Hi there! I'm in a pretty tough spot here in San Diego County, California, but I have a feeling the law is on my side and I want to be prepared to deal with what is becoming a very uncomfortable and seemingly unfair and illegal situation. Any help would go a long way.
I became a lodger (tenant) in a house in California as of August 1st. I responded to a posting on Craigslist for all-inclusive (utilities, etc) room in a private house for $400, month to month, with $150 as a cleaning/security deposit. I called the number on the ad and spoke with the woman who posted it - it is her brother's house but she and her husband live in it, run a daycare there, and currently rent out rooms to two other young women as well. She agreed to rent to me and I electronically transferred the funds $150 first, followed by $400 before I moved in on August 2. There is no written lease for any of the tenants, simply oral agreements.
All was going well and we had a very open and friendly relationship. She asked me mid-month of August if I'd stay for September, I said yes. She asked me what the chances were of getting $350 toward it (plus $50 off my deposit) sooner and I happily transferred this payment on August 20th. All is okay.
On August 29th, I received a text message from her reading "if you are going to be there the month of October are you still ok with paying it in advance? if you leave i could just give it back to you the 1st of October as you know I have extra expenses right now"
My response: "right now I'm not sure about that far ahead in October and putting up rent $ that far in advance...if you're in a bind I could give you half toward it this week though...we can talk a bit later in person" - We did speak and I was okay with this, and I wanted to stay for October.
On September 6th, at 12:30am, she came home (somewhat intoxicated) and began playing music loudly and yelled for her husband to leave. He did - I stayed in my room quietly and did not want to be involved in anything. She continued to play her music loudly and began cleaning the first floor. At 1:30am I decided to try to sleep, turned my light out and laid in bed. At 1:45am I heard her come upstairs and say my name twice at the end of the hallway. I thought she was going to apologize for the noise and be upset, that maybe she was going through a bad time with her husband, etc., but instead she informed me that I was "a cheapskate" and a "stingy girl" based on previous conversation we had where I had mentioned I was generally frugal. She told me she thought I needed to find a new place to live at the end of the month, and then admitted she had "had a few beers" and then somewhat apologized, continuing to talk on about stress, family stuff, etc. I was shaken up but talked her down a bit (was not going to argue with a drunk woman at 2:00am!) and she calmed down, shook my hand, and we both went to bed.
I left the house the next day and wanted to avoid any confrontation. I did not see her in the morning but she sent a text saying she deeply apologized and that "you are welcome to stay as long as you need just let me know." I responded with a thank you, that I knew she was under stress and we would talk later.
Sept 7: I see her in the morning in the kitchen and let her know I am shaken up but am lighthearted, we talk, she apologizes again and says I can stay, blah blah. I told her I would let her know by the 15th for sure (meantime thinking I need to find somewhere else to live). I remind her I am having an out-of-town friend stay with me for a couple nights and she says it's fine.
At 1:00pm the same day, Sept 7, I receive a text from her saying she will fund me my $200 back this Friday and that "after Sunday night I feel very uncomfortable and I'm sure you are also so I feel it best for you to make September your last month here. It will be better for you! In the meantime please be comfortable."
I respond: "No worries. I will do my best to try and find something for Oct. Obviously I will keep you informed of the situation! Thanks again."
At 7:45pm she texts: "What days do you have company coming to stay here for 2 days"
Me: "Tonight and tomorrow, but just there to sleep and will be out in the morning."
Her: "Well I feel that I should charge $15 per night but I can take it out of the deposit. Also since no 30 day notice was required I wanted to see if you could find a place by the 22nd it's a two week notice like you were going to give me. I don't think you will have a hard time finding a place in that amount of time I will give money back for 8 days."
That's the gist of it, and I realize this post is long-winded already. I am going to stay with a friend as of the 21st, but I am concerned about the interim. She has a check for me for the $200 October refund for tomorrow, but it's totally illegal for her to charge me for a guest for multiple reasons, I know. In addition to $30 for this guest, she also wants to charge me an additional $50 for utilities and $20 for supplies (using communal dish soap, paper towels, and Brita water filter) = $120. I would like any advice on how to handle this awful situation as we share this house in the meantime, but I want to recover my security deposit/last 8 days' rent. I have been too kind but I can be very shrewd and will protect myself. She is absolutely treating me unfairly and I don't want to escalate things as I do have to live here for the next 12 days. Help!!
