My last flat was unbearable.
I mean, you try having a family of 11 live above you, when half of them are under the age of 8. Also try having a pair of raging alcoholic neighbours on either side of you. A pair who were once married to each other. My eyes rivalled that of pigeons’ due to no sleep.
I lasted a total of 21 days. I know, new record huh? I just about shoved the keys back in the grubby hands of my landlord when I finally saw the lunacy inscribed on his face. No wonder the rent was dirt cheap.
So I was back on the road, not on the streets though. Luckily enough I started questioning the flat by day 8, looked around for another place by day 15, and made a decision to get the hell out on day 18. 3 days of packing and it was bye-bye.
My new place seemed all the better too: yes, the rent was more expensive, and yes, it only has 2 bedrooms. But at least it was a house, one where pesky neighbours were at least 5 metres away. On my right, at least. On my left? Their house - thankfully - couldn’t even be seen where I stood.
Parking my car, I skipped up towards my new house with my fresh set of keys. And on entering? Silence. Perfect still silence. Thank the Lord. I basked in it for a while before returning to my car, unloading some of my baggage. It took 3-4 hauls, but I managed to fit it into one of the bedrooms. Thankfully, the rest of my things were to be brought by moving vans in about an hour.
I envisioned what the house could look like with a few finishing touches.
“But first…”
I eyed the 2 rooms. “Mine!”
The room I had chosen to be mine gave a bright view of my own smaller garden, as well as a portion of my right neighbour’s house, but that didn’t matter much. The view in the other room would suck: just my car and some reeds.
I was just about done heaving some of my baggage into my newly-chosen room when the doorbell gave an obnoxious ring. I stood, fighting the urge to just run away into one of my rooms when it beeped again.
Reaching the door, I eyed out of the peephole to see nothing but an opaque whiteness. I guess the downside in this house is that the last tenant was a slob. I eyed some of the yellowing walls. Sighing, I opened the door.
“Hello! We’re your neighbours, Jack and Sally, and we live just there,” She motioned towards my right, “We came to introduce ourselves, and to let you know that if you ever need anything, we’re right here.”
She then shoved a basket full of biscuits at my chest, a motherly-smile stretched around her lips. She turned to leave, husband - clearly forced to follow her - in tow, when she turned around.
“Your name, dear?”
“Leen!” I shouted after her.
“Perfect.”
And perfect it was, I thought. Neighbours that respect their distance from you, and give you food? I eyed the delicious snacks in front of me. Definitely an upgrade.
Though it was at dawn the very next day that I woke up, shook.
~
See, I was just sleeping in my newly delivered bed when I heard it. Something that sounded like a bird, a huge caw, before it alternated into different pitches. Disoriented, I tried to wipe the sleep from my eyes in order to focus better. But it just made me more confused.
It sounded like a chicken.
As far as I know, this new place was not the countryside, nor farmland. So what? And why?
I stepped up to my window to take a good look outside. I wouldn’t keep a rooster in my home that’s for sure. Whatever it was, it was coming from…
My jaw dropped.
I closed my eyes and scrubbed at them harshly.
Please tell me why I opened my eyes and saw the exact same thing.
A man, on his haunches, face pointed towards the sky, was making rooster noises.
And he was on my neighbours’ garden. The ones I met earlier.
He looked absolutely demented. I wasn’t even scared then, just flabbergasted. I wasted no time calling the police at this disturbing nuisance.
When they arrived though, I saw my neighbours’ shoot straight from their house, speaking or…was it pleading? With the officers. What on Earth..?
Anyway, it was their problem now, so I went back to bed. I had a whole bunch of chores the next day, and had to get it all sorted before I returned to work.
Shutting my eyes, I wished for peace. And quiet, thank you very much.
~
At last, I woke up at 10 AM. By 1 PM, I had sorted my clothing into its respective drawers, and had decorated my bedroom walls, including a new golden addition. And now? I had food cooking on the stove. It felt satisfying, having cleaned up and now awaiting the prize of food.
I scrolled on my phone as I waited for the pasta to cook, before another ding turned my attention towards the door.
“Huh, what now?”
Unfortunately I hadn’t cleaned the peephole yet, so I had to open the door. There stood Jack and Sally. Or Sally and Jack. Jack looked lost. Sally stared deep into my eyes.
“Was it you?”
“Me? What do you mean?”
“That called the police last night?”
I recalled the past night, and gave her a thumbs up, hoping my smile was reassuring. “Yep, don’t worry, that lunatic will not be coming back ever again. He can go to the zoo if he wants to squawk.”
I should’ve taken the cue from Jack’s paling face, but Sally grabbed hold of me. “Listen here, okay? That man, the one you called the police on...” She trembled, “He’s my son! You can’t do that! He was not even on your property!”
My eyes widened. “He’s…your son?”
“Of course! How can you not see that?”
Nodding at her, I relinquished myself from the hold she had on my arms. “Okay then, sorry for the call. But I do have to mention something,” Jack started to shake his head behind his wife, but I ignored the little-to-say man, “Is there any way you can keep the noise down to a minimum? Honestly, your son has vocal cords of steel! It would wake the entire neighbourhood at this rate.”
Sally stared pointedly at me, then took a look around my house. “Very well.”
She grabbed her husband’s arm as she turned to leave, and I caught the slightest look of fear in his eyes before he was abruptly pulled away.
I dismissed it - and the sinking feeling - on discovering my very soft, overcooked pasta when I came back into my home though.
I managed to also do one thing before wrapping up: I cleaned out my door's peephole. Now I wouldn't have to open the door to know it's them. I'd just speak at them from the inside if they were to come back.
~
I woke, jolting out of my bed the very next morning, or night. I checked my bedside clock to see it was 3:50 AM. The cock-a-doodle-doo was breaking into my head. I grasped my hair in frustration, knowing that I didn’t have the madman’s parents phone numbers’ to call, or maybe scream at them. It was the exact same thing as the day before! Except…maybe…
I strained my ear.
It sounded a lot closer.
My hands, for some reason, became clammy instantly, and the urgent thumping of my own heart - the fragility of my own life - became all the more prominent.
I tiptoed to my window and peeked outside. Nothing.
I then slowly treaded to my spare bedroom, and pulled the curtains apart. Zilch. Nada. Though…
Almost as if under a spell, my head turned towards my main door. I…I could somehow feel it. Just to confirm though, I peeked out of the door-hole.
And with a slam, I collapsed in my new, dream home.
~
When I came to, I was lying on white sheets, and a bright white light hung over me.
A hospital.
I was in my own room, which I found odd. It was not like I needed it. But then a doctor walked in, followed by 3 other people, and it all made sense. Everything - blurs and sureness - melted into a perfect picture.
Sally, Jack, and their son.
He couldn’t be more than 17 really. Though he looked 37 a few hours ago. Face pressed against the glass of my peephole, mouth wide open towards it, eyes pointing in different directions as his face reddened and contorted.
I was deaf in one moment. Then came the COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO.
Of course I fainted. Who could blame me?
“Good afternoon, I’m Dr Lam. You’re in A&E right now. Are you able to tell me your full name and date of birth?
My voice answered the Doctor’s questions, but my eyes stared dazed at the youngster’s abdomen, not daring to reach his its eyes.
“Well, nothing seems to be wrong with you. You may have just been dehydrated. Did you have any headache or pain before you fainted?”
I replied in the negative.
“Luckily, your friends’ son had found you passed out, and ensured your speedy arrival to hospital, so I wouldn’t be worried about any damage.”
My eyes finally strayed, looking towards the ground. I held the nauseousness of bile down my throat. Following a brief check-up, I was allowed to leave.
And 2 people and a demon followed me out.
“Well, Leen, that should give you a lesson,”
Sally.
I turned towards the family, who stood in a 3 person arc. Only 1 managed to look away, equal parts shame and guilt. I don’t need to mention who that was.
“Don’t worry. You can look at me, I don’t bite: not now and not at dawn,” a strained voice whispered at me. “I promise, it’s only at dawn when I…when I…”
“Hush Dean, don’t work your voice that much. You’ll need to save it for later.”
I was still dizzy. That didn’t stop me from running half-hobbled to the taxi stand, where I begged and claimed to many that I would provide double payment if they were to take me to my house.
It took a while, but I managed to pack some of my clothes. There was no way in hell I was sleeping at that damned house again, not now, not ever. I called and booked at a nearby hotel in the meantime.
I was done packing necessities by the evening. Walking out of my house, I saw no sign of those three. I would have been relieved, had I not come face to face with than one thing: standing in my garden, leaning against my car. My breathing picked up instantly.
Dean
It stood with its back resting against my car. And It noticed me immediately. Seems like it was just waiting for me to notice it.
“Are you leaving?” It sounded almost sad, but I needed it to move away, or my only way out of there would be in jeopardy.
“For the night.” My answer? Almost smooth, but even I could hear the first shake in my voice.
It nodded though. “Okay.” And he moved from my car. I counted the distance. 1 metre. 2. 2.5-
It made a sudden dash at me as I - in flight response - ran frantically to the driver’s seat, locking the door. I came in half-squashed, my backpack still on my back. But I didn’t care.
Its face was pressed against the window.
“Mum is waiting for a person that will like me for me, not run away. You’re supposed to like me.” It said, matter-of-factly. It then wailed, and sunk beneath the car window.
I did not dare to sit up and see what it was doing.
I didn’t even need to though. The sound came a split-second later.
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO
Tears spilled from my eyes. My limbs felt weak. I couldn’t even breathe. It suddenly sprang up to the window. Eyes enlarged: looking at me and everywhere at once.
“I can actually tur-COCK- in the day too, but M-DOODLE- said it would be too much for you,” wheezing, it exclaimed again before adding, “but this is ME. Do you-do you, do you like me?”
With dead limbs I weighed my foot on the pedal, and jump-started the car to speed off. My head shook left-and-right in response, stomach heaving with nausea.
Human preservation kicked me into taking proper control of the car when I saw, out of the rear view mirror, Sally. This time with a rope, which locked around the creature’s neck before she tugged, drawing it into her house. At one point we locked eyes. And what do I mean by we?
Answer: the 2 of them and me.
It was honestly a miracle that I did not get into a road traffic accident.
I spent 3 days living in the hotel after that, my job long-forgotten in the aftermath.
By day 4 I broke down and called my older sister, asking to stay at her place for a while. Her house and area seemed fine the times I’d stopped over. I guess I clearly did not seem right though, as she many-a-time asked me what was wrong. My answer? Stress. She persisted, years of living together as kids helping her figure out my lies, though she ultimately gave up after a week. She knew it was something I didn’t want to share, and that I was safe now. That was enough for her.
For me? I guess at the time I so badly wanted to tell someone. Though it couldn’t be my sister. I didn’t want to cause any trouble. Nor see if she’d even believe me, or instead rank me at the same IQ level as her two 5-year-olds.
For a few weeks, I stayed with my sister and her family, reassuring both her and myself that I was fine. Thankfully, we worked together to find a small apartment. Next to a kids school too - bonus points. I now craved safety above all else. After moving out though, I realised I needed my belongings back.
So, who picked up my stuff from that cursed residence, you ask? The moving people. I called the police from a random phone booth first to head over to that area, emphasising on seeing some suspicious looking men, whilst I got them to collect everything. I did not dare to call the police on that family though. I would prefer if the link between me and them got cut, drawn and quartered.
So now I’m here, in an apartment which thankfully hasn’t shown any sign of insanity. Inspecting my belongings, I noticed that there was one thing missing.
My gold frame, used to encase my make-shift certificate - made by yours truly after her 21-day record from the previous apartment - was gone.
I felt somewhat miffed, but then I realised something.
Something which can maybe bring the light out in this whole situation.
I counted carefully. I broke my record.
With a grand stay of 2 days. Now that - that I don’t think I’d ever be able to beat.

