Am I wrong to feel this way about strangers in my house?

Kiki

Kiki

New member
Ugh, I seriously cannot wait to get this move finished, done and over with! We are in the process of packing, and our current apartment is not yet rented for April 1st so that landlord is wanting to show it every chance he gets. The apartment needs work. Lots of it. New paint, minor repairs and it is just old and ugly, with nasty neighbours. No wonder it won't rent right away.

We have to try and keep it in showing shape while trying to pack up and work full-time. Making things worse is that he wants to show it when we aren't home, and I'm not comfortable with that. Not for the sake of belongings and such, but we have an American Husky who's only one year old and likes to jump up. Plus we don't know how he'll react to intruders in the apartment while we aren't there. We are training him, but I doubt he'll obey strangers, and I don't want anyone getting jumped on while we aren't there.

I tried explaining this to the landlord, that we want to be at the visits so that he doesn't get out of control, but he just doesn't get it. He wants to show it all the freaking time because he's booked a family vacation to Disney and if he doesn't get it rented before he leaves, he'll be out a month's rent at least. Not my freaking problem! I'm trying to be reasonable here, but I am not putting myself in a position where someone could get hurt by our dog by accident because strangers are in the house without his owners. There are liability issues that I am not willing to take! :cursing: Why doesn't my landlord get that? He knew before the new year that we were leaving and he didn't bother to advertise it until last week.

Sorry for venting, but am I wrong in thinking that I should protect myself from liability issues by insisting we be present when he has visitors see the apartment?
 
No, I don't think you're wrong in your thinking. That's a recipe for a bad accident, and YOU will end up being the one responsible for it should anything happen. NOT the landlord.

Do you have a crate? Would it be possible to crate your dog while he shows the place? It's not ideal, but would provide some protection from a potentially bad situation.
 
ColleenSwerb said:
No, I don't think you're wrong in your thinking. That's a recipe for a bad accident, and YOU will end up being the one responsible for it should anything happen. NOT the landlord.

Do you have a crate? Would it be possible to crate your dog while he shows the place? It's not ideal, but would provide some protection from a potentially bad situation.
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We had a crate for him when he was a pup and he didn't take to it very well. We babygated the kitchen for him instead and that worked perfectly. Still does, although I am sure we don't need it now, but we sold the crate afterwards.

I agree that would be an option, but he's not used to it and we don't have it anymore.

I just remember what happened to my mom when she came for a visit one time. He jumped up a little and accidentally scraped her hand and it bled and was bruised for a couple weeks. And he KNOWS her. I don't want that kind of thing even being a possibility with visitors.

Thanks for the reassurance Col.
 
Hmm....I don't suggest using just a baby gate in this situation, because if he wanted to he could EASILY jump over it.

Do you have a neighbor who could watch him 1 or 2 days a week? That way the landlord would have time to show the place, but you wouldn't have to worry about him jumping or hurting anyone.
 
I dont think you are wrong in wanting to not allow strangers in your house when you are gone. I think you have the right to tell the landlord that you will not accept that in fact. When I was seperated from my husband and lived in an apartment I had to be notified within so many days of the landlords intention to do anything concerning my apartment. Even if it was a routine pest control or a repair. They would come around and leave a note on the door to let me know that on day x they needed to be able to come and spray or to test batteries for the fire/smoke alarms etc. I could tell them it was not a good day and they would choose another day. That could be different from place to place or state to state I suppose but Im pretty sure you are protected by laws that would govern how much access your landlord has while you are renting from him.
 
what an insensitive jerk..
you could also get a Beware of Dog sign to put up eventhough
he is not a bad dog. I would also just make a call to the local authorities explaining
your situation and ask them what you could do to protect your rights until you are gone from there.
 
Forget about worrying about the dog- I wouldn't be okay with anyone coming in the apartment at all while still living there!
 
jessica31876 said:
I dont think you are wrong in wanting to not allow strangers in your house when you are gone. I think you have the right to tell the landlord that you will not accept that in fact. When I was seperated from my husband and lived in an apartment I had to be notified within so many days of the landlords intention to do anything concerning my apartment. Even if it was a routine pest control or a repair. They would come around and leave a note on the door to let me know that on day x they needed to be able to come and spray or to test batteries for the fire/smoke alarms etc. I could tell them it was not a good day and they would choose another day. That could be different from place to place or state to state I suppose but Im pretty sure you are protected by laws that would govern how much access your landlord has while you are renting from him.
Click to expand...

The law here Jessica is such that once we give notice that we are moving, he is not even required to give us so much as 5 minutes notice before showing it. However... there is one law that I'll use if I have to that says that he must have our permission to enter the premises. But what it says about when we are allowed to refuse...I don't know.
 
I would draft a document stating that if anyone were to be injured by your dog when you are not on the premises that your landlord takes full responsibility for all injuries, medical bills, etc etc. and you are held completely harmless. Have him sign it, and then have it notarized. Hopefully, that will cover your butt if something were to happen.
 
Ugh, I hatet that too when we were renting and the landlords wanted to sell the house. We have indoor cats, they don't go outside at all. And what happens at an open day? Open doors everywhere, nobody cares to shut the doors. We basically were required to leave the house during these periods. What we did at the second house: We closed one room off which the people could only watch from the outside through the window:p We locked it to make sure that nobody could open the door. Landlord and real estate agent were not very happy about it but we didn't care.

At least the law here requires 24 hours notice.... But as soon as they gave notice, you have to let them in. I have no advice other then trying to find a dog sitter during those visits.
 
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