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How would you handle this tenant-landlord issue?

Asked by wallabies (1081points) April 27th, 2012

I have been renting a room from someone, and was only able to give three days notice that I would be moving. I pay rent by the week, there is no written contract, and I did not put down a deposit. I never committed to a specific duration of time, but do believe she was under the impression that I’d be here for another 6 weeks. The landlord is asking me to pay an extra week of rent since I gave such short notice.

I would probably just pay it if this had been a positive rental experience, but it was one of the worst I’ve ever had. The landlord essentially exploits students in order to pay the bills and stay unemployed. My rent was supposed to include internet but never did. The room was just a partitioned off section of the living room. This would have been bearable but for the fact that the landlord + kids stay up blaring the TV, belching out laughter, or having screaming matches until 1 or 2 am regularly, and then I have to hear their alarm go off at 5.30 am. The kids, one of them not potty trained, regularly use my bathroom but I am now expected to clean it. When I moved in, I was told this was not my responsibility. The kitchen is always a mess of dirty dishes which makes it difficult to cook. I have been given a tiny bit of fridge space of which most has been overtaken by the landlord, even though they have a full size one to themselves. I have been asked to pay rent early on more than one occasion because the landlord cannot manage money. The landlord plans on putting two high school aged foreign students in the garage! Yet they will be paying enough to have their own room in a decent house in this area.

I am moving just a few doors away and they know where I’m moving to. I will be there for about another 2 months or more so it’s highly likely that I will run into them again.

I know three days is very short notice.

What is the best thing to do in this situation?

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