We moved into a pet-friendly apartment over three years ago. We have a large size dog and a cat.
The first night we moved in, the neighbor downstairs came upstairs to and told us a bunch of rules she wanted us to follow. She told us not to take a shower after 9pm because she could hear the water noice. She didn’t want us to walk around too much because she could hear the noise.
This woman filed her first complaint against us within the first week. We were later told by other neighbors that she was schizophrenic and filed complaints against neighbors on a daily basis. The previous tenant in my apartment was complained for using microwave (yes, the machine for heating up food) to steal her credits card information. She called the government agency to report him. The guy ended up moving to a different apartment.
This woman complained about us making noises, allowing our dog outside to bark at her, etc. which were not true. One night she brought a bag of black long hair to the manager saying my dog left the hair in her bathroom and blocked her sink. But I have a white dog! She also told people that my husband was a spy for Russia.
Anyway, the landlord still informed us whenever she complained. We were later told that this woman wasn’t even on the lease. She lived with a person together in that apartment. He didn’t add her to the lease because she might have low credit score or criminal records. The landlord basically allowed this woman who wasn’t a tenant, to harass us.
The harassment stopped after a year or so. This woman came out of her apartment to yell at us when we were going to work in the morning. I told her we would bring her to court and file a restraining order. She stopped confronting us since then.
At the end of last year, the landlord set new rules for pets. They didn’t allow dogs on the balcony without supervision. My dog used to sit on the balcony all day when we were at work. No neighbor except that woman ever complained about her barking. I noticed that my dog only barked at Amazon delivery people, other neighbors’ dogs if they got too close to our balcony, and some of the African Americans (I don’t know why). She stopped when those people walked away. No excessive barking.
Recently, another neighbor started complaining about the dog barking at her. Ever since the new rule, we stopped allowing our dog to sit on the balcony unless either of us was at home to supervise. Whenever the dog barked, we promptly stopped her and brought her back into the apartment. This morning, the landlord sent us a formal notice saying we allowed our dog on the balcony without supervision. A week ago, the landlord called my husband that someone complained about the dog on the balcony. This neighbor filed her complaint when my spouse was sitting in the living room within 5 feet away from the dog. He went out to stop the dog and brought her back to the apartment. All these happened in less than 20 seconds.
Now we realize the landlord has been targeting us because we are not the protected races. Both my spouse and I are working professionals. We are quiet. We follow the rules. We pay the rent in time. Never have parties. No music. There were tenants in this apartment not paying rent for two years and damaged their floor because they let the water run for a whole night. There was a guy sexually harassing a neighbor. Another guy was stealing people’s packages. The manager told us the landlord’s attorney advised them not to mess up with those tenants because they were African Americans. I was honestly very angry. We followed every rule and paid the money but kept getting notices from the landlord threatening to evict us. They allowed non tenant to file complaints against us and harass us, and accommodate unreasonable requests that my dog can’t sit on my balcony because they didn’t want to mess up with complainers that are African Americans.
It’s extremely frustrating at this moment. Is there a way to solve this problem? We are thinking of bringing the landlord to court, if possible, along with those people who kept filing unreasonable complaints to harass us.

Facts:

• 30 states have a higher minimum wage than Tennessee's $7.25.
• Tennessee last raised its minimum wage in 2009.
• Since then, inflation has risen by about 36.6%.
• A decent living wage for a single adult in Tennessee is about $13.25 per hour.

Rising Rents in Knoxville

• Rapid Rent Increases: In 2022, rent growth in Knoxville was 9.6%, significantly higher than the national average of 2.3%. This trend has continued, with apartment rents increasing by around 6.06% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
• Forecasted Increases: The trend of rising rents is expected to continue, with forecasts indicating an additional 5% increase over the next year.
• High Occupancy Rates: Despite these rent increases, Knoxville's rental market remains highly competitive with occupancy rates around 96.3%, which is higher than the national average of 94.7%.

Recent Home Price Increases in Knoxville

• Median Home Price: The median home sales price in Knoxville rose to $350,000 in July 2023, representing an increase of around 7.9% compared to the previous year.
• Affordability: As of November 2023, the median home sales price was $346,000, up by about 10.8% from the previous year.
• Income Requirements: The income required to qualify for a mortgage on a median-priced home has risen dramatically, from around $59,000 at the start of 2022 to over $110,000 by August 2023.
• Housing Inventory: Despite the rising prices, the total number of homes available in Knoxville is still around half of pre-pandemic levels, contributing to the increased competition and higher prices.

This information highlights the growing affordability issues in Knoxville, with home prices rising faster than incomes, making it challenging for many residents to purchase homes.

Steps to Raise the Minimum Wage

Step 1: Organize a Petition Drive

• Form a Nonpartisan Group: Create or join a group focused solely on raising the minimum wage, without political affiliations. Use platforms like Zoom for virtual meetings, schedule regular meetings, and use social media and local forums to recruit members.
• Research Requirements: For statewide initiatives, the number of signatures required is typically a percentage of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Confirm the exact number with the Tennessee Secretary of State's office. For local initiatives in Knoxville, a charter amendment can be proposed if at least one registered voter files the petition with the county election commission for pre-approval (TCA 2-5-151).
  • Tennessee Secretary of State: (615) 741-2819
• Create the Petition: Draft a clear and concise petition for a minimum wage increase. Here is a sample:

Draft Petition:
Petition for Increasing the Minimum Wage in Tennessee
To the Tennessee General Assembly:
We, the undersigned residents of Tennessee, believe that the current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour is insufficient to meet the basic needs of individuals and families in our state. Given the significant rise in living costs and inflation since the last adjustment in 2009, we urgently call for an increase in the state minimum wage to a livable wage of $13.25 per hour. This adjustment will ensure that all working Tennesseans can afford necessities such as housing, food, healthcare, and transportation.
By signing this petition, we express our support for this necessary change and urge the Tennessee General Assembly to take immediate action.
Name Address Signature
Step 2: Collect Signatures

• Host Community Events: Organize events like town hall meetings, local fairs, or farmers' markets to gather signatures.
• Utilize Local Networks: Leverage small-town connections where everyone knows each other to spread the word and gather support.
• Set Up Booths: Place booths in high-traffic areas like grocery stores, libraries, and community centers to collect signatures.
• Door-to-Door Campaigning: Go door-to-door in your neighborhood to ask for signatures.

