Neighbor issue resolved

[flamingo]

Back in July, I posted about our crazy upstairs neighbors. Puked over railing onto our patio, put maggot filled trash in our trash cans. Over the following weeks/months, they got worse. Dropped chicken bones out of their trash onto our patio, moved 3 unauthorized people into their place, trash left piled on their balcony and dripped onto our patio, and the final straw, deliberately turning a can of lighter fluid over to drip onto our AC unit on our patio. We did the "right" thing every time-we complained politely, calmly, and firmly in writing with pictures to management. After the lighter fluid incident, management realized there was a real problem (their maintenance guy SAW them turn the lighter fluid over to drip on our patio/AC unit). So they served them with eviction papers.

My DH and I were of course skeptical that they would move out. Management kept saying that they were leaving November 30. As we are landlords ourselves, we know how this process works. We were especially skeptical because they were keeping current on rent. It's hard to evict someone who is current on rent. So we went on our Thanksgiving cruise, the whole time betting each other as to whether they would be out.

They were not. We got home yesterday and they were still there. HOWEVER, by 6am this morning when my DH left, all their cars were gone. Today, maintenance is up there cleaning out their place. My DH said it's worse than Hoarders in there, but they are actually GONE! Maintenance said it will be at least 2 weeks before they can even begin showing it to other prospective renters due to the condition of the apartment. But they are GONE!

Now, if only we get better people when they do re-rent it...

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

That's great!  Anything sounds better than these people, they didn't set the bar very high.

[Jaguar]

Yeah I hope you get better and nicer neighbors too.

[chiver78]

oh man, I remember your story. yay that your neighbors were finally evicted. that must be a load off your shoulders now!

[flamingo]

To be fair to management, they did "act" before. They spoke with them every time we complained, they cleaned up every mess made so we didn't have to. And, at the beginning, the neighbors would make a small effort every time they got warned. But as time went on, the neighbors cared less and less and quit making an effort. Part of the problem for management is that the neighbors paid in full every month. Management did say we could call the police if we felt a report needed to be filed. My DH handled it-not quite the way I would have-but he got the job done. And, of course, management now loves him . Management also offered to move us into another unit in the complex if the neighbors didn't move out by November 30. The fact that it took them an extra 36 hours is irrelevant since they did move (and today would have been the first day we could have moved anyway). And I HATE moving. HATE IT. So, since they are gone, we can stay put, and that makes us happy

[Wisconsin Beth]

I'm glad it's resolved without you having to move then. 

[snapdragon]

Good to hear that things worked out for you and your husband. 

[alabamagal]

Glad it worked out without any homicides!

[8 Bit WWBG]

Lighter fluid into the A/C unit is definitely a game changer.  That crosses the line from "hate the annoying slobs" to "fear for my safety"; which I would hope translates into rights on your part.  Even if it isn't explicitly written in the lease, your landlord is obligated to provide you a livable space.  I do not consider a place which fosters danger for my safety to be livable.

[flamingo]

So this morning (like 6:30am morning) the maintenance folks started tearing up the carpet from their apartment. When I left for work it was all outside in the parking lot, near my car. Our carpet is light grey, as is all the carpet in all the units we've seen. Their carpet was almost black. It was so disgusting. I am very glad I do not have the job of cleaning that place out! My DH told me yesterday he saw guys carting bags of trash from inside their apt out to the dumpster. I'm sure some of the bags were things they threw away as they were moving, but I'm equally sure some of the bags were actual trash that never made it to the garbage cans.

Glad I didn't see any of this BEFORE I ate breakfast!!

[mmhmm]

Good news, flamingo!  Now, you and your DH can relax and enjoy life.  Those folks sound like they were a nightmare!  Hopefully, they'll be replaced by normal people!

[Deleted]

I hope the apartment is fumigated before new tenants move in, in case they left behind some nasty critters.
I've been watching episodes of "Infested" and am amazed at how bugs from one apartment can infest another.

[tcu2003]

Yikes - I vaguely remember the backstory.  That's crazy - and I'm so happy for you that they're gone!