Friday, May 2

A Horror Story and a Meme!


I'm wondering why people take advantage of other people. Is there no such thing as respect and honor left in this world. Though I'm not one to complain about things, I'm hopping mad.

I am a person who will give anything to anyone or do anything to help anyone. I should have learned my lesson a long time ago, but being a giving person, I have never given up on people. Let me tell you what has been happening over the last few months and also what happened today.

We rent our upstairs apartment out to help us make ends meet. Last September, the apartment became vacant. Hubby knew a young man who was going to be put out on the street, so he offered the apartment to him. When I met this person, I had my doubts about him. However, hubby wanted to give him a chance, so I agreed. We rented him the apartment.

When we had to have some work done in the house for the fire department to bring all electrical up to code, I was horrified to see that the apartment was a mess. I don't mean clutter. There were pizza boxes, fast food containers and food on the living room coffee table. As nicely as I could, I told the young man that he needed to clean up the apartment. Two months later he took eight bags of garbage out of the apartment.

While we were on vacation last January, the tenant put his garbage out on the upper deck. The deck was constructed to give the tenant more living space and a place to sit out at night as there is no yard for the upper apartment. Over the next four months, the garbage continued to pile up there. First we had raccoons, then mice. I asked the tenant to get rid of it in February. He told me that he would get rid of it come spring when it had melted. Hubby insisted the tenant would clean it up, so I let it be. Last Monday I told hubby it had to go. The two of us went up there and cleaned up 14 bags of garbage with a shovel. There was even cat litter on the deck. I was horrified.

The other day I went out into the front hall to gain access to the front door because it was raining. I wasn't entering the tenant's apartment, as the hall is a community space. However, we don't use it often as we feel that the tenant should have privacy. I was appalled when I stepped through the door. There must be 6 months of junk mail sitting in that hall on a bookcase that belongs to the tenant. This is a definite fire hazard.

The day we cleaned up the 14 bags of garbage, I heard the tenant come in and went into the hall. His words to me, "I have a little b*tch to clean up after me." I was horrified. I told him outright that I was not his mother and would not be cleaning up anymore of his garbage. I told him nicely and asked him to clean the hall up because if the fire department came in they would have a fit. He said, "Well these aren't all my fliers. Some of them came out of your mailbox."

I held my tongue and replied, "I was nice enough to clean up your garbage. It's your place to clean up the hall."

The hall is still full of newspapers, which are going into the garbage tomorrow morning. Yes, I will clean it up but I am not going to search through all of it to see if there is something of his in there. It will just all go into a garbage bag and be put at the curb garbage day.

For the last few months, the tenant has been late with his rent - as much as two weeks late. He promised me he would be all caught up on May 2nd, which is today. We never heard from him and when he came in at dinner time, hubby asked him if he had the rent. He said no and he wouldn't have any for another two weeks.

Sorry friends, but I lost it. I told him that he'd promised me the rent would be caught up on May 2nd. His reply, "Tough luck for you."

I went ballistic and told him that he would be out of here. He gave me the finger and went into his apartment and closed the door.

I have made up his eviction papers. Hubby will sign them when he gets up tonight and I will serve them to him after midnight. According to the Ontario Rental Tribunal, I have to give him 14 days to pay, or at the end of that time he has to be out. If he doesn't move, I have to pay to go before the Tribunal and have him evicted. Total time frame: approximately 2 months. Total cost to me: About $300. Total cost to the tenant: 3 months free rent.

Now, I've said all of this to make a point. This is a young man who we gave the apartment to so he would not be living on the street. We treated him as a son, helping him out whenever we could and even giving him food when he didn't have any. Why is it that he repaid our kindness by dumping garbage on his deck and not paying his rent? I truly cannot understand people who deliberately take advantage of others. Not only am I bewildered and frustrated, I am hurt that he would do this. We have been nothing but kind to this man. This puts a definite strain on us financially and he knows it. After all, he was supposedly hubby's friend.

I would like to hear your opinions on this. I will keep you updated on how things progress.


Now, on the lighter side of things.
Storyteller asked her readers to participate in 'The Meme of Fours' after being tagged by Ivanhoe. So here goes:

4 Places I've Been:

I have traveled in both the US and Canada. My favorite places are:

* Tennesse

* Arkansas

* Cape Breton Island in Canada's Maritimes

* Cranbrook, British Columbia

4 Favorite Foods

* Fruit of any kind, especially fresh raspberries, blueberries, strawberries plus apples, oranges, bananas, kiwi and a host of others.