Step 3: Raise Awareness

• Social Media Campaign: Use platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to inform the community and encourage them to sign the petition.
• Local Media: Reach out to local newspapers, radio stations, and TV channels to cover your campaign.
• Flyers and Posters: Distribute flyers and put up posters in local businesses and public spaces.

Step 4: Submit the Petition

• Verify Signatures: Ensure all collected signatures meet the requirements.
• Submit to Authorities: Submit the petition to the appropriate state or local authority for validation.

Deadlines and Requirements

• Submission Deadline: Typically, signatures must be submitted several months before the general election to allow time for verification. For 2024, check with the Tennessee Secretary of State for specific deadlines and the number of required signatures.

How Petitions Work

In general, for a petition to be effective and get an issue on the ballot or to influence local government action, more signatures are usually needed to demonstrate widespread community support. Here’s a brief overview of the process:

• Single Signature Submission: In some cases, a single well-documented request or petition signed by one person can be submitted to local officials to initiate a discussion. However, this method is less likely to compel action without demonstrating broader community support.
• Gathering Multiple Signatures: To increase the chances of the petition being taken seriously, gathering multiple signatures shows that the issue has significant support within the community. This can influence local officials to take action.
• Specific Requirements: The exact number of signatures required can vary based on local laws and regulations. For example, getting an initiative on the ballot often requires a specific percentage of registered voters' signatures.

Example Scenario:

• Submitting a Petition to the City Council: One person can submit a petition to the city council to raise an issue. However, gathering more signatures from residents increases the impact.
• Ballot Initiatives: For ballot initiatives, there are usually legal requirements regarding the number of signatures needed. This varies by jurisdiction.

Strategies to Address Rising Rents

While controlling rent increases directly can be challenging, there are several strategies that can help stabilize the rental market and provide more affordable options:

1. Rent Control and Stabilization:
   • Implement policies that limit how much rents can be increased annually.
2. Increased Tenant Protections:
   • Strengthen tenant rights to provide more security and stability, such as "just cause" eviction protections.
3. Affordable Housing Development:
   • Increase the supply of affordable housing through new developments and mixed-income housing projects.
4. Tax Incentives for Landlords:
   • Offer tax breaks or incentives to landlords who keep rents affordable.
5. Community Land Trusts:
   • Establish community land trusts to manage and develop affordable housing.
6. Rent Subsidy Programs:
   • Expand rent subsidy programs to assist low-income tenants.

Petition Example for Rent Control and Tenant Protections

Petition for Rent Control and Tenant Protections
To the Knoxville City Council:
We, the undersigned, request that the Knoxville City Council take immediate action to address the rising cost of rent and protect tenants by implementing rent control measures and strengthening tenant protections. Specifically, we propose the following initiatives:

1. Rent Control: Implement rent control measures that limit annual rent increases to no more than a set percentage, tied to inflation.
2. Just Cause Eviction Protections: Establish "just cause" eviction protections to prevent arbitrary evictions and provide stability for tenants.
3. Tax Incentives for Affordable Rent: Offer tax breaks or incentives to landlords who commit to keeping rents affordable.
4. Encourage Long-Term Leases: Promote the use of long-term leases with fixed rent increases to provide stability for both tenants and landlords.

By implementing these measures, Knoxville can help ensure that housing remains affordable and accessible for all residents, promoting a stable and thriving community.
By signing this petition, we express our support for these initiatives and urge the Knoxville City Council to take immediate action to protect tenants and address the rising cost of rent.
Signature: _______________
Print Name: _______________
Address: _______________
Email: _______________

Other Strategies to Help Afford Homes

Local Level:

1. Affordable Housing Programs: Support and expand local programs that provide affordable housing options.
2. Down Payment Assistance: Advocate for city or county programs that help with down payments for first-time homebuyers.
3. Community Land Trusts: Promote local models where the community owns the land and leases it to homeowners, reducing the cost of purchasing a home.
4. Zoning Reforms: Push for zoning changes within Knoxville to allow for more diverse and affordable housing developments.
5. Financial Education: Provide resources locally to help individuals better manage their finances and improve their credit scores.
6. Rent-to-Own Programs: Implement or support local programs where tenants can rent properties with the option to buy after a certain period.
7. Increased Housing Supply: Encourage the construction of more housing units in Knoxville to meet demand.
8. Public-Private Partnerships: Foster collaborations between the city and private developers to create affordable housing projects.
9. Inclusionary Zoning: Require a portion of new developments in Knoxville to include affordable housing units.
10. Tax Incentives: Offer local tax credits or abatements to developers who build affordable housing or to homeowners for property improvements.
11. Tiny Homes and ADUs: Promote the development of tiny homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Knoxville as affordable housing options.
12. Housing Cooperatives: Support cooperative housing models locally where residents collectively own and manage their housing.
13. Employer-Assisted Housing: Encourage local employers to provide housing assistance or benefits to their employees.
14. Energy Efficiency Programs: Implement local programs to improve the energy efficiency of homes, reducing utility costs and overall housing expenses.
15. Foreclosure Prevention Programs: Provide local assistance and counseling to homeowners at risk of foreclosure to help them retain their homes.
16. Land Banks: Establish land banks at the city level to acquire, manage, and repurpose vacant and foreclosed properties for affordable housing development.

Steps for Local Action:

• Petition for Ballot Initiatives: Registered voters can start petitions to get these issues on local ballots. This involves gathering a required number of signatures from the community.
• Engage with Local Officials: Attend city council meetings, contact local representatives, and advocate for these programs and reforms.
• Form or Join Advocacy Groups: Collaborate with local organizations focused on housing and community development to amplify your efforts.
• Raise Public Awareness: Use social media, local news, and community events to inform and mobilize residents around these initiatives.
• Vote: Encourage community members to vote for local leaders and initiatives that support affordable housing and related programs.

Example Petitions:

Petition for Comprehensive Affordable Housing Initiatives
To the Knoxville City Council:
We, the undersigned, request that the Knoxville City Council take comprehensive action to promote affordable housing through a combination of tax incentives, public-private partnerships, inclusionary zoning, expanded affordable housing programs, and the establishment of land banks.

1. Tax Incentives: Offer local tax credits or abatements to developers who build affordable housing or to homeowners for property improvements. These incentives will encourage the development and maintenance of affordable housing units, ensuring more options are available for low- and moderate-income families.
2. Public-Private Partnerships: Foster collaborations between the city and private developers to create affordable housing projects. By working together, the public and private sectors can pool resources, expertise, and funding to develop housing that meets the community's needs.
3. Inclusionary Zoning: Require a portion of new developments in Knoxville to include affordable housing units. Inclusionary zoning ensures that affordable housing is integrated into new developments, promoting economic diversity and increasing the availability of affordable homes.
4. Affordable Housing Programs: Support and expand local affordable housing programs to provide quality, affordable housing options for low- and moderate-income residents. Currently, many residents are struggling to find affordable housing, which impacts their quality of life and financial stability. By expanding these programs, we can ensure that more residents have access to safe, decent, and affordable housing.
5. Land Banks: Establish land banks at the city level to acquire, manage, and repurpose vacant and foreclosed properties for affordable housing development. Land banks can transform unused or abandoned properties into valuable assets for the community, providing opportunities for affordable housing development and revitalizing neighborhoods.

By implementing these strategies, Knoxville can create a more inclusive and sustainable housing market that supports the needs of all residents. This comprehensive approach will help address the current housing shortage and ensure long-term affordability in our community.
By signing this petition, we express our support for these initiatives and urge the Knoxville City Council to take immediate action to promote affordable housing through these measures.
Signature: _______________
Print Name: _______________
Address: _______________
Email: _______________
Down Payment Assistance
Petition for Down Payment Assistance Programs
To the Knoxville City Council:
We, the undersigned, urge the Knoxville City Council to advocate for and establish city or county programs that provide down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. Many residents find it challenging to save enough for a down payment, which is a significant barrier to achieving homeownership. By providing down payment assistance, we can help more residents transition from renting to owning their homes, promoting long-term financial stability and investment in our community.
By signing this petition, we express our support for the creation and implementation of down payment assistance programs to help first-time homebuyers in Knoxville.
Signature: _______________
Print Name: _______________
Address: _______________
Email: _______________

State or Federal Level:

• Subsidized Housing Vouchers: Increase the availability and funding for housing vouchers that subsidize rent for low-income families.
• Mortgage Credit Certificates (MCC): Promote MCC programs that provide tax credits to first-time homebuyers at the state or federal level.

Combining these approaches with efforts to raise wages can create a more comprehensive solution to housing affordability issues.

