for younglsm

[eahick]

I realize you are partial to landlords, being an experienced one yourself. I was only inquiring about the matter so I could find out my options. Having found out some civil codes concerning my situation, I have a better idea how to handle the situation. If I had the money maybe I would have just picked up and moved, but I am a single mother who works and attends college full time. Therefore, I can't just pick up and leave every time my situation becomes distasteful. I think asking for a rent reduction due to an uninhabitable bedroom is a fair request. Oh! The next time you infer that a woman has nothing better to do but sit on her ass and chat on the internet, rather than just picking up and moving; maybe, you should first find out why she wouldn't. And the next time you make such lofty suggestions, perhaps you should be ready to roll up those pious sleeves and offer to help move her. After all, it's as easy as one, two, three.

 

[LL]

In addition to being a landlord, I am also a parent, and I am very biased toward their proper treatment.

I do not believe you that you cannot move if you need to for your child's welfare. Aren't you receiving child support, a part of which is to provide housing for the child? If not, perhaps you would be more fit as a parent if you spent your legal research talent on collecting support that your child needs.

Moving is not fun, but it is hardly impossible. When I stop to think about what I have done for my children, including in the early days when I was a graduate student and had probably less money than you do, I become very biased against parents who fail their kids and then complain that it's too hard.

I think that you should pick up your responsibilities and take care of your child. He (she) needs a decent home,and you are not providing it for him (her). Maybe you could slow down your progress in college to part-time in order to better care for him (her).

Maybe the father (boyfriend, neighbor, relative, friend) can help you move. In front of Home Depot, you will find no shortage of illegal immigrants willing to do heavy work for a few dollars an hour.

I never accused you of having nothing to do, but you need to work harder in order to be a good parent. I admire your effort in going to college, but I am very disappointed in you for taking such poor care of your child. And what will you have as the benefit of a college education if your child gets sick because you didn't look out for him (her)?

As a parent, you bear the ultimate responsibility for your child's welfare, not the landlord. I took that responsibility in my children's life, and I am proud that I did. You should do the same.

 

[djdj]

I fully agree kids MUST come first...thats why i dont have any.......just 3 cats and a girlfriend

But it is also true, just think of the money you could make by researching and spending the time to learn all about child support laws, if the ex gets a big raise,or cahes in some stock options, how you can modify child support to get some extra money....

I think that would be much more profitable then trying to sue the landlord for a few dollars....but then again in my other post to you if the landlord is really ripping you off, well sue the bastarrrd!

 

[eahick]

younglsm .l. .l. this is for you. Too bad I can't just use misy hands... the child's father is dead and I am an only child. Now what judgemental comment do you have as you sit smuggly exercising your sphincter, waiting for the next person to spew your arrogance at? After all you must get a lot of exercise talking out of your ass. You certainly do get a lot of practice at being an ******* on the internet. You probably got practice on your kids too. If one is such an ******* in public, they must be excrutiatingly one in private. Who is the one who doesn't have a life? For someone who was a graduate student you sure spend a lot of time on the internet sucker punching people. By the way, I noticed you never mentioned you graduated. It's too bad you didn't use your education to help people, instead of making them feel worse in their time of need. It's too bad you have nothing better to do with your life than making futile attempts at trying to make yourself feel better by insulting others over the internet. OVER AND OUT

 

[LL]

Unfortunately, you haven't addressed any issued here, except to show how upset you are.

Although you don't want my advice, I'll give you some (you're welcome).

One is that, haveing not only been in ourt a lot on my own business, I have often sat for hours waiting for my case to be called and listening to other cases. Judges look at these cases as minor disputes that unfortunately people cannot settle themselves, and they are not interested in punishing anyone unless the someone has really cheated. They also want to settle all the issues in the case, not just a part. If you stay, play the child sympathy card in court, and want just a reduction in rent and to accept all of the other violations, a judge will suggest the compromise that you leave and that the LL release you from the lease. If you stay (because of low rent) and leave your child to breathe moldy air from the next room, he will note that and call it to your attention. He may even feel duty-bound to report this to DCW (Department of Childrens Welfare) who will send a social worker out to wor with you and guess what they will try to convince you to do? So, do you really want to place your child's health below your promise to have a yard which has laundry waste emtying into it?

Next, you say that you have a $2000 security deposit. In CA, LL can take not more than 2 months rent, that means that you are paying at least $1000 per month, which is pretty high for a 2 bdrm unit in the SF Valley, especially a dump such as you describe. You can leave and still get lower rent, and your child can still have her own room. Looking at my newpaper this morning, I see The Americana Warner Center apartments, advertising 2 bdrm for $800+ and 1 bdrm for $690+, with $700 security deposit, in Canoga Park, about 2 miles from you, with exercise room, fireplace, pool & spa, covered parking, laundry facilities, and a balcony or patio (877)261-4333. Your child can probably go to the same school.

Finally, after all of your anger, I can see a genuine problem about your inability to make your way in life without expecting help. You even asked me to come and help you to move, plus expecting laws that will "protect you". Well, there are laws, but you have to use them to protect yourself and your family. One law allows you to leave despite your lease, another law allows you to spend up to one month's rent to on genuine untenantable items. Getting your rent reduced doesn't really solve any of your uninhabitability problems, especially since you could get a decent place to live for less money.

I'll give you a few more pieces of advice. Where you are living (SFV), rental prices are depressed these last few years since 1994. So, don't be fooled in paying prices like the Westside. You can get great bargains on rent in the Valley, and without having to put up so much in security.

Next, according to research reports that I get, prices in the Valley are expected to increase about 8% this year, as spillover from the Westside which will average abut 12% increases. Additionally, right now is coming off of the Holiday season, the weather is still a damper, and there are not so many tenants looking for units. All this means that right now is a good time to get yourself situated into a place that you like, before rents go up and you can establish yourself as a really desireable tenant which might protect you against large rental increases.

We all make mistakes. Your biggest mistake is not that you rented a place, then found that it wasn't what you expected. Your mistake is not being able to act and move out, especially to provide your child with a decent place to live, when you found you had made an earlier mistake.

And yes, I did graduate, more than once. I try to use my education (which is not in Real Estate) to help people, but people like you don't appreciate it.