After Years of paying my rent on time, and following the LandLords rules such as : No Pets, No repairs, and Mow the yard ourselves.
We had been hit with Hard Times it started back in August. We struggled with paying our bills after the hubbys truck broke down. Then it disappears and took the police a week to let us know what happened to it. At first they had no record of any officer calling in the tow, then they found the order. After finding out which yard it was in and how much it would cost to get it out it broke us. We told the land lord and provided it in writing he responded in writing that it was k=okay.
We gave him what little we could until we couldnt any more. We let him know in copies and in writing everything and why we had nothing for rent.
He then shows up a day after receiving our letter and verbally tells us we have a week to get out and then hands us two yahoo calendar print outs with hand scratched numbers on the bottom of one of the pages.
A week did not pass when he calls to tell us we have 24 hours to leave. That was on this past week he called.
Today while doing the dishes a cop car pulls up, actually The Sharif.
He delivers a summons papers. Apparently he is suing us now. We have to be in court on Nov. 1st. I have no court clothes or anything to buy court cloths with. Most money I earn on the side from the shop lately has been going straight to the groceries.
The past 4 years these are the things we put up with from him:
Late responses on broken items such as the Water Heater that took him a week to replace the whole time Water pouring everywhere in the bathroom. The tub is now falling through the floor.
The Ac has never been fixed it ours water all the time the bedroom closet which hubby and I use has Black Mold damage from it.
Broken window in the front door.
We have had on and off issues with mice when he Mows the vacant Lot behind the property he said he would get an exterminator, that was 2 years ago I am still waiting.
When the fridge broke I called him (its his fridge) he never answered I had little time to wait on him I called a repair service and took it out of rent and sent a copy of the repair slip. He called screaming at me for going behind his back, which I did not.
The Front Water Hose spicket had a constant leek we asked him to get it fixed, He Capped it that was his fix. After a few months the pipes bursted and spewed water our water bill went to 200.00 a month. This was the same time that our Truck Incident happend. He came out and fixed it. We shoed him the water bill and said we are not going to be able to pay rent. As Is we were paying half the bills every pay check which was leaving us 20 bucks for grocries. He didnt say anything. We sent copies of the water bill to him with a letter and a list of many things that still needed to be fixed.
The Front door does not close we have to use a jerry rig to keep it closed. When the wind blows it moves and allows the mosquitos and other insects to come in. We got an estaminet on how much it would cost to fix and it would be cheaper to move out. I wish I had the money to just pick up and move out.
As is it would cost us well over 2,000.00 to move out this includes finding a temp place.
Did I mentioned our lease was good for only one year? It expired after the first year we were here. We wrote and asked for a new lease with every payment his reply "Dont worry about it".
I do not work I stay home so that the School as an emergency contact for our two kids. Our Son gets SSI and is Autistic. My hubby has been recently diagnosed with COPD and has High blood pressure. He has gone without his medicine for nearly 4 months.
NOw back in Late August he gets scratched with a needle at work, he works in environmental services and makes just above 9.00 and hour. Its not a bad job but it aint swell either. They have no clue if the needle was dirty or not so now he has to get a shot for Hep B every two months and gets tested for HIV all on the hospital. Its still stressful.
I am seeking Legal Aid Rep but I so needed to vent, its just so frustrating. Maybe we were in the wrong and deserve this. I don't know anymore. I havent been sleeping well. IF things dont do a 180 within a day or two (Can we say big fat miracle) then we will really be in trouble. Not looking for a pity party I just needed to vent out some. I know everyone here is also going through there own issues. I just needed to let it out.

I just don't understand. Doesn't the landlord have to give you 30 days notice to vacate? I thought there was some kind of landlord/tenant act or something. And why on earth is the sheriff suing you? ::so confused::

While I know financially everything must just seem impossible right now (am there myself right now), perhaps this is a blessing in disguise? It sounds like you needed to get out of that place a LONG time ago. There is no way in hell I would re-sign a lease to live in a place like that, where you know nothing is going to get fixed, and have black mold that can make you and your family sick. In fact, the black mold issue alone would have me moving out regardless of a lease or not. There are just some things a landlord is expected to fix in a timely manner, especially when you have children in the home. There are also just some conditions in which you shouldn't live in due to health concerns. You should easily be able to take this guy to court and win.

Are you guys out of there now?

I think maybe she meant the slumlord (as that is what it sounds like he is, by not pulling his share of the load) was suing them???

Hope things work out, Egyptian.

Just make sure you have records of every single thing you've given him because the courts can't work on "he said, she said," but if you have written records, that can make a difference.