How New Jersey Did It:

• Legislative Action: Passed in 2019, the law set a schedule for gradual increases to reach $15 by 2024.
• Annual Adjustments: Provisions for annual increases based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
• Broad Support: Significant political backing from the governor and legislature.
• Sector-Specific Plans: Different timelines and rates for small businesses, seasonal workers, and agricultural employees.
• Economic Advocacy: Studies and advocacy highlighted the benefits, helping to build public and political support.

Tennessee's Business Environment and Minimum Wage:

• Business-Friendly State: It's true Tennessee is known for being business-friendly, which can make raising the minimum wage challenging.
• Jobs Over $12/Hour: While many jobs may pay over $12 an hour, not all workers have access to these opportunities, especially those with limited skills or education.

Steps to Take:

• Educate and Advocate: Inform the community about the benefits of a higher minimum wage for both workers and the economy.
• Highlight Success Stories: Share examples from other states like New Jersey that have successfully raised their minimum wages without harming businesses.
• Promote Nonpartisan Support: Work with groups that focus on worker rights without political affiliations to gather broader support.

By focusing on education and nonpartisan advocacy, it's possible to create a more inclusive conversation around raising the minimum wage.

[US-GA] Duplex neighbor causing a bunch of problems and just recieved a mildly threatening letter from them.
So, let's start with the basics. I've been living in this place for almost 3 years now. Prior to living here I rented from the same landlord in a nearby duplex in 2014. My neighbor is a man and his wife. They've been living there together for about 6 years with the man living there for nearly 15. We've remained cordial to this point regardless of the issues that have popped up. At least, that was the case up until recently. We share a front porch that has railing around the ledge and splitting the unit down the middle at the living room.
So, the issues(these aren't listed in any particular order).
First, Over the last 2 or so years they've taken in roughly 7 stray cats. They keep the majority of these cats outside at all times. This wasnt an issue initially as I didn't mind the little fluffballs on the porch but as times gone on it has become an inconvenience. The cats will shit on my porch and walkway leading from the porch to the gravel driveway where I park. I have stepped in cat shit no less than 4 times in the past 2 months. When I moved in I had a welcome mat at the door. Well , after the cats shit on it 4 times in one week and I couldn't get the shit off it the last time so I threw it out. I bought a hose and spray nozzle just to spray cat shit off my porch and shoes. I have tried non-toxic sprays to try and coax them away from my walkway and that hasn't worked. I have spoken directly with both the man and his wife on this topic and all I receive is gaslighting. They claim it's not cat shit, it's actually chicken, raccoon, and opossum shit. Also, these cats are not healthy. They do not look healthy, the majority of cat shit I step in is diarrhea, and their fur is in such poor shape.
Second, roaches. When I first moved in there were roaches. I contacted the landlord and he had pest control out. I also placed multiple different traps at the same time and they died down a bit. The kicker here is I asked the neighbor about the roaches and his response was, and I shit you not, "oh the woman in the other duplex(between 500-1000 feet away from current duplex) was dirty and when she moved out the roaches moved over here." that was roughly 1.5 years ago and the roaches come and go now. I place new traps every few months to try and cull the population as much as possible. I just believe that the neighbors are dirty as all hell as their porch is a mess and I wouldn't doubt the inside is just as bad or worse. Oh, and to top that off, they leave their cat food open on the porch. So, roaches, raccoons(which I've seen eating from the cat plate at night), and opossums all get their fill.
Third, and trigger warning in advance, domestic violence. I'll admit going into that I am ashamed of what I'm going to state here. The man beats his wife. I have heard them fighting on so many occasions. There was one day where I had gotten off work and started to chill and unwind preparing to go to sleep on the recliner in the living room. I heard them start fighting as they normally do. Well, this particular time they brought it out onto the porch. All I heard out my window was things breaking and multiple banging noises. Then just absolute screaming. She was screaming as if she were being murdered. Then there was silence and I heard him say " if you ever talk back to me like that again I will kill you." this is where I am ashamed. I should've called the cops. I didn't. The dude owns a gun, is an alcoholic, and is definitely unhinged enough to retaliate if I were to try and help. I am afraid that there would be retaliatory violence and it is an uncomfortable feeling that I should not feel in my own home.
Fourth, my girlfriend refuses to come over to my house anymore due to the sad looking cats/cat shit, the occasional roach that she sees, and her not wanting to be at my home alone at night(I work nights) knowing how unhinged the neighbor is. She has heard him beating his wife. She is afraid because "what am I supposed to do if he gets really drunk while you're at work and tries to come into the house."
There are a couple smaller things but this is the gist of the major issues.
So, about a year ago I messaged the LL about the cats shitting everywhere. About a week or so later there was cat litter alongside my backyard fence. I wasn't seeing cat shit everywhere anymore so I let it go.
We arrive now at last week. Got home from a long night of work, kicked my shoes off, and relaxed. Woke up for work later and started to throw my shoes on just to notice that there was cat shit on them that I had already tracked through to living room.
I was pissed and messaged the landlord "Neighbors let their cats back out again and they are shitting everywhere. Theyve already ruined the mat that was in front of the door when I moved in. There are shit stains all over the porch. I don't want to call animal control cause I doubt they'll do anything but I'm getting tired of having to either clean my shoes or dodge shit everytime I get home from work."
He didn't reply, which I expected as he rarely replies.
A couple days later I get home from work to see a note left in my door. The neighbors wife was pissed. I don't have the note on me right now so I'm going to summarize.
She claimed that the cats do not shit on my side of the house. They shit near their cars "because that's where they are used to shitting" she said that all the shit I'm claiming to be cat shit is chicken, opossum, and raccoon shit. She threatened me with this line "you told the landlord the lie about the cats trying to get us evicted so why shouldn't we tell the landlord that the house smells like weed." yes, my roommate and I smoke. Yes, it's an illegal state. She then goes on to claim "the smoke comes through our oven vent and dryer vent and my clothes reek of weed." I call bullshit because not even my clothes smell like weed. This is legitimately the only complaint I've ever heard them say about my living there. Throughout the letter she claims multiple times that I'm not seeing what I think I'm seeing and I'm just trying to get them evicted.
So, this is where I stand, all I can think of is get photographic evidence of the cats shitting, but I don't really know what it's going to accomplish. The cats definitely need to be taken care of better and them shitting everywhere is not cool either. The other issues I've noted should probably be dealt with as well but domestic violence is a tricky thing to involve myself in. My Gf is mad because I haven't called the cops but I legit don't want to be shot or be evicted/arrested because I smoke weed in my home.
Afterthought: there has been a few instances of the woman being on something, not sure what, and just being a zombie on the porch. I'm playing games and see a figure on the porch. I look out there and there she stands, facing the road, arms and head down, just trying to keep her balance. That was uncomfortable to see to say the least.

