SMA80
11-24-2007, 12:22 PM
Trying to make a long story as short as possible:
In late July I moved into a supposedly pet-friendly apartment, paid all the necessary deposits and fees, etc. I also pay pet rent each month. In early September the woman who lives below me started turning up her TV and/or stereo so loud I could hear every word for hours at a time every time my dogs made a peep. They do bark on occasion, but I keep them under control, and I don't see how this isn't to be expected...they're dogs.
I finally complained about the noise below me in early November and was told that was the first complaint, there were no prior noise complaints on either of us, and that management would send my neighbor a letter. A week later I acidentally locked my keys in my place and while the locksmith was there picking the lock the dogs of course started barking. The woman below me yelled and cursed at me for several minutes despite my apologies and explanations. I spoke to management again and was told she had filed a complaint against me and that we would both receive warning letters. I received mine, but three days later I got a letter (dated the previous day) stating that I had several complaints and that the woman below me was to call the police and humane society if she heard my dogs again, and if that happened I would be evicted.
Here's where it gets kind of shady. There were two accusations in the letter that management based my threatened eviction on. One, that I do not pick up after my dogs' waste, is absolutely untrue, and mgmt told me they only had one claim about that. To me, that throws into question the validity of the other accusation, which is that my dogs bark and howl continuously and are a nuisance. They do not do that when I am home during the day, and I have very serious doubt that they behave that way when I am gone. After talking to mgmt again I was told that they made phone calls asking other tenants if they ever heard "dogs or other noises," but no one was ever asked if they specifically had complaints about the noise for my neighbor's apartment. (Another neighbor corroborated this and said that the only time he ever hears my dogs is when I'm taking them down the hallway to go outside.) I asked mgmt if all the new complaints were solicited or if they were independently called in by my other neighbors and was told that "they were not independent." I was also told that despite my complaints the woman below me was not sent the same letter threatening eviction.
Clearly mgmt is not on my side and is not investigating this matter appropriately. It's unfair, but can anyone tell me if I have any legal grounds to fight this on? Also, mgmt told me that they would not "babysit" the two of us and our complaints and that the only course of action was for us to call the police on each other, even though I asked for better options. I've tried calling lawyers but so far have gotten no responses. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks so much.
In late July I moved into a supposedly pet-friendly apartment, paid all the necessary deposits and fees, etc. I also pay pet rent each month. In early September the woman who lives below me started turning up her TV and/or stereo so loud I could hear every word for hours at a time every time my dogs made a peep. They do bark on occasion, but I keep them under control, and I don't see how this isn't to be expected...they're dogs.
I finally complained about the noise below me in early November and was told that was the first complaint, there were no prior noise complaints on either of us, and that management would send my neighbor a letter. A week later I acidentally locked my keys in my place and while the locksmith was there picking the lock the dogs of course started barking. The woman below me yelled and cursed at me for several minutes despite my apologies and explanations. I spoke to management again and was told she had filed a complaint against me and that we would both receive warning letters. I received mine, but three days later I got a letter (dated the previous day) stating that I had several complaints and that the woman below me was to call the police and humane society if she heard my dogs again, and if that happened I would be evicted.
Here's where it gets kind of shady. There were two accusations in the letter that management based my threatened eviction on. One, that I do not pick up after my dogs' waste, is absolutely untrue, and mgmt told me they only had one claim about that. To me, that throws into question the validity of the other accusation, which is that my dogs bark and howl continuously and are a nuisance. They do not do that when I am home during the day, and I have very serious doubt that they behave that way when I am gone. After talking to mgmt again I was told that they made phone calls asking other tenants if they ever heard "dogs or other noises," but no one was ever asked if they specifically had complaints about the noise for my neighbor's apartment. (Another neighbor corroborated this and said that the only time he ever hears my dogs is when I'm taking them down the hallway to go outside.) I asked mgmt if all the new complaints were solicited or if they were independently called in by my other neighbors and was told that "they were not independent." I was also told that despite my complaints the woman below me was not sent the same letter threatening eviction.
Clearly mgmt is not on my side and is not investigating this matter appropriately. It's unfair, but can anyone tell me if I have any legal grounds to fight this on? Also, mgmt told me that they would not "babysit" the two of us and our complaints and that the only course of action was for us to call the police on each other, even though I asked for better options. I've tried calling lawyers but so far have gotten no responses. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks so much.