I became a lodger (tenant) in a house in California as of August 1st. I responded to a posting on Craigslist for all-inclusive (utilities, etc) room in a private house for $400, month to month, with $150 as a cleaning/security deposit. I called the number on the ad and spoke with the woman who posted it - it is her brother's house but she and her husband live in it, run a daycare there, and currently rent out rooms to two other young women as well. She agreed to rent to me and I electronically transferred the funds $150 first, followed by $400 before I moved in on August 2. There is no written lease for any of the tenants, simply oral agreements.
All was going well and we had a very open and friendly relationship. She asked me mid-month of August if I'd stay for September, I said yes. She asked me what the chances were of getting $350 toward it (plus $50 off my deposit) sooner and I happily transferred this payment on August 20th. All is okay.
On August 29th, I received a text message from her reading "if you are going to be there the month of October are you still ok with paying it in advance? if you leave i could just give it back to you the 1st of October as you know I have extra expenses right now"
My response: "right now I'm not sure about that far ahead in October and putting up rent $ that far in advance...if you're in a bind I could give you half toward it this week though...we can talk a bit later in person" - We did speak and I was okay with this, and I wanted to stay for October.
On September 6th, at 12:30am, she came home (somewhat intoxicated) and began playing music loudly and yelled for her husband to leave. He did - I stayed in my room quietly and did not want to be involved in anything. She continued to play her music loudly and began cleaning the first floor. At 1:30am I decided to try to sleep, turned my light out and laid in bed. At 1:45am I heard her come upstairs and say my name twice at the end of the hallway. I thought she was going to apologize for the noise and be upset, that maybe she was going through a bad time with her husband, etc., but instead she informed me that I was "a cheapskate" and a "stingy girl" based on previous conversation we had where I had mentioned I was generally frugal. She told me she thought I needed to find a new place to live at the end of the month, and then admitted she had "had a few beers" and then somewhat apologized, continuing to talk on about stress, family stuff, etc. I was shaken up but talked her down a bit (was not going to argue with a drunk woman at 2:00am!) and she calmed down, shook my hand, and we both went to bed.
I left the house the next day and wanted to avoid any confrontation. I did not see her in the morning but she sent a text saying she deeply apologized and that "you are welcome to stay as long as you need just let me know." I responded with a thank you, that I knew she was under stress and we would talk later.
Sept 7: I see her in the morning in the kitchen and let her know I am shaken up but am lighthearted, we talk, she apologizes again and says I can stay, blah blah. I told her I would let her know by the 15th for sure (meantime thinking I need to find somewhere else to live). I remind her I am having an out-of-town friend stay with me for a couple nights and she says it's fine.
At 1:00pm the same day, Sept 7, I receive a text from her saying she will fund me my $200 back this Friday and that "after Sunday night I feel very uncomfortable and I'm sure you are also so I feel it best for you to make September your last month here. It will be better for you! In the meantime please be comfortable."
I respond: "No worries. I will do my best to try and find something for Oct. Obviously I will keep you informed of the situation! Thanks again."
At 7:45pm she texts: "What days do you have company coming to stay here for 2 days"
Me: "Tonight and tomorrow, but just there to sleep and will be out in the morning."
Her: "Well I feel that I should charge $15 per night but I can take it out of the deposit. Also since no 30 day notice was required I wanted to see if you could find a place by the 22nd it's a two week notice like you were going to give me. I don't think you will have a hard time finding a place in that amount of time I will give money back for 8 days."
That's the gist of it, and I realize this post is long-winded already. I am going to stay with a friend as of the 21st, but I am concerned about the interim. She has a check for me for the $200 October refund for tomorrow, but it's totally illegal for her to charge me for a guest for multiple reasons, I know. In addition to $30 for this guest, she also wants to charge me an additional $50 for utilities and $20 for supplies (using communal dish soap, paper towels, and Brita water filter) = $120. I would like any advice on how to handle this awful situation as we share this house in the meantime, but I want to recover my security deposit/last 8 days' rent. I have been too kind but I can be very shrewd and will protect myself. She is absolutely treating me unfairly and I don't want to escalate things as I do have to live here for the next 12 days. Help!!
