I have a question for the legal types on the board

[John from Riverside]

My wife has a friend at her job who is having a problem with her landlord.

 

Some background.

 

- Times are tough for blackjack dealers right now (just like everybody else) the friend is a single mom of 4 (two teenage daughters)

 

- She is behind on her rent of her house

 

Problem. Apparently this landlord is coming over to the house without giving notice and just letting himself into the house with his key without bothering to knock or what not.

 

Isn't there laws against this? My first thought that this guy is a fricken pervert hoping to walk in on mom and girls not dressed and deserves a friggen beatdown.

 

What can be done besides that?

[erynthered]

A 44 slug to his forehead would stop him from just entering the house when he wanted to.

 

Then again, that might be a little to drastic.

[stuckincincy]

My wife has a friend at her job who is having a problem with her landlord.

 

Some background.

 

- Times are tough for blackjack dealers right now (just like everybody else) the friend is a single mom of 4 (two teenage daughters)

 

- She is behind on her rent of her house

 

Problem. Apparently this landlord is coming over to the house without giving notice and just letting himself into the house with his key without bothering to knock or what not.

 

Isn't there laws against this? My first thought that this guy is a fricken pervert hoping to walk in on mom and girls not dressed and deserves a friggen beatdown.

 

What can be done besides that?

 

I'm tired of the whiny single mom angle. If they're on the dole, they should spend some of that free taxpayer cash on a cheap 12 gauge.

[buckeyemike]

My wife has a friend at her job who is having a problem with her landlord.

 

Some background.

 

- Times are tough for blackjack dealers right now (just like everybody else) the friend is a single mom of 4 (two teenage daughters)

 

- She is behind on her rent of her house

 

Problem. Apparently this landlord is coming over to the house without giving notice and just letting himself into the house with his key without bothering to knock or what not.

 

Isn't there laws against this? My first thought that this guy is a fricken pervert hoping to walk in on mom and girls not dressed and deserves a friggen beatdown.

 

What can be done besides that?

 

Depends on the laws of the state where you live. In Ohio, the tenant is entitled to a measure of privacy without interference to the enjoyment of the property by the landlord.

 

The terms of the lease must also be studied. If this were Ohio, it sounds to me like she could have a case for damages.

 

Good luck to her.

[drnykterstein]

Also could depend on the lease. Some leases have it written in that the landlord can do that. Some states have laws where 24 hours of written notice is required (or an emergency reason). What state?

[JoeFerguson]

My wife has a friend at her job who is having a problem with her landlord.

 

Some background.

- Times are tough for blackjack dealers right now (just like everybody else) the friend is a single mom of 4 (two teenage daughters)

- She is behind on her rent of her house

 

Problem. Apparently this landlord is coming over to the house without giving notice and just letting himself into the house with his key without bothering to knock or what not.

 

Isn't there laws against this? My first thought that this guy is a fricken pervert hoping to walk in on mom and girls not dressed and deserves a friggen beatdown.

 

What can be done besides that?

 

Why is the bold information relevant to your question?

[Ramius]

and by "times are tough for blackjack dealers," you mean "shes a stripper that has gotten a bit too old."

[Gordio]

My wife has a friend at her job who is having a problem with her landlord.

 

Some background.

 

- Times are tough for blackjack dealers right now (just like everybody else) the friend is a single mom of 4 (two teenage daughters)

 

- She is behind on her rent of her house

 

Problem. Apparently this landlord is coming over to the house without giving notice and just letting himself into the house with his key without bothering to knock or what not.

 

Isn't there laws against this? My first thought that this guy is a fricken pervert hoping to walk in on mom and girls not dressed and deserves a friggen beatdown.

 

What can be done besides that?

