noodles
New Member
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 21
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Post by noodles on Oct 17, 2008 9:13:24 GMT -5
I guess I should have posted here before I put my pictures up, sorry. My problem with squalor has been creeping up on me for about 10 years. When I had my own apt. in college, I kept it spotless. Then, when I moved in with my boyfriend around 1997 things went downhill. We had an emotionally abusive relationship (he liked to get drunk and stay out all night, and be jobless) and the stress took a toll on me and I stopped caring about cleaning. We were probably a 1 or 2 at that time. When I moved from him and was on my own, I became better and cleaned religiously. All through my marriage, divorce, and 2 apartments later, my place was always presentable. Then my German shepherd died in 2005, and things went downhill.
I moved to a place that was a lot cheaper (big dogs are hard to rent with, unless you want to be hit with big fees.) My first apartment alone I got to stage 2 fairly quick. I never had anyone over even though my parents lived 3 min. away. I also suffer from depression and was on Prozac at the time, which did not help. I never told anyone about my house at therapy because I had no idea how common this was.
Due to financial problems, In 2006 I had to move in with the parents. I took the opportunity to through a lot of stuff out and thought I did good, until the movers came and took my furniture (I was having them put 90% of my things in the dumpster) and they laughed (in spanish) and I know they were disgusted. The place looked like crap even after I had cleaned and moved all the stuff out. I've felt sorry for those landlords when they had to open that door and refrigerator!
I moved in with the parents for almost a year, where I had no choice to control my sloppy ways as my mom is a neat freak. When I moved into the place I currently live, I vowed to keep it spotless. That lasted about 4 months, then I got into one of my low depression modes and didn't throw anything out. Pizza boxes formed like stonehedge on my counters, floors, drink containers were on every other surface, some empty some still with drinks in them. I lived in fear that the landlord would see, but me being an ex-paralegal, knew they would have to give notice if they were to come in. That's how it was at every other place I rented from.
One day I get a call at work. They had gone in to spray for bugs (they were doing it in every unit) and saw my place. I was paralyzed with fear. Even though they told me to clean it up in a week and the would come to respray, I feared being evicted and also feared what they thought of me. I spent the whole week (at night) lugging garbage bag after bag to the small dumpster. I opened the windows to air it out. I cleaned all the surfaces, cleaned the bathroom, (my bedroom was pristine except for loads of cat hair, I never sleep there I use the couch). I felt so proud after I was done and was home when they came to spray and I was not embarassed.
I did not maintain, and it began to slip a little. about 2 months later I get another call about my "housekeeping". At this point I began to document.. They entered my apartment with NO NOTICE and TOOK PICTURES! My rent was current, this is invasion of privacy. I cleaned it up again and kept it clean, but as you see from my photos the clutter is coming back but it's not more than half a day's work, not squalor anyway. It's mainly just clutter and some dishes in sink. I am contemplating getting a chain for my door but that only keeps them out if I'm home. I don't have 1st and last months rent and can't afford to move for quite some time, but I've been contemplating leaving a video camera running when I'm not there.
Thanks for listening to me vent. I've been reading the posts here a few days, I followed a link to Kimmy's story from another site, then somehow found you guys. You seem very friendly and helpful. Looking forward to talking!
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Post by notsomessyshell on Oct 17, 2008 11:29:50 GMT -5
Welcome Noodles!
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Post by clearwaterush on Oct 17, 2008 12:33:25 GMT -5
First off as a Landlord, if your rent is paid up, the landlords may NOT enter your place without due cause, like a suspected gas leak, someone sick, or even possible death. They may enter your apartment to fix or repair things as they see fit, but this us usually done with the renter being there or a talk with the renter that they can fix the said items. (Which is good in your case, because you want a landlord that gets the things fixed right away.) We beg our renters to tell us what's wrong...so we can fix it so it won't damage the apartment.
WHY ARE THEY TAKING PICTURES if your rent is paid up? The fact that you clean it up when asked should be enough for them. If your rent is paid up they cannot evict you for FAILURE TO PAY RENT. (That's the three day notice thing). Tell your landlord from now on, you want a written 24 hour notice before he enters your apartment and for what reason he will be there. You can get much more information from the Municipal Court, asking for the renters and landlords free handout sheets. They CAN NOT give you advice or legal information, but tell them what your problem is and say..."Is there anything that can be done about this?" They will talk to you and show you what you need to do. You can even ask them if you even need to clean up your apartment when your're told. Be sure and tell them they took pictures!
In one case we had, we went to the municipal court and said we had some renters that were living in unsanitary conditions,
( They always paid their rent ) and their response to us was(In NEW MEXICO):
They rented the apartment, there for it becomes their abode. There is no law that says they have to be clean. They can live in unsanitary conditions if they choose. You may under no circumstances enter the premisus without 24 hour notice to the renter, under an emergency, or a foul smell coming from the apartment(this included death). Once an eviction notice has been given, do NOT enter the premisous until that date on the eviction notice has been reached.
You may not LOCK out or change locks on the land lord. YOU CAN HAVE THEM FIX ANY THING THAT NEEDS IT IN THE APARTMENT. There are papers to force them to do that within 7 days at the mucicipal Court-these papers are free.
I hope that this has been of some help to you.
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Post by messymimi on Oct 17, 2008 12:46:59 GMT -5
Welcome, Noodles  !
There is no order required, so set your mind at ease. We don't mind seeing pictures first and hearing the story later.
Sounds like often depression is your downfall. If Prozac does not work for you, does your doctor recommend anything else? Some people respond best to different meds and some do better with talk therapy than any med. Just something to keep in mind if that monster rears it's ugly head again.
I'm sorry your landlord is so loose about following the rules. Only you can decide whether you want to go to the trouble of setting up a video camera for when you are away, or if you would rather just assume he's going to come in around the same time once every two months. Also, I'm no legal expert, but I have to wonder what good it could do to prove invasion of privacy once they have pictures to back up a decision to evict. Maybe it would help, but I'm not certain.
Anyway, it's good to have you here!
messymimi
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Post by crazycatlady on Oct 17, 2008 19:07:35 GMT -5
Welcome, Noodles! I'm so glad that you found your way here. While I firmly believe that anyone who suffers from depression should seek medical help, I have also seen so many people get real help from this forum. While it is often clear that the depression precedes the mess, by learning new skills here, you can learn new ways to deal with it. And somehow, when the house doesn't dissolve around you, you just feel a little better.
I think it must be terrible to know that someone is coming in to spy on your home. A planned inspection is bad enough, but just popping in....ugh! I'm so sorry that you are having to deal with that!
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