Glendale, AZ asked in Criminal Law, Family Law and Civil Rights for Arizona

Q: Can a landlord harass you by slamming on doors just to set off your anxiety. We pay rent on time and this feels abusive

Me and my Wife rent a room at her mother's for 800 a month, and always pay on time. Me and my Wife suffer from severe anxiety and her mom keeps racking on the door randomly waking up our child and shooting our anxiety through the roof. We have confronted her told her of our anxiety and to stop doing it but she still continues. I feel lost and truly do not know how to handle the situation as I've also promised my wife I'd not argue with her mom and her mom takes advantage of it which makes the anxiety so much worse. I'm literally in tears because I can't even walk out my bedroom door to go to the bathroom. We've thought about leaving but her mom takes so much in rent we only have maybe 40$ left between us after paying and housing assistance isn't taking on new cases. There's been times were it pushes me to a point of suicidal thoughts with how bad this all is. I would never abandon my family like that but even still I hate even remotely thinking like that.

1 Lawyer Answer
Stephen M Vincent
Stephen M Vincent
Answered
  • Scottsdale, AZ
  • Licensed in Arizona

A: I'm sorry to hear of your situation. I'm sorry that your mother-in-law is not more sensitive to your needs. That is certainly a failure on her part on the human level. I wanted to give you the number for National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

Unfortunately, I think you filed your question under the wrong category. This is something that should be asked in the landlord-tenant category. The categories you listed do not fit. Your mother-in-law's actions do not meet the criminal standards for harassment. Family law describes divorce and child custody cases. And I don't believe that your mother-in-law is discriminating against you on the basis of your race, gender, color, religion, or sexual orientation, so civil rights is not applicable either.'

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