Duplex neighbor causing a bunch of problems and just recieved a mildly threatening letter from them.
So, let's start with the basics. I've been living in this place for almost 3 years now. Prior to living here I rented from the same landlord in a nearby duplex in 2014. My neighbor is a man and his wife. They've been living there together for about 6 years with the man living there for nearly 15. We've remained cordial to this point regardless of the issues that have popped up. At least, that was the case up until recently. We share a front porch that has railing around the ledge and splitting the unit down the middle at the living room.
So, the issues(these aren't listed in any particular order).
First, Over the last 2 or so years they've taken in roughly 7 stray cats. They keep the majority of these cats outside at all times. This wasnt an issue initially as I didn't mind the little fluffballs on the porch but as times gone on it has become an inconvenience. The cats will shit on my porch and walkway leading from the porch to the gravel driveway where I park. I have stepped in cat shit no less than 4 times in the past 2 months. When I moved in I had a welcome mat at the door. Well , after the cats shit on it 4 times in one week and I couldn't get the shit off it the last time so I threw it out. I bought a hose and spray nozzle just to spray cat shit off my porch and shoes. I have tried non-toxic sprays to try and coax them away from my walkway and that hasn't worked. I have spoken directly with both the man and his wife on this topic and all I receive is gaslighting. They claim it's not cat shit, it's actually chicken, raccoon, and opossum shit. Also, these cats are not healthy. They do not look healthy, the majority of cat shit I step in is diarrhea, and their fur is in such poor shape.
Second, roaches. When I first moved in there were roaches. I contacted the landlord and he had pest control out. I also placed multiple different traps at the same time and they died down a bit. The kicker here is I asked the neighbor about the roaches and his response was, and I shit you not, "oh the woman in the other duplex(between 500-1000 feet away from current duplex) was dirty and when she moved out the roaches moved over here." that was roughly 1.5 years ago and the roaches come and go now. I place new traps every few months to try and cull the population as much as possible. I just believe that the neighbors are dirty as all hell as their porch is a mess and I wouldn't doubt the inside is just as bad or worse. Oh, and to top that off, they leave their cat food open on the porch. So, roaches, raccoons(which I've seen eating from the cat plate at night), and opossums all get their fill.
Third, and trigger warning in advance, domestic violence. I'll admit going into that I am ashamed of what I'm going to state here. The man beats his wife. I have heard them fighting on so many occasions. There was one day where I had gotten off work and started to chill and unwind preparing to go to sleep on the recliner in the living room. I heard them start fighting as they normally do. Well, this particular time they brought it out onto the porch. All I heard out my window was things breaking and multiple banging noises. Then just absolute screaming. She was screaming as if she were being murdered. Then there was silence and I heard him say " if you ever talk back to me like that again I will kill you." this is where I am ashamed. I should've called the cops. I didn't. The dude owns a gun, is an alcoholic, and is definitely unhinged enough to retaliate if I were to try and help. I am afraid that there would be retaliatory violence and it is an uncomfortable feeling that I should not feel in my own home.
Fourth, my girlfriend refuses to come over to my house anymore due to the sad looking cats/cat shit, the occasional roach that she sees, and her not wanting to be at my home alone at night(I work nights) knowing how unhinged the neighbor is. She has heard him beating his wife. She is afraid because "what am I supposed to do if he gets really drunk while you're at work and tries to come into the house."
There are a couple smaller things but this is the gist of the major issues.
So, about a year ago I messaged the LL about the cats shitting everywhere. About a week or so later there was cat litter alongside my backyard fence. I wasn't seeing cat shit everywhere anymore so I let it go.
We arrive now at last week. Got home from a long night of work, kicked my shoes off, and relaxed. Woke up for work later and started to throw my shoes on just to notice that there was cat shit on them that I had already tracked through to living room.
I was pissed and messaged the landlord "Neighbors let their cats back out again and they are shitting everywhere. Theyve already ruined the mat that was in front of the door when I moved in. There are shit stains all over the porch. I don't want to call animal control cause I doubt they'll do anything but I'm getting tired of having to either clean my shoes or dodge shit everytime I get home from work."
He didn't reply, which I expected as he rarely replies.
A couple days later I get home from work to see a note left in my door. The neighbors wife was pissed. I don't have the note on me right now so I'm going to summarize.
She claimed that the cats do not shit on my side of the house. They shit near their cars "because that's where they are used to shitting" she said that all the shit I'm claiming to be cat shit is chicken, opossum, and raccoon shit. She threatened me with this line "you told the landlord the lie about the cats trying to get us evicted so why shouldn't we tell the landlord that the house smells like weed." yes, my roommate and I smoke. Yes, it's an illegal state. She then goes on to claim "the smoke comes through our oven vent and dryer vent and my clothes reek of weed." I call bullshit because not even my clothes smell like weed. This is legitimately the only complaint I've ever heard them say about my living there. Throughout the letter she claims multiple times that I'm not seeing what I think I'm seeing and I'm just trying to get them evicted.
So, this is where I stand, all I can think of is get photographic evidence of the cats shitting, but I don't really know what it's going to accomplish. The cats definitely need to be taken care of better and them shitting everywhere is not cool either. The other issues I've noted should probably be dealt with as well but domestic violence is a tricky thing to involve myself in. My Gf is mad because I haven't called the cops but I legit don't want to be shot or be evicted/arrested because I smoke weed in my home.
Afterthought: there has been a few instances of the woman being on something, not sure what, and just being a zombie on the porch. I'm playing games and see a figure on the porch. I look out there and there she stands, facing the road, arms and head down, just trying to keep her balance. That was uncomfortable to see to say the least.

So, let's start with the basics. I've been living in this place for almost 3 years now. Prior to living here I rented from the same landlord in a nearby duplex in 2014. My neighbor is a man and his wife. They've been living there together for about 6 years with the man living there for nearly 15. We've remained cordial to this point regardless of the issues that have popped up. At least, that was the case up until recently. We share a front porch that has railing around the ledge and splitting the unit down the middle at the living room.
So, the issues(these aren't listed in any particular order).
First, Over the last 2 or so years they've taken in roughly 7 stray cats. They keep the majority of these cats outside at all times. This wasnt an issue initially as I didn't mind the little fluffballs on the porch but as times gone on it has become an inconvenience. The cats will shit on my porch and walkway leading from the porch to the gravel driveway where I park. I have stepped in cat shit no less than 4 times in the past 2 months. When I moved in I had a welcome mat at the door. Well , after the cats shit on it 4 times in one week and I couldn't get the shit off it the last time so I threw it out. I bought a hose and spray nozzle just to spray cat shit off my porch and shoes. I have tried non-toxic sprays to try and coax them away from my walkway and that hasn't worked. I have spoken directly with both the man and his wife on this topic and all I receive is gaslighting. They claim it's not cat shit, it's actually chicken, raccoon, and opossum shit. Also, these cats are not healthy. They do not look healthy, the majority of cat shit I step in is diarrhea, and their fur is in such poor shape.
Second, roaches. When I first moved in there were roaches. I contacted the landlord and he had pest control out. I also placed multiple different traps at the same time and they died down a bit. The kicker here is I asked the neighbor about the roaches and his response was, and I shit you not, "oh the woman in the other duplex(between 500-1000 feet away from current duplex) was dirty and when she moved out the roaches moved over here." that was roughly 1.5 years ago and the roaches come and go now. I place new traps every few months to try and cull the population as much as possible. I just believe that the neighbors are dirty as all hell as their porch is a mess and I wouldn't doubt the inside is just as bad or worse. Oh, and to top that off, they leave their cat food open on the porch. So, roaches, raccoons(which I've seen eating from the cat plate at night), and opossums all get their fill.
Third, and trigger warning in advance, domestic violence. I'll admit going into that I am ashamed of what I'm going to state here. The man beats his wife. I have heard them fighting on so many occasions. There was one day where I had gotten off work and started to chill and unwind preparing to go to sleep on the recliner in the living room. I heard them start fighting as they normally do. Well, this particular time they brought it out onto the porch. All I heard out my window was things breaking and multiple banging noises. Then just absolute screaming. She was screaming as if she were being murdered. Then there was silence and I heard him say " if you ever talk back to me like that again I will kill you." this is where I am ashamed. I should've called the cops. I didn't. The dude owns a gun, is an alcoholic, and is definitely unhinged enough to retaliate if I were to try and help. I am afraid that there would be retaliatory violence and it is an uncomfortable feeling that I should not feel in my own home.
Fourth, my girlfriend refuses to come over to my house anymore due to the sad looking cats/cat shit, the occasional roach that she sees, and her not wanting to be at my home alone at night(I work nights) knowing how unhinged the neighbor is. She has heard him beating his wife. She is afraid because "what am I supposed to do if he gets really drunk while you're at work and tries to come into the house."
There are a couple smaller things but this is the gist of the major issues.
So, about a year ago I messaged the LL about the cats shitting everywhere. About a week or so later there was cat litter alongside my backyard fence. I wasn't seeing cat shit everywhere anymore so I let it go.
We arrive now at last week. Got home from a long night of work, kicked my shoes off, and relaxed. Woke up for work later and started to throw my shoes on just to notice that there was cat shit on them that I had already tracked through to living room.
I was pissed and messaged the landlord "Neighbors let their cats back out again and they are shitting everywhere. Theyve already ruined the mat that was in front of the door when I moved in. There are shit stains all over the porch. I don't want to call animal control cause I doubt they'll do anything but I'm getting tired of having to either clean my shoes or dodge shit everytime I get home from work."
He didn't reply, which I expected as he rarely replies.
A couple days later I get home from work to see a note left in my door. The neighbors wife was pissed. I don't have the note on me right now so I'm going to summarize.
She claimed that the cats do not shit on my side of the house. They shit near their cars "because that's where they are used to shitting" she said that all the shit I'm claiming to be cat shit is chicken, opossum, and raccoon shit. She threatened me with this line "you told the landlord the lie about the cats trying to get us evicted so why shouldn't we tell the landlord that the house smells like weed." yes, my roommate and I smoke. Yes, it's an illegal state. She then goes on to claim "the smoke comes through our oven vent and dryer vent and my clothes reek of weed." I call bullshit because not even my clothes smell like weed. This is legitimately the only complaint I've ever heard them say about my living there. Throughout the letter she claims multiple times that I'm not seeing what I think I'm seeing and I'm just trying to get them evicted.
So, this is where I stand, all I can think of is get photographic evidence of the cats shitting, but I don't really know what it's going to accomplish. The cats definitely need to be taken care of better and them shitting everywhere is not cool either. The other issues I've noted should probably be dealt with as well but domestic violence is a tricky thing to involve myself in. My Gf is mad because I haven't called the cops but I legit don't want to be shot or be evicted/arrested because I smoke weed in my home.
Afterthought: there has been a few instances of the woman being on something, not sure what, and just being a zombie on the porch. I'm playing games and see a figure on the porch. I look out there and there she stands, facing the road, arms and head down, just trying to keep her balance. That was uncomfortable to see to say the least.