* Pizza

* Homemade apple pie, using sugar substitute

* Mom's holiday dinners, which usually consist of turkey, dressing and all the fixin's.

4 CDs

* Roy Orbison

* The Gaithers

* Celine Dion

* The Rankin Family (Canadian Celtic group)

4 Jobs I've Had

* Nurse's Aide

* Taxi Owner Operator

* Baseball Stitcher for Spaldings - stitching hardballs for the pros

* Retail Manager

4 Things That Make My Day

* Hearing from my online or real world friends

* Enjoying fun time with my grandsons

* Doing a random act of kindness

* Blogging

4 People That I Tag

I don't like tagging people, so I'm going to amend this part of the meme. If you participate and leave me a comment saying that you have, you can help yourself to a copy of the award below.


Enjoy taking part in this meme. It will help your blogging friends get to know you just a little better. Have a wonderful Saturday, stay safe and enjoy your time off from work. ~Blessings, Mary~

22 comments:

  1. Oh Mary - I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. I think you have shown patience and kindness and it has not been repayed in the least. I think you are taking the right steps. I hope it's taken care of soon!

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  2. I will be back to read...just wanted to thank you for the comment you left and the prayer for Bill.
    Also, thanks for the Mammogram click...I'm a breast cancer survivor.

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  3. Mary,sorry that you have such a piece of trash for a tennant.I had a roommate like that once.I wetn to the rental agent told him of the problem and that I needed the lock changed on my door.The mananger was soo nice that he changed to lock that day.I boxed up my roomates stuff up and the mananger said that he would put it in the office as long as I put a notice on the door that the lock had been changed and that the "roommate" could retrieve hid thing from the mananger's office.
    Too bad you can't do something like this as well.

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  4. Oh Mary....... I am so so sorry ..... We went through that a few years ago in Springfield Mo.. Had to take it to court and it took months and months to get them out and all the time they lived rent free........ the house was trashed and they drilled holes in the wood floor to run cable into the basement for the grown son (he was not even to be living there) such a mess........ when we got them out.. we sold the house........ Enough of that.......all I know is that it is ok to be angry.... but then for your sake ask the Lord to go before you in this matter ... Ask Him give you wisdom in legal side of it get him out the quickest way you can and remember that we cast our bread on the water... and it will come back... so because of your kindness God will reward you... that is a promise you can count on...... Soooooooo watch for the promise and let God deal with the tacky little person. It will keep your heart free and that is what is most important........

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  5. Sometimes, it is really ridiculous what people have to do to get rid of people like your tenant. A friend of mine and her late husband rented his parents home out after their death and the people living there did a lot of damage to the house. When my friends tried to evict these people, it cost THEM beaucoup bucks and took them well over a year -during which time they received no rent either -before they finally were able to have them removed. But, if you get behind on a mortgage payment, you sure don't see any leeway coming at you then, ya know!

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  6. What a mess, Mary - no pun intended! I think you've been more than patient with the young man, probably a lot more patient than I would've been. With his track record I'd be watching to make sure he doesn't wreck the apartment out of spite.

    It's sad that someone would repay your kindness with disrespect and be so ungrateful, but please don't let this twit sour you on helping others. God sees and knows all, and you will both be rewarded appropriately for your deeds.

    I love Roy Orbison! And most fruit. :o)

    The tornadoes and storms were bad here, and pretty close to us, but we're fine and have no damage here in our little town, praise the Lord. Others weren't so fortunate though....

    Have a great weekend, my friend.

    Love and hugs,

    Diane

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  7. You had your druthers right from the get go, huh? Now you know why! This boy sounds like he is lacking a few lifeskills, yes? Okay, so now you're thinking Understatement of the Year award goes to... hahahah It may not get to the court if you served notice either. It will either smarten him up or he'll move out. If he moves out, there'll be no loss, huh?

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  8. I cannot believe it is so hard to evict a tenant who has not paid rent, is rude and untidy. I don't think I could let a room in our home as the landlord doesn't seem to have a lot of rights.

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  9. Are you KIDDING me? You want my opinion. I'd not wait for any legal mumbo jumbo...get a lawyer and get your rights clear....it's YOUR house, and with all the garbage, fire hazards and filth, a lawyer should be able to get him out ---TODAY!

    I'd be livid. And no doubt I'd be hanged for harassment and physical abuse. I could NOT TAKE that sh!t. Money or no money...I'd want him out.

    Unbelievable.