 

Maybe if the Casinos would start loosening the purse strings a little she would not have a tough time making the rent. I went to my father-in-laws cottage over the weekend & was bored on sunday(as I usually am there; whole different story in itself so I digress). Went to the senecca casino in Alleghaney & Sat down at the blackjack table & got knocked upside the head for $1,250 in a matter of 40 minutes. The dealer was pulling 19,20,21's from 5s & 6s as their base card. At one point I seen the dealer smile after I lost on a double down 10 when the dealer had 6 in the hole showing. Of course I pull a 3 & she pulls a 21. I felt like Joe Pecci in Casino. Felt like saying "how the F*ck can you sit there & smile? Hit me again, hit it up your mother's ass, take this one up your sister's ass. How many f*cking kings do you have in that deck" But Iam a gentleman so I just had another whiskey sour & grinned & beared it. Needless to say I was miserable to my wife for the rest of the weekend as she forced me into going to her dad's cottage this past holiday weekend. I know, a sick disturbed way of looking at it & my stupidity for losing all that money, but hey losing over a grand in less then an hour will do that to a person. I hope your wife's friend gets kicked out of the house she rents.(just kidding)

[Beerball]

Maybe if the Casinos would start loosening the purse strings a little she would not have a tough time making the rent. I went to my father-in-laws cottage over the weekend & was bored on sunday(as I usually am there; whole different story in itself so I digress). Went to the senecca casino in Alleghaney & Sat down at the blackjack table & got knocked upside the head for $1,250 in a matter of 40 minutes. The dealer was pulling 19,20,21's from 5s & 6s as their base card. At one point I seen the dealer smile after I lost on a double down 10 when the dealer had 6 in the hole showing. Of course I pull a 3 & she pulls a 21. I felt like Joe Pecci in Casino. Felt like saying "how the F*ck can you sit there & smile? Hit me again, hit it up your mother's ass, take this one up your sister's ass. How many f*cking kings do you have in that deck" But Iam a gentleman so I just had another whiskey sour & grinned & beared it. Needless to say I was miserable to my wife for the rest of the weekend as she forced me into going to her dad's cottage this past holiday weekend. I know, a sick disturbed way of looking at it & my stupidity for losing all that money, but hey losing over a grand in less then an hour will do that to a person. I hope your wife's friend gets kicked out of the house she rents.(just kidding)

You didn't really drink a whiskey sour did you?

[Gordio]

You didn't really drink a whiskey sour did you?

 

 

Yep, dont usually drink them but I was on a three day bender from beer & I did not feel drinking beer on sunday. Thought I would try something different. It was not bad.

[John from Riverside]

Why is the bold information relevant to your question?

 

I think it is relevent because she is down in her finances and is behind on her rent.....which may mean some sort of entittlement by the landlord.

 

I should have made that more clear...sorry.

[John from Riverside]

and by "times are tough for blackjack dealers," you mean "shes a stripper that has gotten a bit too old."

 

LOL I think she is a very nice person but dont ever think she was stripper material.....my son thinks the daughters are rather lovely.

[ricojes]

I think it is relevent because she is down in her finances and is behind on her rent.....which may mean some sort of entittlement by the landlord.

 

I should have made that more clear...sorry.

It was pretty clear, no need to apologize. What about changing the locks? or adding a dead bolt?

 

and by "times are tough for blackjack dealers," you mean "shes a stripper that has gotten a bit too old."

I believe it's "waitress at a gentlemen's club" that you are referring to...

[John from Riverside]

Maybe if the Casinos would start loosening the purse strings a little she would not have a tough time making the rent. I went to my father-in-laws cottage over the weekend & was bored on sunday(as I usually am there; whole different story in itself so I digress). Went to the senecca casino in Alleghaney & Sat down at the blackjack table & got knocked upside the head for $1,250 in a matter of 40 minutes. The dealer was pulling 19,20,21's from 5s & 6s as their base card. At one point I seen the dealer smile after I lost on a double down 10 when the dealer had 6 in the hole showing. Of course I pull a 3 & she pulls a 21. I felt like Joe Pecci in Casino. Felt like saying "how the F*ck can you sit there & smile? Hit me again, hit it up your mother's ass, take this one up your sister's ass. How many f*cking kings do you have in that deck" But Iam a gentleman so I just had another whiskey sour & grinned & beared it. Needless to say I was miserable to my wife for the rest of the weekend as she forced me into going to her dad's cottage this past holiday weekend. I know, a sick disturbed way of looking at it & my stupidity for losing all that money, but hey losing over a grand in less then an hour will do that to a person. I hope your wife's friend gets kicked out of the house she rents.(just kidding)

 

GORDIO,

 

I understand your frustration. As I am married to one of those dealers let me assure you that every time they go on a hot streak they are just wincing inside because it generally means:

 

a. You are not going to tip (which is how they make their money.....at my wifes casino she makes virtually nothing hourly and has come home with ZERO dollars from a shift.