Long story short, with 0 notice to 5 tenants, my landlord gave a house key to a stranger, who rented MY room because he assumed I had vacated…
For background: Last night, my roommate called me and said that someone unlocked the door with a key, and walked in claiming that they lived here and paid rent for May. They put a bunch of belongings into MY room that I paid for until the end of May. It was my surprise when I found a gun in my closet under my belongings! My lease is month to month and on April 15, I notified my landlord that May would be my last month renting and that I would be vacated by the 31st. I ended up moving to another place in late April, however, I still had to pay for May so I would hangout there on my lunch breaks and kept some nonessential belongings there for the time being. One of my roommates, there are 5 of us total, asked if I had been by the house that day as a lot of things were moved around, including things that were moved out of my room. The other roommates are out of town so they obviously could not have moved anything. When we told the landlord he admitted his mistake, however this random stranger has a key to our apartment and the landlord rented out my room that was already occupied. The landlord gave 0 notice to any of the 5 tenants. He also came inside the house many times with no written notice ever. I am expecting my full security deposit back, considering that he rented out my room to someone else who could have caused damages. I also expect compensation for May rent and invasion of privacy. What do I do?

Hi. I moved out of my apartment back in January because I qualified for affordable housing. The two other signers of the lease remained at the property. I tried to find a subletter to take my room but unfortunately was not able to find anybody by the time I moved out. I notified the landlords that I had left 1/31. And about a month later signed a relinquish agreement saying I relinquish rights to my deposits and any rights to the apartment. Since I left, I just discovered after being texted a few months after leaving, that the remaining tenants never filled the room vacancy or paid the portion of the rent that I was formerly responsible for, letting it stack up to over $4000 in unpaid rent. They said they were both named on some official notice to either pay rent or legal action would be taken, but I was not named. Can I still be held responsible for my former portion of the rent several months after moving out and after signing a relinquish agreement? If I was not named on the notice and not contacted by the landlords, I should be in the clear, right? Shitty situation, evolved from poor communication from the affordable housing department so I was unable to cleanly plan my leave, because I had no idea when I would be able to move into my new place until a week before. Am I in danger of receiving a judgement or an eviction at a property I vacated several months ago?

I'm in a bit of a bind and could really use some advice from the community. I'm located in Washington State and recently signed a lease for a new apartment. Here's the situation:

• Signed Lease: I signed the lease about a month ago for a unit with a rental price slightly below the market average.
• Scheduled Move-In: My move-in date was set for 05/20.
• Current Lease Expiry: My current lease expires on 05/31.

Everything was set up and I was ready to move, but just four days before my scheduled move-in, the property management company called me to say I couldn't move into the new unit because they discovered a 'leak' that needs to be fixed. This has thrown me into a stressful situation as I've already packed everything and now face the possibility of having nowhere to stay once my current lease expires.
My Questions:

1. Lease Enforcement: Is there a way to enforce the lease agreement or compel the landlord to provide alternative accommodation at the same rent?
2. Compensation: Am I entitled to any compensation for additional costs (temporary housing, storage, moving expenses) due to this delay?
3. Legal Recourse: What legal steps can I take if the landlord doesn't resolve this issue promptly? Should I consult a lawyer?

I've reached out to the Washington State Tenants Union for help, but I wanted to get some input from you all as well. Has anyone faced a similar situation? What did you do? Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!

I'm in a bit of a bind and could really use some advice from the community. I'm located in Washington State and recently signed a lease for a new apartment. Here's the situation:

• Signed Lease: I signed the lease about a month ago for a unit with a rental price slightly below the market average.
• Scheduled Move-In: My move-in date was set for 05/20.
• Current Lease Expiry: My current lease expires on 05/31.

Everything was set up and I was ready to move, but just four days before my scheduled move-in, the property management company called me to say I couldn't move into the new unit because they discovered a 'leak' that needs to be fixed. This has thrown me into a stressful situation as I've already packed everything and now face the possibility of having nowhere to stay once my current lease expires.
My Questions:

1. Lease Enforcement: Is there a way to enforce the lease agreement or compel the landlord to provide alternative accommodation at the same rent?
2. Compensation: Am I entitled to any compensation for additional costs (temporary housing, storage, moving expenses) due to this delay?
3. Legal Recourse: What legal steps can I take if the landlord doesn't resolve this issue promptly? Should I consult a lawyer?

I've reached out to the Washington State Tenants Union for help, but I wanted to get some input from you all as well. Has anyone faced a similar situation? What did you do? Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!

We didn’t have the homeless problem to this extent before the “ tenant protection act “ was introduced. You didn’t pay you didn’t stay. I know there are good and bad on either sides but they have made it so easy for tenants not to pay rent they know they can’t be kicked out and they can usually get some bogus repayment plan. What other business has to keep providing service after you stop paying?? When people feared being kicked out it was more of a priority to pay rent. Ontario works rent portion should go directly to the landlord no excuse. I think the majority of landlord would be happy to take tenants on OW if they had a guarantee the rent was coming. We are getting so out of control with tenants doing whatever they want and playing the victim card and the government follows along and allows it and actually promotes it. Makes me so angry every case I read and landlords I talk too. We need a fair playing field. Tenants need consequences.

Last October, my roommates and I moved. I had lived with them for 4 years, so I thought we were very compatible. They decided to buy a house, and I was their tenant, I had my own bedroom, and we shared the kitchen/living room/bathroom/basement. Based on the norms we had established living together for so long, I expected to happily live there for many years. I even trusted them enough to pay a years’ rent in advance so they could afford the downpayment.
However, as soon as we moved, my roommate/now landlord went on a powertrip. She had a new boyfriend, and wanted to have him over often. She’s poly, so her husband slept in the bedroom, and when her new boyfriend spent the night, he would sleep on the living room floor.
I’m introverted, so having another person in the house that much was really draining to me. I was very uncomfortable with this new boyfriend's sleeping arrangement, but I didn’t say anything for several months because everything was pretty stressful and chaotic. He was always there Tuesday and Wednesday nights, but sometimes he would spend an entire weekend as well, for a total of up to 5 nights/week. They usually gave me warning that he was coming over, but I sometimes didn’t know whether or not he was spending the night. Going downstairs in the morning and finding someone sleeping on the floor without any warning made it impossible to relax in my own home. We didn’t have enough parking spaces, so if he spent the night, I was parked in. I usually preferred to walk to work, and they were usually good about checking if I would need my car and shuffling them so that mine was accessible, but if I woke up late or it was raining, it really sucked to not be able to use my car.
Finally, in January, I couldn’t take it anymore. I had already paid rent in advance, but I was still expected to pay ⅓ of the utilities, the boyfriend never contributed to rent or utilities and his presence made me constantly uncomfortable. I told my roommate/landlords that their sleeping arrangements needed to change, and they reluctantly agreed but said they needed more time. They told me that if I moved out, they would repay the remaining rent I had prepaid, but I was worried they wouldn’t be able to.
Almost nothing changed about their sleeping arrangement. Sometimes, the boyfriend would sleep in their bedroom, and sometimes he parked elsewhere. But it wasn't consistent, they still expected him to have full access to the house and they acted like I should be grateful for everything they did.
I talked to them again about how uncomfortable I was because my boundaries were constantly violated, they told me that I should move out. They specifically said that they weren't kicking me out, but they made it too uncomfortable to stay. I found an apartment, gave them notice on February 12th and started staying at a friends’ house on February 25th. My new lease started March 1st, and I had everything cleared out of my bedroom on March 3rd. I had a monthly lease, so I was obligated to pay rent until March 31st. They let me know that started making repairs and repainting a few days after I left. I think the boyfriend moved in, he might have moved in before my lease was even up, I have no way of knowing. They were able to pay me back the remaining rent and paid back the security deposit, so I thought we were done and I could move on.
But no, they expect me to pay utilities. Most of our utility bills start on the 15th, so they’re charging me utilities for Feb 15th-March 15th, though some (oil, water, etc), have a different date range. I see no reason to pay these utilities because I was only living there for less than half of the period they’re charging me for, and they knowingly ignored my boundaries for months. Also, I paid a full ⅓ of the utilities for 5 months, when there was another person living there part time without my consent. The lease does state that I am responsible for ⅓ of the utilities, but with 4 adults living there most of the time, I don't think that's fair.
Today, I received certified mail stating that they will sue me if I don’t pay the last utility bills. The bill total is for $350, and they're threatening that I will need to pay their legal fees and any other costs. I know that it’s a relatively small amount, and getting a lawyer involved probably isn’t worth it, but they’ve treated me like shit for 5 months and I really don’t want to pay them anything else.
What are the risks? At a small claims court, can the defendant get charged for the prosecutors' legal fees?
If they take me to court, how much of a chance do I have of winning?
Also, since they started renovating my room as soon as I moved out, should I be partially reimbursed for March rent?
I'm in MA if that changes anything.

