What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? - Michigan (Ottawa County)
My family currently lives in an apartment complex - a nice place that is well maintained and earned the status of my favorite place I have ever called home. Until, that is, April 2012.
We are the type of family that loves keeping to ourselves and hates drama. Our children - all girls - are 13, 11, and 8 years old. Our 13 year old and 8 year old both suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and anxiety, although their conditions are well controlled using medicine. We have lived in this apartment complex since August 2009.
Since our move in, we have earned a reputation of being friendly people who adheres to the rules and pays the rent in a timely manner. At the end of 2011, the office hired 2 new workers to replace the 2 workers that had left. Since then, we have been bombarded with "rule violation" notices at the tune of at least one per month, sometimes multiple notices per month.
It started when we received a notice that "bicycles and scooters cannot be left outside, as they are an eyesore to the community". I interpreted that to mean that, when not in use, put them away. But, of course, bicycles and scooters are how children transport themselves around the community. My youngest daughter rode her bicycle to a friend's apartment to visit and left her bicycles near the entrance (out of the way, of course). We received a violation, because her bicycle was not stored properly, as she was visiting the friend. I asked the office if they expected her to store the bicycle in her pocket, but received no response (I believe they took my question as sarcastic and rhetorical, but I intended it to be a serious question).
In May 2012, we received another violation notice, citing my child was "hitting trees with a stick". I don't remember seeing anything against this in the lease, but apparently, it was a serious enough "violation" to warrant the warning and the threat of terminating our lease, if the action continued. I told my child to not do that, anymore. Interestingly, I witness the neighbor children hitting trees with sticks on a daily basis with nothing being said, to them.
On July 28, 2012, I had booked a wedding to photograph. My wife acts as my assistant, during photo shoots, so we asked the children's grandmother (my wife's mother) to babysit. While we were gone, the children asked their grandmother to take them to the community pool. While at the pool, an office worker rudely informed them that, since their grandmother is not on the lease, she is not welcome to the pool. They kicked them out of the pool area. Again, we witness babysitters and relatives taking that do not live in the community taking children to the pool on a regular basis, so why we were given the warning, I do not know.
Now, the latest "violation" occurred on July 30, 2012. The complaint is that children were outside, "playing loudly", and one had climbed on top of a U-Haul truck. The loud complain is simply ridiculous, as children will be children. But, the complaint about the U-Haul climber is what is key. My wife was outside, watching the children play. One of the neighbor children attempted to kick a soccer ball when his sandal flew from his food and landed on top of the U-Haul truck. The neighbor child attempted to reclaim his shoe, by climbing on the truck. My wife said nothing as, it was a neighbor child - not ours, not our responsibility. Simply because our children were outside, at the time, we received a "final warning - rule violation" notice. Simply because our children were outside at the time.
Our rent renewal is August 31, 2012. The office raised our rent over $103 for the renewal. Between the rate increase and what I consider harassment, we are forced to move. We cannot continue to live with the office micromanaging our children - even when they have nothing to do with the complaints. My question is, does this constitute harassment? If so, what can be done, if anything? Or, do landlords have the right to walk all over tenants, in situations such as this?
Thank you for reading and for your thoughts.
My family currently lives in an apartment complex - a nice place that is well maintained and earned the status of my favorite place I have ever called home. Until, that is, April 2012.
We are the type of family that loves keeping to ourselves and hates drama. Our children - all girls - are 13, 11, and 8 years old. Our 13 year old and 8 year old both suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and anxiety, although their conditions are well controlled using medicine. We have lived in this apartment complex since August 2009.
Since our move in, we have earned a reputation of being friendly people who adheres to the rules and pays the rent in a timely manner. At the end of 2011, the office hired 2 new workers to replace the 2 workers that had left. Since then, we have been bombarded with "rule violation" notices at the tune of at least one per month, sometimes multiple notices per month.
It started when we received a notice that "bicycles and scooters cannot be left outside, as they are an eyesore to the community". I interpreted that to mean that, when not in use, put them away. But, of course, bicycles and scooters are how children transport themselves around the community. My youngest daughter rode her bicycle to a friend's apartment to visit and left her bicycles near the entrance (out of the way, of course). We received a violation, because her bicycle was not stored properly, as she was visiting the friend. I asked the office if they expected her to store the bicycle in her pocket, but received no response (I believe they took my question as sarcastic and rhetorical, but I intended it to be a serious question).
In May 2012, we received another violation notice, citing my child was "hitting trees with a stick". I don't remember seeing anything against this in the lease, but apparently, it was a serious enough "violation" to warrant the warning and the threat of terminating our lease, if the action continued. I told my child to not do that, anymore. Interestingly, I witness the neighbor children hitting trees with sticks on a daily basis with nothing being said, to them.
On July 28, 2012, I had booked a wedding to photograph. My wife acts as my assistant, during photo shoots, so we asked the children's grandmother (my wife's mother) to babysit. While we were gone, the children asked their grandmother to take them to the community pool. While at the pool, an office worker rudely informed them that, since their grandmother is not on the lease, she is not welcome to the pool. They kicked them out of the pool area. Again, we witness babysitters and relatives taking that do not live in the community taking children to the pool on a regular basis, so why we were given the warning, I do not know.
Now, the latest "violation" occurred on July 30, 2012. The complaint is that children were outside, "playing loudly", and one had climbed on top of a U-Haul truck. The loud complain is simply ridiculous, as children will be children. But, the complaint about the U-Haul climber is what is key. My wife was outside, watching the children play. One of the neighbor children attempted to kick a soccer ball when his sandal flew from his food and landed on top of the U-Haul truck. The neighbor child attempted to reclaim his shoe, by climbing on the truck. My wife said nothing as, it was a neighbor child - not ours, not our responsibility. Simply because our children were outside, at the time, we received a "final warning - rule violation" notice. Simply because our children were outside at the time.
Our rent renewal is August 31, 2012. The office raised our rent over $103 for the renewal. Between the rate increase and what I consider harassment, we are forced to move. We cannot continue to live with the office micromanaging our children - even when they have nothing to do with the complaints. My question is, does this constitute harassment? If so, what can be done, if anything? Or, do landlords have the right to walk all over tenants, in situations such as this?
Thank you for reading and for your thoughts.