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  10. Mary,

    I'm sorry you are going through this with your rude tenant. I think you have been more than patient. I can't understand how anyone could be so lazy and inconsiderate that he would allow the garbage to pile up like that. There is no excuse. If he is having money problems, you'd think that he would want to do everything possible to be a good tenant in other ways.

    I'm sorry that getting rid of him will be so difficult and expensive. It just isn't fair. Sometimes government rules defy common sense. I know the same type of rules make eviction tough here, too. It seems to me that if a landlord is trying to evict someone who behaves like this, that it should not be this difficult. They should have something in place so that the landlord can evict sooner if the tenant is creating a fire/health hazzard. Afterall, if the landlord created a fire/health hazzard, the landlord would be in trouble!

    I enjoyed your meme. :-)

    Take care.
    Hugs,
    Tina

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  11. It is renters like yours that makes me try even harder to be a "good" renter. All I've got is praise so far from my own Landlords!

    Bless your heart, I hope everything works out for ya'll!☺

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  12. My heart goes out to you 'cause my parents used to rent to tenants when we were growing up (to help make ends meet).So many times the tenant would leave in the middle of the night and not pay his rent when my mother was counting on it to feed us with. Very frustrating. I pray the Lord will meet your every need, even as you deal with this seemingly ungrateful tenant. I just don't understand his attitude in light of all your kindness.

    Love your blog, and want to get over here more often. Blessings to you this weekend!

    hugs,
    Vicki

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  13. Mary,
    I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this young man...
    you are doing the right thing by evicting him...because you are not really helping him by putting up with his sluggard ways...you are only enabling him to become even more lazy and ungrateful...
    I know it is a very hard thing for you to do...as well as being very expensive..
    I will be praying for you and your husband as you deal with this most difficult situation.
    Be Encouraged,
    Mimi

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  14. I love you..and maybe we see why
    your tenant was on the streets in the
    first place..
    You have done enough, it's time to get him out a
    MEnow
    Lov ey

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  15. Mary, this is terrible! Since I first got to know you, I've thought you're such a kind, generous, and sweet lady. It is a shame that this young man has taken advantage of your willingness to lend a helping hand to someone in need. Don't let your heart harden, sweet Mary, but I do believe this man has had his opportunity and it is time for him to move on so you can get your life back. I believe strongly that you'll be blessed for your giving heart. I fear to think what he'll reap for doing this to you!

    Be encouraged. I'll be praying for you!

    *smiles and hugs*
    Michele

    Writing the Cyber Highway

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  16. Mary, I wish I knew how to help you....but I don't. There are a couple of rental houses down from us and several times those landlords have had to have non paying renters removed. They eventually got them out, but it took several months and yes, they left the places in a mess.

    One of the more well off landlords promised that when he could get them out he would burn down the houses. There are three less houses in my neighborhood.

    I don't know why someone would hurt the person that is trying to help them, but it happens. You have been patient enough. The young man needs to learn some hard lessons.

    I will pray that all goes well with this situation!

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  17. Apparently you and hubby found out why his 'friend' was almost homeless. Obviously it's what he deserves. He's a freeloader and a disrespectful one at that!
    Anyone who behaves in such a disrespectful manner does not deserve favors. I would think that when he called you a Bi*ch, your husband would have cleaned his clock. This whole thing is appalling!
    I had a renter like that back in the 60s. We rented him, his wife and two children our five acre farm for $60. a month. They nearly destroyed the place and refused to leave. We had to evict them, They also left heaps of trash all over.
    People like that do not belong on our planet!
    The important thing to remember is that not everyone is like that. In fact there are a lot more decent people than jerks.

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  18. I'm sorry about your ()()_^60 of a renter.
    But their things in everyone life they fall prey to.
    I can offer both of you prayers even him sorry to say sounds like he not a very considering person to treat someone who is trying to help him.

    I don't live far from Cranbrook but haven't been there for a years.

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  19. So very sorry that you are having to deal with this.

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  20. Mary,

    I'm speechless reading about this situation. I'm with Hootin'Anni, get a lawyer and get the guy out as soon as possible. I'd be afraid of him even. I'll pray that the situation can be resolved peacefully and quickly.

    Take care!

    Renie

    PS. I enjoyed your meme!

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  21. I am so sorry for your pain.
    You were wonderful to take him
    in and is repaying you with
    filth and dishonor. How can
    someone pay for fast food and
    not the rent. Sounds very odd
    to me.

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    ReplyDelete