Here's the situation: I am in California (Bay Area) renting a 1BR 1.5BA townhome. My landlord has asked us to leave within 60 days as he's selling the place. He offered to sell it to us.
Reasons I want to buy it from him:

• I just brought a newborn home, my baby was not even 2 weeks old when we got the news last week. The thought of finding a new home and moving while recovering from birth and keeping a newborn alive makes me want to vomit from stress.
• I feel like I have the perfect setup, it's where I've lived for many years and it's super close to my work and everything I need.
• We have an emotional attachment to this house, many happy memories.
• I want to buy a house eventually but I am really afraid of buying a strange house and discovering its flaws, whereas I know this house and know it is good. It's in a great school zone, low crime, great community..
• An off market transaction means we don't have to compete and we get a slight discount. Could be a rare opportunity.
• I have been itching to buy a home because I hate burning money on rent, and am afraid I'll get priced out of home ownership forever at the rate things are going. I had many chances to buy over the last decade and a half and am kicking myself for not buying.
• I want to buy in CA because I love CA and hope to come back. Prop 13 means taxes are frozen if I buy now.
• I really want to avoid all the hassles and costs of moving, updating addresses, cleaning, inspections etc. And we'll have to do it again when we move again next year.
• I found another place we can rent, but it's smaller, more expensive, further away and that makes me really upset and sad thinking about having a long commute to work when I return to work, having to find new pediatricians and dentists etc. And we have to downsize and throw some of our things away which is also upsetting.
• Husband and I have been changing our life plan constantly so who knows maybe we'll end up staying another ten years in CA despite saying we'll move after one year.
• Renting the house out may have lower yields now but with inflation it will eventually catch up and the house itself will appreciate.

Reasons not to buy but rent for a year instead:

• We are planning to move in a year
• Seems like a really bad time to buy because of low supply (but I have lost out big because I kept thinking it was a bad time to buy over the last decade)
• the house is probably not big enough to be our forever home (the house has a bonus room but idk if a teenager will like staying in a tiny room). No space for visiting family etc.
• We talked about renting the house out after we move. Husband and I have been saving in HYSA and Tbills so we might be able to pay all cash, but after crunching the numbers, even with no loan interest it looks like after property management, HOA, taxes, and insurance the returns are less than if I kept the cash in T bills (not sure if the math is right). And that doesn't include maintenance and bad tenants etc.
• We will be really cash poor if we go all cash and that makes me really uncomfortable. But paying high interest is also unappealing.

I keep changing my mind every hour. Please help me with this decision that I have to make under pressure, I am distressed and sleep deprived with this newborn and can't think straight :(

Long story short, with 0 notice to 5 tenants, my landlord gave a house key to a stranger, who rented MY room because he assumed I had vacated…
For background: Last night, my roommate called me and said that someone unlocked the door with a key, and walked in claiming that they lived here and paid rent for May. They put a bunch of belongings into MY room that I paid for until the end of May. It was my surprise when I found a gun in my closet under my belongings! My lease is month to month and on April 15, I notified my landlord that May would be my last month renting and that I would be vacated by the 31st. I ended up moving to another place in late April, however, I still had to pay for May so I would hangout there on my lunch breaks and kept some nonessential belongings there for the time being. One of my roommates, there are 5 of us total, asked if I had been by the house that day as a lot of things were moved around, including things that were moved out of my room. The other roommates are out of town so they obviously could not have moved anything. When we told the landlord he admitted his mistake, however this random stranger has a key to our apartment and the landlord rented out my room that was already occupied. The landlord gave 0 notice to any of the 5 tenants. He also came inside the house many times with no written notice ever. I am expecting my full security deposit back, considering that he rented out my room to someone else who could have caused damages. I also expect compensation for May rent and invasion of privacy. What do I do?

Edited to say: we are moving out and have found a new place, but I continue to be on the receiving end of his hostile emails. I’m not asking for advice on whether I should stay or go, but as to whether I should take on the burden of teaching him the basics of landlord tenant law through scathing replies to his emails, or if I should just not engage, let it go, and ignore until we move.
This is not work related but has to do with my personal life. This is a burner account for obvious reasons with bad karma due to posting legal info in tenants rights subs which are trolled by landlords (my new hobby due to the situation explained below).
I am really struggling with having normal communications with my landlord due to my minimal, basic working knowledge of landlord tenant law in my jurisdiction and my landlords complete lack of understanding of these same rules. I do corporate transactional for work, so when I say basic knowledge I mean like basic knowledge I discovered via google.
Rental agreements are always annoying but generally I just agree to whatever inane stuff they include because my jurisdiction has clear rules on everything so it really doesn’t matter.
But i’m in a situation where my landlord has attempted to start the process to get me to move out of his property and it is OFF THE RAILS. I say “attempted” because he sent me some notice form that in no way, shape or form requires me to move out but he seems to think it’s an order or something. He keeps sending me progressively hostile emails about how I’m “violating” the “terms” and I’m not “complying” with the arbitrary date in the notice which he wants me to move out by which I’m realizing he thinks is like an eviction date.
I live in a jurisdiction with strong tenant rights laws and very clear processes for ending a tenancy but he seems to not have familiarized himself with them at all prior to becoming a landlord. Which is surprising to me because he’s like a senior VP of an international company. So I genuinely expected more from him.
I didn’t actually even realize he was so uninformed until yesterday when he sent me some deranged email asking me to sign some landlord’s application form that doesn’t have anything to do with the tenant. Like, it doesn’t even have a signature line on which I could sign even if I wanted to.
I guess the thing is…he is being really mean and aggressive in his emails. They are super hostile but also entirely out of touch with reality. It’s causing me a ton of stress and upset and I’m struggling to just “let it go”. It’s making me feel uncomfortable in my own home. And it’s entirely due to the fact that he is grossly uninformed. Like he seems to think I am really fucking him over by not moving out on the date he selected even though I have been bending over backwards to be a normal, reasonable person and try to find a new place since he wants his property back ALL WHILE I HAVE HAD ZERO OBLIGATION TO DO SO. like I have literally been working with him out of the good of my heart, yet he is so confused on the process that he thinks I am being a total asshole.
This is all to say, I don’t know how to be a normal person in this situation anymore. My work brain says to stop communicating with him but my personal brain needs to tell him he’s super dumb and the reason he’s unhappy is entirely due to his own lack of understanding. So I start drafting replies to him based on my personal urge to tell him this but then my work brain takes over and l’m basically writing a work letter explaining how he has the law wrong. I don’t want to be my own client.
What would you do? Would you write him a letter telling him he’s severely confused? Do I just ignore him and not engage because it’s so dumb? At this point there is not any kind of legal issue because he has botched the process so bad, it’s literally just an interpersonal issue where I’m being emailed by someone who is acting like a total asshole.
What would a normal person do here? Help me.

This may be biased in a renting subreddit and a bit controversial in general but I'd love to hear what people think. I may end up asking this same question in the future in another subreddit where I could get landlords' perspectives/opinions.
I am well aware that landlords risk a whole lot more than renters with an expensive property on the line. However, I feel like renters also risk their mental health and their financial situation (more for renters who aren't that well off).
Currently, the process for beginning a tenancy involves the renter(s) being vetted extensively by the landlord/agent in many areas such as;

• a certain salary threshold to meet
• employment verification
• previous rental history
• checking renter's suitability with past landlords

However, there isn't very much, if at all, available for renters to check basic things from the landlord and the property that will impact their living situation everyday for the duration of their tenancy agreement. Renters could simply ask these things but I feel like there isn't much incentive or reason for landlords/agents to be completely truthful and transparent, especially when trying to fill a property as quickly as possible. Things like:

• does the landlord/property manager have a good history of being responsive to tenants and fix property problems quickly?
• are the neighbours likely to be noisy? (especially in properties with shared walls such as flats and terraced houses)
• does the property have a history of any infestations and is it likely to resurface?

Personally, I've always wanted to be able to contact past renters and ask all these questions - in the same way landlords contact the renter's previous landlords. Past renters have no reason (I hope) to hide anything in order to protect the landlord/property. In fact, I feel like they'll be completely transparent (especially if they left due to problems).
Even if tenancy contracts allow renters to end a tenancy early without penalty if certain criteria aren't met, mainly around living suitability etc., this is just additional and unnecessary stress and cost for renters to find a new place and worry about all of the above all over again.
This is made even worse when you consider how landlords/agents often rush prospect renters into signing documents and paying holding/security deposits. In these scenarios, renters have likely only been able to see the property once and many are even forced into making a decision during a first viewing without being given any time to even think about it.
I do agree that landlords objectively risk more than renters and I have no issues with the numerous ways they can vet renters. I just think renters should have a bit more power to ensure that their new home is actually suitable for them.
Sorry, rant over. What do you think? :)

I am an international student graduating from a university in Toronto. In February, I submitted a visitor visa application for my parents to attend my graduation ceremony in June 2024. I included all necessary supporting documents to demonstrate their financial solvency, such as recent bank statements showing ample funds (more than CAD $33,000) for the trip, and a property and fixed asset valuation report from a Chartered Accountant. Additionally, my parents have a strong international travel history including recent visits to the UK, the US and many other countries. I clearly stated in the invitation letter and the purpose of the travel document that their visit was to attend my graduation and that they would return home by the end of June 2024 due to business and property responsibilities.
These were the supporting documents for the application:

• I provided 3 bank statements that accumulate funds equivalent to $33,000 CAD and a fixed asset valuation report of my father’s property from a Chartered Accountant, reflecting its current fair market value of more than 5 Million CAD
  
• ⁠The purpose of travel is to attend my graduation mentioned in the invitation letter and the purpose of the travel document with the proof of solid family ties back home that shows they must come back by the end of June. Both my parents have a good international history with a record of recent visits to the UK, the USA and other countries.
  
