Slum lord landlord strikes again.

The MaDDeSTMaN · 24-05-2005, 09:20 PM

With just over a week to go until we have to hand the keys back to the house, I went down to the old house to check the mail, check on the things that are still there (including LuvinmyEBs EB Falcon and the replacement engine which we have planned to move on Thursday) and grab a few more boxes of things out of the house.

I got down there, and the first thing I noticed was that there was a new padlock and chain around the gate. I thought nothing of this, as some friends of ours have done this before recently because they thought the gate wasn't secure enough and they didn't want anyone getting in.

I then went to check the mail, and noticed that the mailbox looked as if someone had tampered with it. I thought this was weird, but didn't really think much more about it (warning bells should have been going off by this stage, of course it's obvious to me now, but wasn't just yet) and just took the mail, junk mail and local newspaper out of the mailbox, then turned to go into the house.

As I walked towards the front door, I noticed that the house alarm was off. That's weird, I could have sworn I'd turned it on just before I left last time. And hang on, why is the front light off, we always leave that on, had done all the time since we started having trouble there many months ago so it wasn't so easy for the troublemakers to hide in the shadows.

Tried turning the alarm on from the remote, after thinking perhaps the power had been disconnected, and maybe that was why the light and alarm were off. Beep! The alarm went back on and armed itself as normal. Hmm, ok, the power's on, maybe the light globe has blown.

Turned alarm back off, put key in front door lock, tried turning key. Key wouldn't turn. And hang on a moment, that lock is all shiny and new, not painted over like it was last time I was here!

Yes, the slum lord landlord has gone in and changed the locks a week early, just after we gave away our dog who had been there guarding the house, car and goods.

Not only that, by putting the padlock and chain on the fence, we can't get the Falcon or the replacement engine out. It's a big, sturdy iron fence. Not that anyone else could have got anything out easily either without braking the padlock that I had put on the fence (which is still there), but this is a spanner in the works that we could have done without.

And of course, I didn't discover all this until after 5pm, so anybody that we could have called to get help has closed for the day.

We've tried calling the Police, and despite what amounts to stealing our things, they won't do anything about it, and only said "take it to court".

I know we could get a locksmith out (we've got proof we don't have to be out until next month), but that's an expense we could do without - as it is, we can JUST afford to get the Falcon towed to the new house, seeing as we need to hire a engine hoist to move the replacement engine and put it on the tow truck along with the Falcon.

We could "take it to court", but at best we'd probably be looking at a few days before we could get a hearing, which totally ruins the plans we had already made for moving the last of our things out.

LuvinmyEB and I are more angry right now then I can express in words.

Anybody got any ideas what we could do? And please, keep in mind that we can't go and break his legs, as much as we would both like to, that would not help us.

Thanks in advance, and thanks for reading.

The (incredibly ****ed off) MaDDeSTMaN.

**Peuty** · 24-05-2005, 09:25 PM

Cut the gate down.

Go on....do it!

Damo · 24-05-2005, 09:29 PM

Bolt cutters!

Lift the engine on to truck, along with the EB. Get some help, as said in the other thread they're not that heavy.

Or call the land lord and tell him you still have stuff you need to retreive then the place is all his.

Good luck, with it.

24-05-2005, 09:34 PM

If there is an after hours contact number for the real estate, ring it. If not and you know the land lords address, pay him a visit. Otherwise you are fully entitled to remove the gate lock to retrieve your property, and if you still have property in the house, a few minutes with a cordless drill will give you access.. And there isn't a damn thing the landlord can do because he had no right to deny you access. A complaint lodged with the tenancy tribunal would also be worth a shot.

Then again, I have been told (by the cops as they escort me to the station) that I am impulsive and hot tempered, so I wouldn't stand for that.

The MaDDeSTMaN · 24-05-2005, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damo

Bolt cutters!

Lift the engine on to truck, along with the EB. Get some help, as said in the other thread they're not that heavy.

Or call the land lord and tell him you still have stuff you need to retreive then the place is all his.

Good luck, with it.

I should have mentioned, we've already been to court against this guy, and there is a restraining order out against him - he's not allowed to talk to us or be within a certain distance of us, can't remember exactly how far. This is a result of him just deciding to walk in whenever he felt like it - which is not exactly something you want when you're only wearing your underware, and LuvinmyEB was particularly unimpressed by this.

After calling the police a second time and mentioning all the goods including the car that have effectively been stolen, the officer took the name and phone number of the landlord and called him. Called us back, said he won't budge, it's a civil matter, nothing we can do, and the goods aren't really 'stolen', even though we can't access them.

We tried to move the engine the other day, myself, LuvinmyEB and her son all tried to move it - I think we managed to move it about 20cm in the space of about an hour. We don't know anybody else who could come and help us move it, so we're hiring a engine hoist so we can move it. I'm only a smallish guy (as anyone who has met me knows), and there is no way LuvinmyEB and I could lift a complete Falcon I6 engine which is still full of it's vital fluids (oil, etc).

