How do I deal with my crazy former landlord?

Question

Ok so, during my last two years of college, I lived in a dumpy house near my school, mostly because of its proximity and the landlord's lax policies on how nice we keep the house.

The house was a dump to start, and the landlord didn't do his job. I never had to sign any agreements, and he never actually did anything as landlord. The closest thing was when he remodeled the bathroom, but he left the old bathtub on our porch and made us get rid of it when the city complained.

So now the house has been foreclosed upon because he couldn't keep up on his mortgage. My plans for the next place to live are in September. I've been living in my girlfriend's house and keeping my stuff in my friends' houses.

I didn't pay my last month's rent, and feel justified in doing so, since I put up with so much, and my landlord did so little. I'm not legally obligated to pay him. But now my old roommate is telling me that my old landlord is threatening to beat me and "more". What should I do?

Answer 1

Ignore him, he doesn't own it anymore and cannot collect.

Anything he collects on that property at this point must go to the people he owes.

Answer 2

Good all u have to do now is post about your house in this forum.

www.look-b4u-rent.com

Its a forum to discuss about the problems faced in rented houses. If we all discuss about this and let others knw abt the problems we faced in the houses we are gonna rent we can demand our landlords.

Answer 3

tell the police of his threats. Even if you legally owe him money, he can't beat you, he must take it to civil court. Depending on your local police and any possible history on the guy, they may permit you to get a restraining order if the threat is great enough.

Other than that, don't really worry about it. You might want to get something like a can of pepper spray for you key chain. You might also want to do small things like warn your girlfriend, get her some pepper spray (or something like that), and get something for the house (a baseball bat kept near the door maybe?).

If you feel very threatened, you may be able to apply for a concealed carry permit so that you can carry a handgun with you. If you live in a "shall-issue" state, all you need is the license and maybe some training. If you live in a "may-issue" state, you would need the permit, possibly training and probable cause (threats to your well-being may be applicable). All states except Illinois and Wisconsin have some kind if concealed carry law, just contact the state police. If I were you, I would only go this route if you are actually threatened directly by your landlord (not just your former roommate telling you this).

Just make sure you don't really have to pay for the rent and take some basic measures that you might want to do even if you weren't being threatened.

Answer 4

Get your friend to write out a statement and have it notarized.  Take it to the police -- just in case your landlord DOES try to do something.

Find your state's landlord/tenant board and contact them.  File a complaint about this landlord.  Bad landlords can only stay bad if tenants let them get away with it.