pz

Just as a little counterpoint to the theme of this thread, I wanted to mention that my current landlord (but not for much longer -- we move to our own place next week) has been wonderful. He has left us completely alone, but is still very prompt to come fix things if there are problems. They are currently trying to selll the place, and they give us a 72 hour heads-up if they want to bring someone around. There were a couple of times when we were a few days late sending in the rent check (just simple absent-mindedness on our part), and he has called us with nothing but a cheerful reminder.

The real kicker: he's a fervent Jehovah's Witness. Apparently, he's using the profit from our rental to support a missionary in Africa, even. He and his wife came by once with tracts, and since we politely told them that we weren't interested, they haven't proselytized once. I think he's done a better job of witnessing by being an all-around nice guy than he would by waving Watchtower's in our face.

MzNeko

If, under the lease agreement, you can't change the lock, how about one of those door-chains?

Or maybe some kind of door alarm? A really LOUD one!

Failing that, you could start jacking off in the living room...

Talulah

My first apartment, I had landlords who would come and go, never while I was there though. I was almost evicted over there being 'another bed in the house' when I was moving my roommate in. I said up front when I signed the lease that there was another person who would be moving in a few months and not a word was said.

Not only would they come in our apartment, they would bring their 10 million children with them, and we would come back to find things like dirt on the bedspread where they had let their kids stand on my bed and the refidgerator open, stuff like that. Not the mention the fact that they wouldn't fix anything. One time my key broke off in the door and when I called to tell him to come and fix it, he said 'I have church, I can come tomorrow' I was quick to tell him that I didn't intend to stay in an apartment with a door that wouldn't even shut now, much less lock (the door was damaged to begin with, it took the deadbolt to make it latch.)

Joyous

I horrified.

Are we talking about "room over the garage" apartments, or "apartment-complex" apartments, that landlords are sashaying freely into?

I've lived in apartment complexes for many years, and I've always had a keyless deadbolt. I didn't install it; it was just there when I moved in.

trekbette

There is an article about this very subject in Cosmopolitan this month. It tells some horror stories and also gives legal solutions. I recommend getting the magazine.

The Naked Mage

I understand that it's still a misdemeanor in some states to kill your landlord.

Try writing your congressman.