Landlady problems, help!!!?

Due to the economic crisis, my husband and I had to downsize temporarily, and answered a room rental ad for $450/mo, moving in on 12/15/2009. I should've brought up the rental agreement at that point %26amp; time, but I figured this lady obviously wasn't up for it since she didn't bring one up herself. I also figured it might not be necessary since we weren't planning on staying here any more than a year.





Well, the time came when I needed the rental agreement... and sure enough she didn't want to sign it. I needed it last week to show proof of my expenses to avoid a drastic financial dent [for a personal matter], and she refused. This is how it all went down:


* I typed up a very simple one, only confirming that as of 12/15/2009 I have been paying rent in the amount of $450.00/mo.


* She said ';My hands are full of chili cus I'm cooking and can't sign it right now';.


* I said ';That's ok, I can wait for you to wash your hands, because I really need this paper right away. It's possible I won't receive my next paycheck if I don't fax it today, and this next check is for my rent.';


* She said ';But I don't know about these things. Why don't you wait and show it to my husband later.';


* I said ';I'm sorry, I'm actually pressed for time for this paper... I'm always working, and never see him... I need to fax this paper today. I've been giving you the money, you shouldn't have a problem with confirming that.';


* She said, ';No, but he handles those things. I don't know anything about it.';


* I said, ';Hmmm, well I'll have to try and stop by HIS work on my way to MY work then. Hope I have time. If not, I'm just not getting a check in time to pay the rent.';





Well, unfortunately I didn't have time to drive to ';his work'; because his work is in one direction while mine's in another... the paper wasn't faxed... my check was docked big time! I'm upset because she's been taking all my rent money without giving me a receipt, and altho I know I should've been asking for one, me trying to resolve this by drawing up an agreement should be no problem!! Last month I opened an account and decided to write checks for rent from now on; she didn't like it. Her husband and her went back %26amp; forth about who I should make it out to, saying that neither of them had an account or I.D. (??)... but ultimately she said ';Ok, ok, just make it out to my name.'; She apparently had some kind of trouble cashing it, and tried returning it to me a couple of days later saying the bank told her I ';don't have any money in the bank'; and asked for cash instead. I said ';That's impossible'; and called my bank right in front of her, clearing it up with my personal banker who said ';Of course you have funds, send her over here with that check right now!';, which I did.





I still need that paper signed, and I want HER to sign it... cus now Im thinking something's up... maybe she's here illegally... but then how would she be receiving welfare, food stamps, etc, (which I'm almost sure of now) if she was an illegal immigrant, right?? I'm starting to think all kinds of things, like... recently she started renting out the living room to someone!!! This is a tiny apartment, and she alone has a family of five (in one room) already! My husband %26amp; I in the other room, and now someone in the living room... we're just too damn crowded!!! And I'm thinking, the way she shops and the things she brings home, she is definitely getting some type of assistance, I'm sure of it. And her husband works full time, but maybe she's not reporting that (or him). And the amount of alcohol they buy %26amp; consume is always more and more, and I'm thinking where is all this money coming from??? They've started to throw parties way to often, big ones, too! So something's not right. And I don't like it.





My questions are along the lines of ';What should I and can I do about this';?? Legally, of course.


(I'm even thinking twice about giving her any rent anymore since she didn't want to sign my agreement! Even if it meant ultimately giving her a 30-Day Notice on ';my behalf';... and of course moving somewhere that wasn't as crowded and rediculous. My husband %26amp; I are clean %26amp; sober people, hardworking people, and their parties (which we're helping pay for!) are really becoming a problem, along with how crowded we just are! PLEASE HELP!!!!Landlady problems, help!!!?
move out. is this so hard to figure out?Landlady problems, help!!!?
She doesn't want to sign because that is then income to her which she does not want to declare as it will affect her foodstamps etc. So, stick with writing checks, and only pay her when she signs a receipt every month. No signature, no check.
in the first place she is probably illegally renting to you and also if she is allowing someone in the living room this is probably far in excess of the number of people that should be occupying the premises


if you fail to pay her she very likely will change the locks and you will not be able to even get in to get your belongings


you need to vacate this place asap and since you don't have a written agreement she can't complain you didn't give her 30 days notice----


don't rent anywhere without some written agreement, and receipts for what you pay them
You've neglected to tell us what state you are in, so we can't give you much more than general help.





In many states, if you are month to month tenant for longer than 6-12 months (depending on the state), the landlord MUST put a written rental agreement into place. If your state is one of these states, then you can use that as leverage.





I would do some groundwork and see if the place is even a legal apartment and what your state's housing codes are for 8 non-related people in a 2 bedroom house.





What should you do about this? Start looking for a new place and DEMAND a written rental agreement BEFORE you agree to anything.





This woman is obviously a real piece of crap, but much of the blame falls on you for not demading a written rental agreement upon moving in. Unless you can find out things that you can use for leverage, she's never going to sign one for you.
I don't think you will ever get her to sign the rental agreement and you already know why.





She can not receive food stamps, etc. if she has sufficient income and giving you a signature would eventually come back on her and then she would be investigated for welfare fraud.





Here is another way you can try: Next time the rent is due.... write her a check.


Tell her that unless she is willing to give you a receipt for the rent you are not willing to pay in cash.





She takes the check and cashes it... you ask your bank to give you a copy of the cashed check... voila you have her signature and proof that you paid your rent.





Hint: GET OUT.... whatever the issue is... don't make it your business unless absolutely necessary.
Well you cannot force her to sign any kind of paperwork. Many states do not require that she give you a receipt so you are basically screwed. This sounds like an all around bad and getting worse situation. You are really best off just giving your notice %26amp; moving.
Honey, you and hubby need to MOVE and now..


hus lady is racking in the money if she is renting a room for 450.00 a month .


Move as soon as you can.


GOOD LUCK
First illegal immigrants get full benefits, food stamps, welfare, free medical, etc. It is illegal in the US to discriminate based on nationality. That is why so many people want them gone, they are bleeding us dry.





In CA she can have a month to month tenant and does NOT have to sign a contract with you, you and she are both covered under CA landlord tenant law. There is nothing at all illegal about her not signing this contract, she simply does not have to. Personally I would not have signed it either after you insisted on having it signed before anyone looked at it. It is possible her English is not good enough that she is comfortable signing a contract without advice.





If you are so miserable you should move, the easiest way to resolve this.





I have not read the other responses, but it sounds like someone mentioned this is violating the occupancy laws. If this is ghetto it will be ignored, but in normal neighborhoods the health department can throw you all out with amazing swift notice.
Totally agree with every other answer YOU have Rights as a Tenant SHE is breaking laws of landlord tenant agreements and policies !





GO to your local township that handles these matters the gov't body !





Tell HER that she is leaving YOU no recourse but to tale legal action if She dosent sign a rental agreement !





They are renting illegally also That is NOT apartments it is a single family house !





Matter of fact YOU don't even have to tell HER anything let the people that handle this stuff contact her !





OOOO wait a Min YOU know who knows the Tenant and landord issues laws and regulations better than anyone ?





YES YOUR local Realtor !





Call them up ask them what can YOU do !





Any Office of any realtor !





I can Guarantee if something goes wrong in that Home like broken heater or plumbing that they will drag thier feet to get it fixed !





What happens if a FIRE breaks out from others living there ?





betcha they have no insurance either !





CONTACT A REALTOR right now they will help YOU !