Hmm....sleep on couch?
Meara, I do it all the time. I've found that getting up from the recliner will get me out of sleepy head state. So, fall asleep in the recliner until second sleep break. So, you can do it too. It's perectly legit.
Hil, she is crossing into the creepy zone. I agree, you need legal advice. When you respond, some wording about crumbs do not create rodents, but holes in the building will let them in. Please fix the house before invading my privacy. And remind her that the previous tenant had a cat. And put out there, that you've never had rodent problems before.
IOmeN- holy cow, this week is non-stop. I was hoping to make tomorrow a half day, since I've gone 2 weeks now with no day off (already at 86 hours). Worn out. And suddenly tomorrow has 3 meetings. It was so much quieter when there are no students around. But then, I suppose, I'd be out of a job.
I think the issue that Hil is facing is that this landlord shares the property. While the behavior is probably not totally legal and is out of bounds jumping to housing board and legal action could make for an extremely uncomfortable living situation.
I'm not sure what's illegal about the landlord being obnoxious. She's allowed to tell the tenant to keep the place clean. She's just being very shitty about the way she's doing it and blaming Hil for something that's not her responsibility.
She's a mean person and a bad landlord but I'm not really seeing how she's treading on Hil's rights as a tenant.
She's a mean person and a bad landlord but I'm not really seeing how she's treading on Hil's rights as a tenant.
That'd be the entering without permission or notice, I think.
OMG Hil, that email made my face burn with furious frustration on your behalf (and possibly because it reminds me way way too much of dealing with a horrible landlord). I'm not even sure what all of that means...she is "hoping that another mouse comes forward"?!?!? Why, so she can nuke the place and then chide you for being a slovenly slattern who leaves enormous chunks of food hanging around in order to deliberately entice rodents. I'm not sure if that email is supposed to be a poorly worded offer to hire a cleaning service or a poorly worded threat to randomly drop in and check the sink for dirty dishes. Either way, how awful.
A dog can keep mice away. It's not as... direct as a cat but the meeses don't want to be around them. Unless, of course, you get a terrier and then its pretty direct.
Peppermint and spearmint oil on cotton balls where they like to go supposedly screw with their very sensitive sense of smell.
And of COURSE you don't want to deal with mouse traps, YOU'RE A FRIKKIN VEGAN.
Hil, just to be clear -- this is the apartment where you can hear band practice from next door loud enough to rattle your teeth?
Mice happen when it gets cold.
Hil, I think it is important for you to write back to her. As clearly as possible, write that of course you will be taking all reasonable action to keep the mice away. List those actions (wiping counters every night, sweeping kitchen every day, keeping food in containers, etc.). Ask her if there are other actions she would like you to take, ask her to list them specifically if there are, and reiterate that you will do what is *reasonable.*
Ask her if the exterminators are guaranteeing that all the holes are plugged now and that the premises are mouse-free. (they won't be - mice only need a hole the size of a pencil eraser to get in, and can survive for a month on a meal). But make her either lie to you, or admit that the exterminators said no such thing.
Smile a lot, and make her put her requests in writing. If she tries to talk to you, make a point of getting paper and pen so you can take down what she says as she's saying it.
I heart Sparky. And alla y'alls.
