Just moved-issues with landlord. Am I doing the right thing or is there a better way to handle this?

Question

To make a long story short. My husband and I have 5 children. 2 his 2 mine and 1 ours. We had to move to have more room after baby. I was laid off during maternity leave and we are a family of 7 on one income which is hard right now. I owed a half months rent when we moved and tried to clean the carpets myself but they did not clean good with a rented shampooer. I havent received support from the childrens father in months and so that is gone too. My old landlord is calling and telling me that he is going to track me down if I dont call him back for the money. I havent returned his calls because I just dont know what to say. I have never been in this situation before and trying to unpack boxes and deal with 5 kids and deal with this is about to drive me nuts, I dont know what to do. I want to pay him and I have just sat down and written him a letter explaining everything to a "T" in hopes that he would understand and except my offer to pay what I owe plus to have the carpets cleaned added to it in two installments. Its the only thing that I can think of and I want to do the right thing, he was very good to me and I lived there for almost 3 years. I just feel guilty because I havent called him and I cant do it all right now. I cant talk because I have kids under me all day and it would be hard to have a phone conversation with the children under me all day. I am looking for work but havent found anything yet. I am just at my wits end and have never been in this situation before. My family cant help, they dont have the funds and I feel its my problem and I need to deal with it. I am just now sure what he means about him trackingme down. I have never heard him sound that way before and I just dont know what to do. Any advice would be appreciated!! I have been praying for the answer but I just dont know.

Answer 1

call him, explain the situation, apologize and offer to repay him, at say $20 dollars a week until you get back on your feet. Tell him you have been embarrassed about not contacting him, but you have been at a loss on how to deal with everything. Then at least you have tried :)

Answer 2

I understand that 5 children can be a handful but there has to be 10 minutes that you can get a phone call out to him.  Aren't they in school, at least some of them?  Make the phone call, communication is everything, if he would just hear from you I bet he wouldn't be so worried that he wasn't going to get his money.  Call him and get something worked out, you said he was good to you, there is no reason than that you should avoid him. The carpet cleaning should have been taken care of in the deposit, so just worry about the unpaid rent.  Communication.........it makes all the difference.

Answer 3

Ok I know and you know there is time to call your landlord when your husband comes home lock yourself in that bathroom and call him . Let him know your money is a little tight right now and you were wondering if you are able to pay him like half next month and half the other month or evn if you are able to spare more during the months , if not ask him what he would want you to do .  

Answer 4

You do have some options.  Call your church and the churches in your area and see if they can help you with an unpaid and overdue bill.  Explain your situation to them and ask them if anyone in their church is in need to an employee.  Maybe you can find someone to pay you to clean their house and get enough money that way.

Call the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.  Sometimes they can help or refer you to an organization that can help.

Call your former landlord and tell him what is going on and that you are trying to come up with the money.  Ask him if you can work out a payment plan or work it off by cleaning any empty units he may have.  If he agrees to a payment plan or to let you work it off, make sure you get the agreement and terms in writing and that you get a signed copy.

If you were laid off, go to the unemployment office and see if they can help.  Call first and find out what documentation you need to bring with you.

If you have anything of value, sell it or take it to the pawn shop.

I hope this helps.  You may have to swallow your pride, but you have to do what you have to do.

Answer 5

You need to contact him ASAP. Depending on where you live, the laws regarding collections vary. Usually, if you can come up with a payment schedule it is in the creditors interest to agree to it. Taking you to court may cost him more than you owe him.

The longer you wait, the worse it will be. I've been there and have done it both ways. You will feel so much better when you don't have to screen you calls and listened to threatening messages. A returned call would be best but if you can't do that, send that letter. Just do it as soon as possible.

Answer 6

ignoring him is only pissing him off and making it worse

Call him and explain your situation

Doesn't he have a security deposit that will cover everything?

Answer 7

What company lays off a woman on maternity leave?  That is illegal in most places.  You should check that out.  Other than that, you are really s******g yourself over by not dealing with your problems.  He can get the law involved and they will be on his side.

Answer 8

Hi.

Unfortunately everyone falls into hard times, so I think you should just call your landlord, I know it will be hard but after you do there will be a big weight lifted off your shoulders.  Explain your situation and work something out together.  Avoiding your landlord will only make things worse and put more stress on you and your family.  Good luck!

Answer 9

I don't know where you live but where I live, if you have kids you can accually get away with not paying rent and the lanlord can not do anything about it because you have children. I know it sounds bad but it happens all the time around here. I have known someone who has done that before for 6 months because they had little income and the lanlord could not kick them out or do anything. That goes the same with the elc. too. If you miss a payment around here and have kids. It is against the law for them to turn off the elc. if they have kids living in the house.

Hope this helps :)

and I wish you luck:)

Answer 10

Call him back and suggest the payment plan.  By the way, did you pay a deposit when you moved in?  If so, that should cover some or all of the expenses you owe him.  I know the children make it difficult to talk on the phone, but maybe he needs to hear that to soften up a little.  If you do not call him or respond and you did not pay a deposit, he can take you to small claims court and would probably win (prob what he means by tracking you down).  If you offer to pay something, and follow through, there is not much he can do, just make sure you pay him in check or money order, something that can be traced as proof of payment.

Good Luck!