Violated by my landlord...what to do?

[thescot]

Go to the hardware store, buy a new lock, and don't share the key.

What'll they do? Ask you to move?

[Dirk Skene]

These things change state to state & there are provisions in contracts. Call a lawyer I would be highly upset Good luck with it bro.

[Clockwork John]

This just occurred to me... If you can't change the locks, but don't want your landlord or total strangers trapsing through your house, get a dog.

Get a big dog.

Or borrow one till the end of the month, if you've got a friend who has one.

[Captain Karrot]

If it werre me, I would tell him how full of crap he is, and that you can't wait to be out of his little slum anyway...But that is me - I have been accused of not having a tact filter...

[Riverkilt]

You don't say where in New Jersey you are. When I lived in Summit, N.J. in the early 70s and time came to move I had to go to city hall and get a "Moving Permit" which meant I had to pay the city a fee for the priviledge of moving under the guise of insuring I wasn't skipping out on any bills or debts in the area.

So, to keep yourself out of trouble on that end, if you don't already know check with your city clerk....and go buy the HUGEST doggie dish you can find to put outside your door. Think you can also get those microwave motion detectors that sense motion through your front door and activate a sound of a large angry dog barking.

Ron

[Streetcar]

It sounds like you've all ready changed the locks, so you've got a decent short term solution.

However, and I'm certainly not advocating doing this...

A few years back a friend of mine had the exact same thing happen. The place he was renting was being sold, and prospective buyers were brought through with no notice to my friend.

So one day my friend scattered some of the nastiest, most offensive pornography he could find, along with some lubricant, underwear and "marital aids" on a blanket in the middle of the living room.

He never had any more problems with unannounced walkthroughs...

[Riverkilt]

Crack me up...and reminded me. Back in the Mid 70s I'm working as a Realtor as the market collapses around me. Had a listing for a widow lady in her late 70s. I'm showing her home to prospects and when we get to her bedroom its REAL obvious that she didn't put away her long corded "electric muscle relaxer" device with that most familiar shape...plugged in, on the night stand...ready to go.

Please God, let me be an active pleasure seeker at that age....

Sorry, back to the off topic thread....

Ron

[Dalmore]

OK, you guys crack me up! Thanks...I needed that.

I do have a sense of relief today with my new deadbolt on.
It's too bad that my fond memories of the place are going to be tainted. C'est la vie.

A lot of this advice is very sound and I'm taking some of you up on it. My mission now is to 'get out without drama'. I'll be making a call to my dopey landlord tomorrow and asking about my deposit and such.

I like the idea of the kilted perimeter.
I won't rule that out as a fallback plan.

[James MacMillan]

If you can't get a dog, go here and rig it to play on a random basis.

[Galician]

You should also check and see how housing issues are resolved in that town. If there is a special court for landlord/tenant issues, might be worth the hassle to drag him to it.

Once you've gotten your deposit back, of course!