 

b. You are going to get mad and say something to her derogatory.....at least that is a problem at her casino.

 

Its a strange business but I can tell you that dealers are having a very bad time at our casino right now....it used to be the glamorous position where you could have a really good night. Not so much right now which I am sure is linked directly with the economy.

[stuckincincy]

I think it is relevent because she is down in her finances and is behind on her rent.....which may mean some sort of entittlement by the landlord.

 

I should have made that more clear...sorry.

 

"entittlement"...I guess that trumps owed rent.

[Fezmid]

Also could depend on the lease. Some leases have it written in that the landlord can do that. Some states have laws where 24 hours of written notice is required (or an emergency reason). What state?

 

Actually, it doesn't matter what the lease says -- the landlord can't do that (at least I know it's true in Minnesota). There are certain rights that tenants are not allowed to waive, and that's one of them. In Minnesota, it's a $50-$100 fine against the landlord each and every time he does it.

 

I'd suggest talking to the attorney general's office and ask for information on landlords. They probably have a booklet they can send you.

 

I don't know how it is in the rest of the country, but the laws are extremely favorable to tenants in Minnesota. After I moved out of an apartment, my landlord tried withholding the entire security deposit ($500) and charging me an extra $1000. Well, I lived there for 7 years and he was trying to charge me for replacing carpet, painting walls, caulking in the bathroom, etc. I wrote him a letter demanding my security deposit, and he had his lawyer send me a letter saying, "Don't ever contact my client directly again," and it again demanded the $1,000.

 

A week later (after reading all of the Minnesota tenant/landlord laws --not just the booklet, but the actual laws themselves), I went down to the courthouse and sued him for my deposit back.

 

<LAMP STORY>

 

The case was awesome. We had a bunch of pictrues showing normal wear and tear (carpet buckling, walls needing painting, etc, etc) and brought a friend who had also been there the day before we moved out. We got to courrt, and we were the first case on the docket.

 

The guy's lawyer starts talking, and I politely interrupt and say, "Your honor, I didn't think that lawyers were allowed to present in small claims court." The judge agrees, tells the lawyer that he can't present, but being a slimy lawyer, he says, "Your honor, I'm a partial owner of the building."

 

The judge then lets the lawyer continue, but I interrupt again and say, "Your honor, we have no idea who this guy is - we've always paid our rent directly to the landlord's home address and the checks have been signed directly to him." Now the judge is getting pissed at the lawyer for lying and asks him if that's true. The lawyer says it is, but insists that he owns the property too. The judge starts raising his voice and asks, "How are they supposed to know you own the building?" Lawyer responds, "Well, they could've gone downtown to check the title on the building." Judge gets REALLY pissed now and says, "Why would you think I'd expect them to do that? Sit down and keep quiet!"

 

The look on the slumlords face was priceless -- he was scared. The case went on, we explained our side, then the slumlord started explaining his. He startd with the carpet, saying it had to be completely replaced because of us. The judge said, "It's 7 years old, of course you have to replace it." The landlord tries saying that he uses only really expensive carpet in his apartments and it should last longer than 7 years [note: it was old when we mvoed in]. The judge asks how much he paid, and the slumlord said something like, '$700!" Judge asks, "For the hallway?" Slumlord says, "No, for the whole apartment." Judge gets pissed again and yells, "THAT'S CHEAP CARPET!!!!"

 

Case goes on, and judge gets more and more upset at the slumlord's requests. Talk gets to the miniblinds. We have a cat and he used to love going into the window sill. To get there, he used his head to push the aluminum miiniblinds away, and so it was getting really bent where he walked in and I admitted that. The judge asked if the slumlord had any pictures, and he didn't. The judge asked if he had any receipts for the cost of the miniblinds. What happened next was right out of People's Court. The slumlord got so frustrated, he actually said, in a snotty voice, "I don't, but remember I did raise my right hand and promised to tell the truth, isn't that good enough?!?!?!?!" Everyone in the court room snickered and the judge said, "They promised to tell the truth too, so you need a receipt!"

 

It was awesome.

