 rental nightmare
What is the name of your state? Virginia
A year ago in September I signed an one year contract to rent out an apartment. Everything was going great. The landlady was nice. The neighborhood was quiet. Then about half way through my contract the complex was sold to a second party and that was when the fun begin.
The new owners decided not renew anyone's contracts because they were going to turn the apartments into condos. As soon as a renter moved out, the owners' workers came in and started doing construction. So, while people were still living there, there would be hammering and sawing from 7:30 in the morning until late at night. The parking lot in the back of the building, meant for the renters would be covered with broken glass, nails and other debris. After popping two tires, I was forced to park two blocks away along with everyone else. (The workers never cleaned after themselves. And sometimes the hallway was just as bad.)
Meanwhile, the new landlady left message after message asking my roommates and I when we were moving out. Seeing how it's nearly impossible to find an apartment for three people in Ghent, Norfolk on such a short notice unless you have a few thousand to spare, I told her not until the contract was up. But that didn't stop her from asking the question every time she saw me. Even her workers were asking that. To the point that every time I left for work they would start cheering, "Hey, you moving out? Alright!"
As this went on they would turn off the water every day for sometimes up to 9 hours in order to do "repairs". Even then sometimes they would say, "We can't turn back the water full on. Just the cold water." and the entire building would be stuck with just cold water for days. Then the landlady stated she had a right to go into my apartment to see if there were any repairs needed, even when I was not there! So, while I was there as well as wasn't there, complete strangers came in and out of my apartment. It wasn't shortly after this that someone was able to get my checking account number and wipe out my bank account in LOCAL shopping sprees. The police and the bank have yet to find out who did this but I have an idea. I don't do any online banking. And when I go out, my bag never leaves my side, even when I am sitting down.
As far as people coming in while I was there, I had an incident when I was coming out of the shower in a towel only to find a man taking a break in my kitchen. I screamed. He looked at me thought the whole thing was funny and started to laugh. Which I pushed him out the door because he refused to budge.
During this time, I yelled at the workers, I threatened to sue and that's when the landlady made a deal with me. If she could find me a place and pay for six months rent, would I move. I agreed.
And I thought that was the end of my problems.
That was in July, not even two months later I find out the complex I am living in has been bought out by the same company. Yes, they are turning the flats into condos so the whole thing is starting up again. (Half the building is empty thanks to a fire. My side of the building, all the apartments are taken.)
The 7:30 banging has started once again. Suddenly on Tuesday I found out we don't have hot water. The workers said that a wire snapped in the heater. Then they said it was a pipe and would not get the part needed until the following Monday. So, I haven't had a hot shower since Monday night. The landlady is already starting her spiel of "I can break your contract if you want to leave early."
The same workers are going around trashing up the place. In fact, they woke me up this morning not by hammering but by blaring a stereo for the ENTIRE building. You could hear the music from any room in the flat.
Fed up I told once of the workers to turn it down. That it was really rude of him to do this while people lived here. He smiled and said, "I can't do that. We have to have our music."
To which I said, "This is disturbing the peace. I am calling the cops."
They turned off the music.
I am not sure what I can do in this situation. Do I have to take this because she agreed to pay for the rent? I feel what she did was wrong but I want to know what I can do legally before I make my next move. Thank you.  | 
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