• ⁠Documents proving their family ties to Home country are:
  
  • Asset valuation report that reflects property ownership
  • Recent bank statements that accumulates funds of $33,000 CAD
  • The business licence for my enterprise in Home Country
  • Rent receipts from all the tenants of my solely-owned business property with the rental agreement
  • Tax return since 2021
  • National Identity Documents

However, I received a refusal letter from IRCC last night including the following reasons:

I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay as required by paragraph 179(b) of the IRPR (https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/section-179.html). I am refusing your application because you have not established that you will leave Canada, based on the following factors: Your assets and financial situation are insufficient to support the stated purpose of travel for yourself (and any accompanying family member(s), if applicable). The purpose of your visit to Canada is not consistent with a temporary stay given the details you have provided in your application. 

I have 3 options in hand now: 1. Re-apply (Processing Time: 80+ days) 2. Reconsideration (as quickly as 5 business days) 3. Judicial Review (the most expensive and time consuming option)
I decided to submit a reconsideration letter. However, I am not sure how much of a difference it would make. I would appreciate any support on how to prepare an ideal reconsideration letter. Also, I would like to know if this reconsideration request actually makes any difference.
Thank you!

I am an international student graduating from a university in Toronto. In February, I submitted a visitor visa application for my parents to attend my graduation ceremony in June 2024. I included all necessary supporting documents to demonstrate their financial solvency, such as recent bank statements showing ample funds (more than CAD $33,000) for the trip, and a property and fixed asset valuation report from a Chartered Accountant. Additionally, my parents have a strong international travel history including recent visits to the UK, the US and many other countries. I clearly stated in the invitation letter and the purpose of the travel document that their visit was to attend my graduation and that they would return home by the end of June 2024 due to business and property responsibilities.
These were the supporting documents for the application:

• I provided 3 bank statements that accumulate funds equivalent to $33,000 CAD and a fixed asset valuation report of my father’s property from a Chartered Accountant, reflecting its current fair market value of more than 5 Million CAD
  
• ⁠The purpose of travel is to attend my graduation mentioned in the invitation letter and the purpose of the travel document with the proof of solid family ties back home that shows they must come back by the end of June. Both my parents have a good international history with a record of recent visits to the UK, the USA and other countries.
  
• ⁠Documents proving their family ties to Home country are:
  
  • Asset valuation report that reflects property ownership
  • Recent bank statements that accumulates funds of $33,000 CAD
  • The business licence for my enterprise in Home Country
  • Rent receipts from all the tenants of my solely-owned business property with the rental agreement
  • Tax return since 2021
  • National Identity Documents

However, I received a refusal letter from IRCC last night including the following reasons:

I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay as required by paragraph 179(b) of the IRPR (https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/section-179.html). I am refusing your application because you have not established that you will leave Canada, based on the following factors: Your assets and financial situation are insufficient to support the stated purpose of travel for yourself (and any accompanying family member(s), if applicable). The purpose of your visit to Canada is not consistent with a temporary stay given the details you have provided in your application. 

I have 3 options in hand now: 1. Re-apply (Processing Time: 80+ days) 2. Reconsideration (as quickly as 5 business days) 3. Judicial Review (the most expensive and time consuming option)
I decided to submit a reconsideration letter. However, I am not sure how much of a difference it would make. I would appreciate any support on how to prepare an ideal reconsideration letter. Also, I would like to know if this reconsideration request actually makes any difference.
Thank you!

At one point a year or so ago, VRBO asked to create a property identity for a property we used to live in and now rent out. (I think they found me on AirBnB.) We're not professional landlords, just random people who held onto our previous home in case we wanted to move back to that city. I rented the place out on Furnished Finder and put it on hold on VRBO for the very max days possible.
It must have come off hold, because then I got a notice that someone had auto-booked it for a 3-month period. !! I cancelled it immediately. This was for a couple months out, and I immediately cancelled it (approx 6-8 hours after booking) with an apologetic note to the guest, who responded graciously and did not seem upset.
I called VRBO seeing the "you might be charged a penalty" note, and explained the circumstances. They told me that since it was the first time and was so far in advance, the penalty could be reduced to I think it was $95 (it was definitely under $100). I figured "ugh, expensive lesson, but ok." Then they sent me an invoice for $785.
I have NEVER rented my property via VRBO. The guest forgave me and was only marginally inconvenienced with months yet to plan. I see now that this is their policy, but I wasn't tracking policy changes because I wasn't trying to use their platform. Plus, I keep going back to the fact that on the day of cancellation, I talked to someone who said the fee would be below $100 due to the circumstances.
In addition, I could have hosted the people if the current tenants had stuck to their original timeline, but they haven't, and local laws don't allow me to hold them to it even if I wanted to. So by VRBO's standards of it being out of one's control, I also feel I should qualify. I know AirBnB waives cancellations caused due to a guest overstay. However, my attempt to ask for a waiver didn't go anywhere.
It is all very frustrating, and I have not found it easy to communicate with their telephone help team.
Advice? Any tips to revolve this? What would happen if I were to just cancel my account and walk away?

My boss owns a triplex that recently became empty, no tenants. We drove by today and the inside of one of the units had been set on fire, and the firefighters definitely must have put it out. The owners were never notified and it happened at least 10 days ago.
Is any agency supposed to contact that owner to let them know? The city has the owners information, they're on a list of landlords with units for rent. I have to wait until Monday to talk to the fire chief because they are closed on weekends so we have no information on anything.

Ok, so I moved to the UK from New Zealand at the end of April. I hold dual NZ/UK citizenship. I had been speaking to this live-in landlord on Spareroom, and he seemed super friendly and helpful. On arriving here, I stayed in a hotel for a couple of days, and then in the weekend this landlord picked me up and showed me the house, and offered to let me sleep in the spare room until the existing tenant moved out on the May 1st. I paid a reduced amount of rent at this time. On moving into the actual room on May 1st, I paid £750 rent for the month and a £750 deposit. I had no understanding of my rights as a lodger and I signed a 2 year fixed term contract, which my partner would be added to when he arrives from New Zealand. Instantly the problems started. Strict rules which I was not told about before signing the contract include: you must sit down to use the toilet at all times. Food is only to be consumed in the dining room and you must vacuum under the table after eating anything. I am not allowed to personalise my room in any way. I must use a tea towel over the bottle when opening drinks. I must pull my duvet cover back during the day. I’m not allowed to do my own laundry. I was pulled aside for a conversation about how I may have dribbled on my pillow a little bit in my sleep, which I was humiliated by.
I could probably have learned to live with these issues until about two weeks after moving in I woke up to a barrage of Whatsapp messages and photos of the toilet. I was being accused of leaving a single drop of urine on the underside of the toilet seat (I didn’t) and was being threatened with being kicked out as I didn’t respect his house or the toilet rules. I suffer from extreme anxiety and after this message exchange I stayed in my room without leaving for the next two days.
Then, after that blew over, a few days later I realised he had been going into my room while I was out and my things had been moved. There is only one occasion that I know for a fact and can prove. I confronted him about this in person and he told me “I know my rights. It’s my house, I can do what I want.” I expressed my other concerns about the living situation and he expressed his own concerns to me about how my partner is supposed to move in when he arrives from New Zealand in June and how young we are. We came to what I believed to be a mutual verbal agreement that I should move out on 1st June. The contract I signed contained a £2250 break clause, and we agreed verbally that I could not afford to pay that and find somewhere else, so he would just take my deposit and that would be that. Five minutes later I get a Whatsapp message saying something to the effect of “I know we said I’d take your bond and not charge any more but I’m going to have to ask you for another £750” to which I, feeling I had no choice if I wanted to avoid the full £2250 replied “ok.” Now last night I received a message asking me to reconfirm when I was moving out and informing me that he could no longer accept our previous agreement due to his financial issues and the levy for the break cause would revert back to £2250. I have not replied to this message.
I cannot eat, I cannot sleep. I feel so unsafe in this man’s house but if I pay this fee I will effectively be rendered homeless. I do not want another confrontation at any cost and am sure if I have to have another conversation with him I will bend to whatever he wants. I am terrified. He constantly holds everything he’s done for me over my head. I have been nothing but thankful, respectful, and a good tenant. As far as I’m concerned, he wants me out as much as I want to leave. I don’t know what to do. What are my rights? Can I just leave? What would happen if I didn’t pay? Is the verbal agreement on just taking the deposit valid, or the written message where I agreed to pay another £750? Or will I have to pay the full amount? I don’t know anyone else in the UK. Please help.
Edit: I am in England.