 

We sued for around $1,200 (in Minnesota you can sue for twice the security deposit plus $200). We ended up getting $700 and a good learning experience to boot. It was fun.

 

</LAMP STORY>

[Fezmid]

I think it is relevent because she is down in her finances and is behind on her rent.....which may mean some sort of entittlement by the landlord.

 

I should have made that more clear...sorry.

 

Nope -- if she's behind on her rent, the landlord can begin the eviction process... But he still can't enter her premises without 24 hour notice. In Minnesota, at least.

[stuckincincy]

<LAMP STORY>

 

 

</LAMP STORY>

 

That's a great tale, Fez! Thanks!

[Beerball]

I think it is relevent because she is down in her finances and is behind on her rent.....which may mean some sort of entittlement by the landlord.

 

I should have made that more clear...sorry.

This should get you what you need. Check page 114.

[stuckincincy]

You are going to get mad and say something to her derogatory.....at least that is a problem at her casino.

Its a strange business but I can tell you that dealers are having a very bad time at our casino right now....it used to be the glamorous position where you could have a really good night. Not so much right now which I am sure is linked directly with the economy.

 

Casino dealers are a vital cog in the continued improvement of society. Every time one cashes in big time, an angel gets its' wings.

[John from Riverside]

Casino dealers are a vital cog in the continued improvement of society. Every time one cashes in big time, an angel gets its' wings.

 

Those wings have been coming few and far between lately......hopefully God will need more helpers in the near future.

 

The job itself is perfect for her....she didn't go past High School in education, gets along really well with people, and for some odd reason is pretty good at Math numbers even though it wasn't a strong subject in school for her.

 

Also the job is literally 10 minutes away from our house....since I commute out of town it is great as we have kids.

[John from Riverside]

This should get you what you need. Check page 114.

 

Muchos Gracias

[RayFinkle]

Yep, dont usually drink them but I was on a three day bender from beer & I did not feel drinking beer on sunday. Thought I would try something different. It was not bad.

Did you drink it through a straw, or did you take the umbrella out and drink it like a man?

[stuckincincy]

Those wings have been coming few and far between lately......hopefully God will need more helpers in the near future.

 

The job itself is perfect for her....she didn't go past High School in education, gets along really well with people, and for some odd reason is pretty good at Math numbers even though it wasn't a strong subject in school for her.

 

Also the job is literally 10 minutes away from our house....since I commute out of town it is great as we have kids.

 

You have me confused here...

 

Is your wife a dealer who worked with this single mom who didn't pay her rent?

[John from Riverside]

You have me confused here...

 

Is your wife a dealer who worked with this single mom who didn't pay her rent?

 

Yes they are coworkers that are dealers at the same casino

[JoeFerguson]

Actually, it doesn't matter what the lease says -- the landlord can't do that (at least I know it's true in Minnesota). There are certain rights that tenants are not allowed to waive, and that's one of them. In Minnesota, it's a $50-$100 fine against the landlord each and every time he does it.

 

I'd suggest talking to the attorney general's office and ask for information on landlords. They probably have a booklet they can send you.

 

I don't know how it is in the rest of the country, but the laws are extremely favorable to tenants in Minnesota. After I moved out of an apartment, my landlord tried withholding the entire security deposit ($500) and charging me an extra $1000. Well, I lived there for 7 years and he was trying to charge me for replacing carpet, painting walls, caulking in the bathroom, etc. I wrote him a letter demanding my security deposit, and he had his lawyer send me a letter saying, "Don't ever contact my client directly again," and it again demanded the $1,000.

 

A week later (after reading all of the Minnesota tenant/landlord laws --not just the booklet, but the actual laws themselves), I went down to the courthouse and sued him for my deposit back.

 

<LAMP STORY>

 

The case was awesome. We had a bunch of pictrues showing normal wear and tear (carpet buckling, walls needing painting, etc, etc) and brought a friend who had also been there the day before we moved out. We got to courrt, and we were the first case on the docket.

 

The guy's lawyer starts talking, and I politely interrupt and say, "Your honor, I didn't think that lawyers were allowed to present in small claims court." The judge agrees, tells the lawyer that he can't present, but being a slimy lawyer, he says, "Your honor, I'm a partial owner of the building."