Bolt cutters, yes, we've thought of that. We could do that, but that could potentially get us in strife, besides it doesn't help us get our things out of the house.

XD 351 Ute · 24-05-2005, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The MaDDeSTMaN

Bolt cutters, yes, we've thought of that. We could do that, but that could potentially get us in strife, besides it doesn't help us get our things out of the house.

Bolt cutters?? What bolt cutters??

Someone else must have decided they wanted your Falcon & engine........
You know nothing.
It was unfortunate that the 'theives' cut the chain & not the lock though.....

Ed

RED_EL_XR8 · 24-05-2005, 10:00 PM

Get the EB towed by Daryl Kerrigan & Son, they have a special number they can do on gates!.

e dont know why no-one though of this before!

Casper · 24-05-2005, 10:07 PM

Seriously, cut the friggen chain off, take your stuff and screw the landlord. You have the lease on the house, you have every right to remove the lock until that runs out.

The MaDDeSTMaN · 24-05-2005, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RED_EL_XR8

Get the EB towed by Daryl Kerrigan & Son, they have a special number they can do on gates!.

e dont know why no-one though of this before!

LOL! That was one of the first things we said to each other, and one of the few laughs we've had tonight!

Quote:

Bolt cutters?? What bolt cutters??

Someone else must have decided they wanted your Falcon & engine........
You know nothing.
It was unfortunate that the 'theives' cut the chain & not the lock though.....

Hehehe, yeah, but what about our things inside the house? Bolt cutters won't help us get through the front door...

Casper · 24-05-2005, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The MaDDeSTMaN

Hehehe, yeah, but what about our things inside the house? Bolt cutters won't help us get through the front door...

Rough neigbourhood, smashed windows happen.
Then, once its all done and you have handed back the (now useless) keys, smack the ****wit in the mouth and tell him if you ever see him again your going to pull his spine out his ****ing throat. People like he appears to be dont deserve anything but contempt and a good beating on a regular basis.

BJ · 24-05-2005, 10:17 PM

Mate you need to just go get all of it if you dont now that the cops have rung him it will all be gone. Cut the bloody pad lock not the chain. I am sick of these barsteds geting up people like this. I am a land lord and i would not think of treating people like this. Dont show him any respect at all do what yopu have to do. It must be giving both you and luvin the shits. Treat him like he is treating you. Go get'em boy.

Casper · 24-05-2005, 10:21 PM

oh, and dont forget to set a few loaded mouse traps around the place when you leave. Tops of cupboards where he cant see but will probably reach up to have a "feel around" is always fun.

(Yes, done it, still smile when I think of it too)

RED_EL_XR8 · 24-05-2005, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

oh, and dont forget to set a few loaded mouse traps around the place when you leave. Tops of cupboards where he cant see but will probably reach up to have a "feel around" is always fun.

(Yes, done it, still smile when I think of it too)

Amateur! Some collected road kill dropped into the wall cavity around the master bedroom and allowed to ripen, works. Hell you didn't know!, something must died there.
Could keep the To-Let sign up for quite some time.

Feathers · 24-05-2005, 10:37 PM

Alfalfa sprouts sprinkled over the carpet and lightly watered in is also a good idea too.

**Peuty** · 24-05-2005, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

Rough neigbourhood, smashed windows happen.
Then, once its all done and you have handed back the (now useless) keys, smack the ****wit in the mouth and tell him if you ever see him again your going to pull his spine out his ****ing throat. People like he appears to be dont deserve anything but contempt and a good beating on a regular basis.

And thats the end of that chapter!

The MaDDeSTMaN · 24-05-2005, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CH7472

Mate you need to just go get all of it if you dont now that the cops have rung him it will all be gone.

Yeah, we would if we could, however the Mk I Escort is hardly running (I've started a thread about the trouble it's having, I'm at the point where I give up and want to take it to a mechanics, but we can't afford it ATM) and we're trying to not drive it if we can help it (plus there is bugger all room in a 2 door Mk I Escort, we could only realistically fit a few boxes in it), and my car isn't any better - currently suffering from electrical problems which result in the headlights working at best intermittently and often not at all. :(

Even if we could get down there tonight, only one of us could go, because we have one sick child here who we need to keep an eye on in case he gets worse.

There is no way he's getting away with this! We'll be doing all we can tomorrow, and no matter what, the EB and engine will be moved on Thursday.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

Then, once its all done and you have handed back the (now useless) keys, smack the ****wit in the mouth and tell him if you ever see him again your going to pull his spine out his ****ing throat. People like he appears to be dont deserve anything but contempt and a good beating on a regular basis.

You've met me, I couldn't intimidate a fly! As much as I'd love to give him the beating of his life, It's just not in my nature to be violent (asides from occasional violence towards tyre rubber, lol), and I doubt I could actually really hurt anybody.

If I really was capable of hurting anybody, then there would be a few people around here who would have been seriously hurt after my car was vandalised!

b2tf · 24-05-2005, 11:01 PM

Calling all Lynch Mob Members...those in Melbourne at least......

Get down there in a group and help The Maddestman out - somebody take some boltcutters, and a few Falcon boots should see most of the stuff fitting in in one trip. Anybody who's got a ute can carry the engine.

That's just ****poor tactics by the landlord, seriously why doesnt he just realise that if he doesnt hold you up you'll be gone quicker? :S

Feathers · 24-05-2005, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by back2thefutura

That's just ****poor tactics by the landlord, seriously why doesnt he just realise that if he doesnt hold you up you'll be gone quicker? :S

The sooner the place is empty, the sooner he can rent it to some other poor unsuspecting victim and rip off their money.
Obviously he hasn't thought of this.
Sounds like a man I know. He's doing the same thing to his daughter.
She can stay in the house as long as she never sees her mother again (she walked out on him), she doesn't sleep in the afternoons after work, and must agree to every degrading, demeaning thing her father says about her mother.
Needless to say she told him where to go, but he changed the locks, and is now trying to turn her sister against her.

MITCHAY · 24-05-2005, 11:14 PM

My solution involves a pvc pipe, an orange, a can of deo, a lighter and a big bang. Of course this is my solution. If you still got the house then I would break in.

What a ***** though. Hope you get it all sorted.

The MaDDeSTMaN · 24-05-2005, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by back2thefutura

Calling all Lynch Mob Members...those in Melbourne at least......

Get down there in a group and help The Maddestman out - somebody take some boltcutters, and a few Falcon boots should see most of the stuff fitting in in one trip. Anybody who's got a ute can carry the engine.

If people offered to help like this, I know I wouldn't knock back the offer....

Quote:

Originally Posted by back2thefutura

That's just ****poor tactics by the landlord, seriously why doesnt he just realise that if he doesnt hold you up you'll be gone quicker? :S

He's obviously not exactly a rocket scientist!

BuuBox · 24-05-2005, 11:42 PM

Where abouts are you?

The MaDDeSTMaN · 24-05-2005, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuuBox

Where abouts are you?

Western Suburbs of Melbourne. Prefer to not be more specific then that on a public forum, if anyone wants more specific details, PM me.

BuuBox · 24-05-2005, 11:47 PM

Shame, if you were closer, I would have seen if I could have mustered some angry friends with bolt cutters... :(

Goodluck mate, landlord sounds like a ********. Can't you get into the house? Locked myself out once or twice, always found a way in. Brick through the window works...!

zetec · 25-05-2005, 12:01 AM

If only you were able to wait until the weekend... I'd be over in a jiffy

The MaDDeSTMaN · 25-05-2005, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuuBox

Shame, if you were closer, I would have seen if I could have mustered some angry friends with bolt cutters... :(

Goodluck mate, landlord sounds like a ********. Can't you get into the house? Locked myself out once or twice, always found a way in. Brick through the window works...!

Thanks mate, yeah he's definately a kingsize retread ********.

** OFFER EXPIRED DUE TO APPARENT LACK OF INTEREST **

LuvinmyEB · 25-05-2005, 12:23 AM

My solution to the problem is get our stuff out, and two petrol bombs. One for the place I was renting and one for slumlords, white carpeted, white furnished house.
What does a HUGE plasma TV look like when it explodes? :gren:

trick_xd · 25-05-2005, 12:34 AM

I was a ***** when i was renting and the land lord ****ed me off by not fixing stuff .. i got " Bearing Blue " and put it on the inside of all the door handles so when he put his hand around the knob it come back blue and its a real bitch to get off a few days later i did it to his car door as well ...
But thats just me .. i realy am a nice guy now

**ebxr8240** · 25-05-2005, 12:34 AM

Don't give him any reason to take you to tribune..It will cost you more,Then he wins ...take photo's when you leave.....Move out with some help..Do you know any bikies that need a house to live in? Lol...
He has actually broken the law...
Although car parts etc don't sound too good..Clean up and leave....

The MaDDeSTMaN · 25-05-2005, 12:52 AM

]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Don't give him any reason to take you to tribune..It will cost you more,Then he wins ...take photo's when you leave.....Move out with some help

We're not doing anything to make him take us to court, he's the one who we've had to take action against, and the number of things he's done that he shouldn't have... When this goes to court again (and it will), he is the one who will be ending up with even more fines as a result of his actions!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Although car parts etc don't sound too good..Clean up and leave....

It's just the EB and the replacement engine, it's not like we've been using the place as a backyard chop shop.

Steffo · 25-05-2005, 01:07 AM

Wow, if you were in Sydney, I'd have gotten a few blokes and a ute and a van to come get your stuff (ute can tow the EB and the van can carry the rest). Just cut the chain off the gate.. or better yet, cut the new padlock. New locks on the door? Break the door down... or if you've got a cordless drill and one of them round drill-bits for installing new door-knobs.. get the widest one you can, wider then the door lock... cut a hole in the door around it.. lock pops out. Take your stuff and leave. The rest is HIS problem.