tenant 30 days notice and she refuses to move. She says what I did was illegal and that she has rights. I am worried sick that the judge is going rule in her favor because I did enter her apartment without giving notice. Not that it is any excuse, but I am a first time LL. She is my first tenant and it has been hell.
I didn't want to deceive anyone, but wanted to get a feel for what others thought of my bizarre situation. And yes, my tenant sees herself as the victim. My main objective is getting her out of there ASAP before I have a roach or rodent problem.
