undefined | Better HN

0 pointsBobbyTables21y ago0 comments

Indeed. When I lived in an apparent, got a very angry knock at the door. Before I even got up, manager already was unlocking the door without asking, with a formal eviction notice in hand.

Every month I faithfully put my rent check in an envelope, deposited the slot at the office.

That month they accidentally threw away the check after opening the envelope.

They really didn’t believe I had paid, despite being a good tenant for years, always on time. Never caused any trouble.

Marched me to the office and they discovered they had photocopied my check but didn’t deposit it (threw it away).

That all happened in one month — no prior notice/warning/call about being late on rent.

I’m still shocked at this treatment many many years later. Can’t even chalk it up to any type of prejudice… just utter stupidity.

0 comments

jopsen1y ago

No amount of laws can protect renters from a stupid landlord :)

I could certainly see places where using a master key without authorization is a stupid move.

Sohcahtoa821y ago

Some landlords have a HUGE superiority complex which makes them look down upon or even despise their tenants for no reason at all.

mingus881y ago

Landlords have a financial incentive to dehumanize their tenants. Every repair or improvement they make directly affects their take.

This is probably the #1 reason I haven’t bought a second house or investment property, despite it being the easiest way for me to kickstart some passive income. 20 years of renting has really embedded some class warfare into my psyche.

jopsen1y ago

Logically thinking: if you are a landlord, most of your interactions with tenants aren't with easy tenants who pay on time and don't make unreasonable demands.

A stupid landlord might not realize that easy tenants are worth gathering.

1 more reply

_DeadFred_1y ago

I think this is part of the reason people don't want to live in big city condo buildings with co-ops or communal fees/maintenance. Even if you own your place you don't really own it and these other entity that care nothing about, your bill situation, etc you can impact your housing situation.

If I have a place in the burbs I only have to worry about the soulless local government.

yellowapple1y ago

The whole point of a housing co-op is that you do have an ownership stake in what would otherwise be a landlord and/or property manager - meaning that you, and your fellow residents, can compel that other entity to care entirely about your bill situation and so on.

The more common reason people often don't want to live in big city condo buildings is simply because they offer less space than single-family homes. There's a balance to be struck between space, affordability, and proximity to work/amenities, and while everyone prioritizes those three factors differently, a lot of people end up finding that balance to lie in the suburbs.

> If I have a place in the burbs I only have to worry about the soulless local government.

Unless/until there's an HOA, in which case you're in the exact same predicament, at best.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointsBobbyTables21y ago0 comments

Indeed. When I lived in an apparent, got a very angry knock at the door. Before I even got up, manager already was unlocking the door without asking, with a formal eviction notice in hand.

Every month I faithfully put my rent check in an envelope, deposited the slot at the office.

That month they accidentally threw away the check after opening the envelope.

They really didn’t believe I had paid, despite being a good tenant for years, always on time. Never caused any trouble.

Marched me to the office and they discovered they had photocopied my check but didn’t deposit it (threw it away).

That all happened in one month — no prior notice/warning/call about being late on rent.

I’m still shocked at this treatment many many years later. Can’t even chalk it up to any type of prejudice… just utter stupidity.

0 comments

jopsen1y ago

No amount of laws can protect renters from a stupid landlord :)

I could certainly see places where using a master key without authorization is a stupid move.

Sohcahtoa821y ago

Some landlords have a HUGE superiority complex which makes them look down upon or even despise their tenants for no reason at all.

mingus881y ago

Landlords have a financial incentive to dehumanize their tenants. Every repair or improvement they make directly affects their take.

jopsen1y ago

Logically thinking: if you are a landlord, most of your interactions with tenants aren't with easy tenants who pay on time and don't make unreasonable demands.

A stupid landlord might not realize that easy tenants are worth gathering.

1 more reply

_DeadFred_1y ago

If I have a place in the burbs I only have to worry about the soulless local government.

yellowapple1y ago

> If I have a place in the burbs I only have to worry about the soulless local government.

Unless/until there's an HOA, in which case you're in the exact same predicament, at best.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse