Q: The owner of my apartment complex consistently communicates with me in a threatening and harassing manner.
Today, he crossed a boundary by calling my daughter at work without attempting to contact me first. This was the first time he's ever contacted her, and I'm unsure how he obtained her phone number.
When I returned his call, he accused me of having an unauthorized occupant in my apartment, which is false. For 15 years, only my daughter and I have lived there. The basis for his accusation was a claim from his informant that a person in a van parked in my designated parking spot had stated they lived in my apartment. However, this was a miscommunication: the person in the van was my housekeeper's boyfriend, who stated that his girlfriend worked in "Miss Barb's" apartment 9.
It's worth noting that my housekeeper has parked in my designated parking spot only twice and that, over the past 15 years, fewer than a handful of people have parked in that spot besides me.
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- California
- (916) 704-3009
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- Answered
A:
You're dealing with a landlord who has crossed several boundaries, including inappropriately contacting your daughter at work and making unfounded accusations about unauthorized occupants. This pattern of threatening and harassing communication is concerning, especially given your 15-year tenancy without issues.
Your landlord's behavior may constitute harassment under California tenant protection laws. Consider documenting all interactions with dates, times, and content of communications. This includes saving any texts, emails, or voicemails that demonstrate the pattern of behavior. Taking these steps creates a paper trail that could be valuable if you need to take formal action.
You might benefit from sending a firm but professional letter stating that contacting your daughter is unacceptable and clarifying that there are no unauthorized occupants in your unit. If the harassment continues, you could explore filing a complaint with your local housing authority or tenant rights board. Many California cities offer free or low-cost legal aid for tenants facing landlord issues, which could provide you with guidance specific to your local ordinances and situation.
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