There's a reason for that: for me, it's because I was very emotional and most definitely not always thinking straight. Looking back, I realize that many times I just plain over-reacted. Here is an example:
June 22, 2001
I need a little perspective on this and hope you guys can help me out.
Rich and I moved into a really nice townhouse with a great school district,
convenient shopping, transportation, etc. Problem was the landlords. When we
came from MD we told our realtor that we had a cat and he said no problem.
We put the security deposit down on the house and then when we signed the
lease they were like, oh, here's a rider too...and the rider said NO dogs or
cats. We were furious but we really liked the house.
Have had little to no contact with these landlords in the almost 2 years
we're here. The lease is up on Oct. 31, and Rich and I agreed we'd like to
stay...and then he died on May 23rd. I paid my rent in May and then with the
June rent, I sent a letter explaining what happened to Rich and saying I'd
like to stay on, could afford to, liked the schools, etc...and heard nothing
until last week when Mrs. Landlord called while I was at work. She left a
message with Heidi asking if we were okay, she was sorry, and she needed to
talk to Mr. Landlord who was still out of town. So I called back and
acknowledged the message.
Yesterday, I notice the floor outside the bathroom is wet. I don't see any
leaking or anything but I assume it's the toilet, shut off the water, called
a plumber and called a left a message with the landlord. Later, Mr. Landlord
calls back and talks to my son, doesn't even ask for me, and leaves this
message: you take care of it, it's in the lease, and oh, we'll work
something out for continuing to rent.
I was really pissed. I looked at the lease (hey what widow of 2 months would
even THINK to do that?) and all it says is: "Tenant must take good care of
the unit and all equipment and fixtures in it. Tenant must, at Tenant's cost
make all repairs and replacements whenever the need results from Tenant's
act or neglect..." I thought: that doesn't apply...
I call Mr. Landlord back and leave another message saying you know, I've
been really dealing with A LOT since Rich died, never occurred to me to look
at the lease, what on earth did his message mean, maybe my son got it wrong?
Please *ask for me*!!!!
So he calls back and is really nice and says he and his wife were so sorry
to hear about Rich etc. As for the plumber, it's on me and I said, why? It's
the plumbing, we didn't do anything to it. He says, well, you know how kids
can be...so rough...and I said uh uh no way and then he says, "Well, your
husband WAS a big man..."
I nearly blew then.
I just bit back my words and said, "My husband has been gone for eight
weeks."
Mr. Landlord says, "Well, let's see what the plumber says."
The plumber took one look and said contemptuously: "Oh, an American Standard
toilet. They use the cheapest material they can find. Sometimes toilet can
be one year old and the gasket goes." I asked him to write it onto the
receipt.
I don't know if the landlord will reimburse me for this and I think I was
rooked. Now I don't want to live here anymore. Am I over-reacting?
Oh and Mr. Landlord said, don't worry we won't throw you out (how nice);
we'll go on renting to you, we'll work something out (sounds very vague to
me...lease?)...I was too upset and tired to ask about it at the time and now
I'm just too darn mad.
Sorry this is so long.
Normally, this is a misunderstanding that could have been easily worked out. I totally flipped out, though, and it took almost a major financial blunder to realize it....