Another question about my upstairs neighbors

[Mapleleaf]

As I mentioned in another post, a woman and her daughter moved in upstairs where I live. The mother gave me the garage to use, which I am grateful for, except for one thing...she seems to think that it's the responsibility for the basemant tenant to pitch in with the yard work, which includes mowing the lawn and raking leaves, plus she claims that I haven't been doing enough of that, which I have been doing. I have a feeling that she might be wanting to turn me into the resident yard slave. Ever since I was a kid, I've always understood that it's the upstars tenants responsibility to look after those things. This woman claims that it's part of my responsibility as a basement tenant to do all that regardless of whether or not I have the garage to use. I'm tempted to clean out the garage of my things and give her the key and tell her that she can keep the garage and she and her daughter can take care of the lawns from then on. Any advice? Thanks.

[Trimmer]

Are you a renter? What does your rental agreement say?

 

You say the mother and daughter "moved in." Does that mean they purchased the property, and she is your landlord, or are they renters, too?

[Trimmer]

OK - just read your other thread, in which is seems clear that you are a tenant, and the mother/daughter upstairs are tenants, too, and you both rent from a landlord.

 

You should not be arguing rental property policies with other tenants. Neither of you has any contractual obligation to the other - your agreements are individually with your landlord. If either of you has a complaint or needs clarification about your obligations under your rental agreement, it should be taken up with the landlord.

 

Bottom line: why are you arguing rental property policy - specifically, your obligations as a tenant - with another tenant?

[alphamale]

i've never heard the rule that the person(s) living on the top floor would have to take care of all the yard work. where do you live, Zimbabwe??

 

I say it should be 50/50 and so should be the use of the garage...

[alphamale]

whenever i rented i remember it was the landlords job to take care of the outside of the house along with any repairs or maintenance....

[Trimmer]

I say it should be 50/50 and so should be the use of the garage...

 

whenever i rented i remember it was the landlords job to take care of the outside of the house along with any repairs or maintenance....

 

My point is that it's not a matter of "how it should be" or what the group opinion is here, or how it works other places or anything like that. It's either spelled out in the rental agreement, or it's not. My point is that neither tenant should be dictating to the other tenant what the policies and obligations are with respect to their rental of the property. Those are individual agreements between each tenant and the landlord, and that's the level on which such issues should be resolved.

 

Now, if the tenants can come to some reasonable agreement that works for both sides, all is great. But when it comes to the point where one is dictating to the other "this is how things have to be, and this is what you have to do" then it's time to talk to the landlord, not to be engaging in a power struggle between the tenants.

[alphamale]

My point is that it's not a matter of "how it should be" or what the group opinion is here, or how it works other places or anything like that. It's either spelled out in the rental agreement, or it's not. My point is that neither tenant should be dictating to the other tenant what the policies and obligations are with respect to their rental of the property. Those are individual agreements between each tenant and the landlord, and that's the level on which such issues should be resolved.

 

Now, if the tenants can come to some reasonable agreement that works for both sides, all is great. But when it comes to the point where one is dictating to the other "this is how things have to be, and this is what you have to do" then it's time to talk to the landlord, not to be engaging in a power struggle between the tenants.

have a chat w/ your landlord and don't forget the tea and crumpets

[Mapleleaf]

What browns me off is being accused of being a slacker when in fact I have been pitching in and helping with various chores INCLUDING little maintenace jobs that the landlord should be doing. What's starting to piss me off is being accused of not doing enough and not even hearing a word of gratitude....just bitching and complaining. If I hear anymore of that, then I'll give back the garage and tell them to do everthing themselves. I don't tolerate that attitude from people for very long, and I don't intend to be their little slave. There are no written agreements, so if I pull the plug, there's nothing they can do about it as far as I'm concerned.

[Trimmer]

Do you not have a written rental agreement with your landlord either? Or are you just saying there is no written agreement between the two of you tenants?

[Mapleleaf]

I've been living at my place for 9 years. I didn't sign any document(s) for the landlord or the tenants. It's not that I'm not willing to help out, but I will not tolerate a demanding and dictatorial attitude and being falsely accused of not contributing enough.

[Trimmer]

... I will not tolerate a demanding and dictatorial attitude and being falsely accused of not contributing enough.

Oh, I completely understand. I just can't understand why you are engaging in ANY conversations with the other tenant on these issues at all. Once you are at the point where you're unable to come to an informal agreement, I'd just shrug my shoulders and say "well, that's for <landlord> to figure out."

 

The other tenant has absolutely no authority or negotiating position - except by ego or force of personality, and if you succumb to that, it's really your problem, isn't it?

 

Now, it sounds like the garage is normally "theirs", and they have agreed to let you use it. If that's the case, then they may figure that gives them some space to lean on you for other things, and if that is what's happening, then yes, I'd be inclined to do what you are saying and say "thanks but I'm done" and discontinue your use of the garage. If use of the garage comes with that much irritation attached to it, then cut them off at the pass, and then you can ignore them completely.

Edited November 5, 2011 by Trimmer

[creighton0123]

Is the garage considered communal? If so, both should have use of it as long as one doesn't block the other person in.

 

As for the lawn, figure it out with the landlord. If I were a landlord, I would not want my tenants doing lawn work and would do it myself or have a service do it.

[sunshinegirl]

What browns me off is being accused of being a slacker when in fact I have been pitching in and helping with various chores INCLUDING little maintenace jobs that the landlord should be doing. What's starting to piss me off is being accused of not doing enough and not even hearing a word of gratitude....just bitching and complaining. If I hear anymore of that, then I'll give back the garage and tell them to do everthing themselves. I don't tolerate that attitude from people for very long, and I don't intend to be their little slave. There are no written agreements, so if I pull the plug, there's nothing they can do about it as far as I'm concerned.

 

It's possible that some of these chores and maintenance jobs you're doing are actually invisible to the other tenant...they actually don't see/know what you're doing... so while your situation generally is frustrating (I get it), your upset at not getting recognition for this stuff might be because they aren't aware of it, not because they're willfully ignoring it.