 

The judge then lets the lawyer continue, but I interrupt again and say, "Your honor, we have no idea who this guy is - we've always paid our rent directly to the landlord's home address and the checks have been signed directly to him." Now the judge is getting pissed at the lawyer for lying and asks him if that's true. The lawyer says it is, but insists that he owns the property too. The judge starts raising his voice and asks, "How are they supposed to know you own the building?" Lawyer responds, "Well, they could've gone downtown to check the title on the building." Judge gets REALLY pissed now and says, "Why would you think I'd expect them to do that? Sit down and keep quiet!"

 

The look on the slumlords face was priceless -- he was scared. The case went on, we explained our side, then the slumlord started explaining his. He startd with the carpet, saying it had to be completely replaced because of us. The judge said, "It's 7 years old, of course you have to replace it." The landlord tries saying that he uses only really expensive carpet in his apartments and it should last longer than 7 years [note: it was old when we mvoed in]. The judge asks how much he paid, and the slumlord said something like, '$700!" Judge asks, "For the hallway?" Slumlord says, "No, for the whole apartment." Judge gets pissed again and yells, "THAT'S CHEAP CARPET!!!!"

 

Case goes on, and judge gets more and more upset at the slumlord's requests. Talk gets to the miniblinds. We have a cat and he used to love going into the window sill. To get there, he used his head to push the aluminum miiniblinds away, and so it was getting really bent where he walked in and I admitted that. The judge asked if the slumlord had any pictures, and he didn't. The judge asked if he had any receipts for the cost of the miniblinds. What happened next was right out of People's Court. The slumlord got so frustrated, he actually said, in a snotty voice, "I don't, but remember I did raise my right hand and promised to tell the truth, isn't that good enough?!?!?!?!" Everyone in the court room snickered and the judge said, "They promised to tell the truth too, so you need a receipt!"

 

It was awesome.

 

We sued for around $1,200 (in Minnesota you can sue for twice the security deposit plus $200). We ended up getting $700 and a good learning experience to boot. It was fun.

 

</LAMP STORY>

 

Fez,

 

Good story. Did you have to pay anything to take the case to Small claims court?

[taterhill]

Yep, dont usually drink them but I was on a three day bender from beer & I did not feel drinking beer on sunday. Thought I would try something different. It was not bad.

vodka Soda...the official drink of taterhill casino visits...

[drnykterstein]

Ya Fez, nice story. Thank you for sharing it.

[Fezmid]

Fez,

 

Good story. Did you have to pay anything to take the case to Small claims court?

 

Yeah, around $20 to file with the court.

 

I thought I should've gotten more than $700 back, but I talked with a friend who was a lawyer (before I even got the settlement), and he told me on the spot that I wouldn't get everythign I sued for because judges like to make both sides feel like they did well when it's done. He said it was surprpsing that I got the extra $200 and that it was probably because the slumlord sucked so bad.

[Just Jack]

I was able to break my lease just by going through the lease agreement and pointing out all the ways the landlord was not following their own rules. I think they took a basic agreement and slapped their name on it without reading it. Here's the section on apartment access I included in the letter telling them I was moving out....

The landlord has also failed to follow the rules under paragraph 3, “Access”, where upon entry by a representative to do maintenance, the representative will leave a card explaining the purpose behind the entry when the tenant is not there, and who the representative was. In addition, during the water leak, the representative used some sort of vacuum to suck up the water and plaster out of the carpet, then dumped the contents into the tub located in the bathroom of the apartment, where I had to then clean the tub before being able to use it.

 

I'm guessing one reason your wifes friend is concerned is for her two teenage daughters?

[buckeyemike]

Fez, I really like your story. I'm gonna have to remember that one for future clients.

[Fezmid]

Fez, I really like your story. I'm gonna have to remember that one for future clients.

Thanks But in what context would you tell them???

[buckeyemike]

Thanks But in what context would you tell them???

 

Just that it happened to someone in another state...

[Steely Dan]

No he cannot do that. He has to give her notice he will entering the apartment. She has the right to call the police and have him arrested. She should call the state board that deals with tenants and report him. He'll probably evict her but he probably was going to anyway.

 

I don't believe there is any state that a landlord can enter unnounced. He has to at least knock.