My friend is getting the third degree from her landlord please help?

Question

OK so my friend works her *** off with horses. She owns 6 herself and constantly does everything that is asked of her by other people. She is 100% always on time, she owns her own horse business, she loves the animals, and she always insures her well being. The person that everyone feels is the luckiest is her landlord because she lives on the farm. Its a small pretty crappy apartment with no bedrooms only a big room and a bath room. So the other day she was out riding and got hurt really bad breaking her arm, wrist, ribs, and maybe her foot (going back for xrays) the day after that the farm owner came down on her really bad as she is limping in a cast and could barely even talk right saying she does not feed the horses right, take care of the farm right, or do anything right, and she wants her to pay rent in addition to everything else. I could understand her wanting rent even though my friend is actually having her employees still care for the horses, etc. But why pick that time to say a bunch of bull c**p about my friend? I think its time for her to look for a new place. With friends like that woman, who needs enemies? I know you may ask how do I know she takes care of the farm, etc... Well there are 20 horses there, they are all in excellent condition, the barn is always clean enough to eat off the floor, the other farm animals are always happy and healthy, and the crazy witch of a landlord has always bragged about how great my friend is with the farm and the horses. So odd. Anyway. What would you tell my friend if you were in her shoes? She is the type of person, especially now that she is in so much pain where she just started crying and saying I don't see how you could say that I work my as* off here. I feel so bad for her!! Help?

Answer 1

Does she have a written contract outlining her work/living arrangements? Maybe there should be one. That would protect her from whimsical rent raises.

Maybe the landlord would have said this anyway and it was just a coincidence it happened the way it did.

But, now that the landlord is demanding rent she should ask for a lease or written contract.

Answer 2

Is it possible the landlord was just having a bad day and took it out on your friend?

How has the landlord acted since then?

You need to figure out what the landlords motivation is and then determine how to respond.  Your friend may want to go have a calm rational discussion with the landlord at a time that she is feeling better and both are in a receptive mood.

If the agreement was the right to stay in the apartment in exchange for labor -- and now due to the injury she can perform the labor -- the land lord does not have to suck it up and let her live there for free. Then she needs to go and have a calm rational conversation with the landlord about how to handle the next 6-8 weeks while she recoveres.