Good luck!

The Sharif isnt suing us he delivered the papers of summons.

The Renters Laws and Landlord laws are very confusing each one cancels each other out.
I know we need out and we want out and been looking to get out for nearly 2 years.
We did find a place to buy.
We have to fix one thing on our credit history before we can get the pre approval for the mortgage loan. Which can take a month to show up as fixed on those credit reports.

We would have been able to if my Grandmother hadnt fiddled about. She was going to loan us some money to fix the credit issue and put the rest on the down payment. She backed out and it put us in a holding bind.

I know that he is in the wrong and I am trying to find someone to help represent us without costing an arm and a leg, because at this point that is all I have to give.
We will see what this evening holds I had done a bunch of phone calls and I should be getting some back after lunch hour is over.

No we are still here, we have no where to go and no money to rent a truck to pack everything up into. I mean literally he is throwing us out to the streets.

Ah, my bad. I read that completely wrong.

All I can hope is that even if he does win against you guys, that you guys will win your counterclaim against him and perhaps it will even out or you will come out on top. You just never know. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you guys. I know you guys have been through a lot trying to get by. Sometimes it feels like you just never get a break.

Just be careful about buying instead of renting, especially if you are having money problems. When a pipe breaks, an AC unit fails, a roof leaks... it all comes out of your own pocket, and can get so expensive that the house ends up being a money pit. Wes and I are currently working through a foreclosure (deed in lieu), it's a huge scary pain in the ass that makes you never want to own a home until you are well off enough to have money falling out of your ass each month.

::sigh::

You guys will be in my thoughts, Tonie. Try not to stress too much. So much of it is a waiting game. Just stay hopeful! ::huge hugs::

-Aly-

I dont mind if its on me at least I can fix it without waiting for a slumloard to show his face. I am actually quite handy

The realtor we are working with has said the property has been on the market for 2 years and she spent the cash to have the homing inspectors to go through recently. Everything is up to coad and beyond. The only problem was a lose rail on the handicap ramp. My mom will be living with us so that will be a plus.

I am trying not to stress out on it, its hard not to. I do know its been affecting my sleep at night. I do sleep but not resting.

I just hope to be able to give Owen a good afternoon its his 6th birthday.

*hugs*

Bastard! Above all else, you are going to need to get professional assistance. With what you listed, maybe you could counter-sue?

Gather all written evidence. Since your lease expired, he might make the claim that you are squating. Not sure if it will help, but maybe get copies of the checks you wrote to him for rent as evidence otherwise.

We have bank records of when he cashed our rent checks
I am gathering everything as I come across it.
I dont think he can claim that we are squatting since we have records of payments.
I also received public records on the property. Back in January he raised our rent saying the taxes went up. He flat out lied in fact the taxes went down. When I asked him about it he then claimed he could raise our rent every month if he wanted to.
Its just been one thing after another.
Hes also been stalking us watching the house at all hours of the day and such.
When he gave us the 24 hour notice he also tried to do the sob story his wife was having open heart surgery. If she did then why is she in her car staring at us on the day she was supposed to be under the knife?
It has been just crazy. I mean you work hard all day long and at the end what do you have to show for it?
*sigh* so far I haven't gotten a call back yet on some of the legal aids office. I know they get busy so twiddling my thumbs isnt the best activity for me.
I know my BP is up even with my glasses on everything is blurry.

oh dear! i know how stressful that can be! we went through the same kind of shittiness with our old landlord a few years ago..he gave us a 7 day notice for "not paying", we were on time with rent..turns out he mixed us up with the neighbors next door to us (they owed him over $3000!!). he was a "slum lord" kind of guy as well. records of everything you guys have paid him, as well as repairs, etc. will help sooo much in court. and i know that the laws vary from state to state, but here in alabama, they do have to give you 30 days for eviction, and they have to do it 3 whole times before any legal action can be made. our's did the same thing, and threatened to sue as well, until i showed him a HUGE stack of papers and a letter from my attorney (who just so happened to be my father..how handy!LOL). you might also could call around to a few attorney's offices for a consultation...a lot of them will do it pro bono for you, if there's a possibility you could win some $$ from this guy. LOL i hope it all works out for ya, and keep you're head up, chickadee..things happen for a reason..who knows, maybe you guys will find the perfect home in the process!! *hugs!*

This dude sounds like a total nut bag.
I agree with Stem. You, your hubby and kids shouldn't have to live in a mess like that. It seems bad now, but getting the hell out of there is a good thing.

Good luck with everything!