So last week I went to small claims court to sue my old landlord for retaliating against me for requesting repairs. Each state is different so make sure you research. In Texas is if you send a certified repair request in the mail to your landlord they have 10 days to make those repairs. If they do not you can call the city and report them, the City will fine them each day they do not fix the problem. Now here is the kicker if you are under lease and the landlord serves you a 30 day or eviction from the day they receive that request or up to 6 months later that is retaliation and you can be awarded big bucks...
Well that is exactly what this chump did and I WON! I walked in that court room with a folder full of pictures, receipts, emails about how I always paid in full on time for 5 years, documents from the city and the fines they served him for hazardous issues. I even had a inspection report that I paid for out of my pocket a year prior... It matched the city's report done in February of this year with all the same problems proving he did nothing or even attempted to for 1 full year! BAM
I call this do not mess with self employed folks.... cause were crazy and keep receipts for everything! I had 5 years worth of crap I dug up. My advice read your lease carefully take your time highlight anything that sounds weird or that you do not agree upon. Ask the landlord to compromise and make adjustments. If they refuse and your not 100% comfortable DO NOT SIGN! Then take photos of the condition of the house before you move one stick of furniture in. Print and save those in a file with your lease. For example the new house we got had glass, beer caps etc in the yard it was BAD.... I called a landscaping company asked for a FREE estimate of how much it would cost to fix. The grand total was $2,500 for labor no flowers just good old fashion hard work. I saved that quote and photos tucked it away in the file. In 1 year if this new guy decides he wants to keep and portion of my deposit I have back up! My boyfriend, kids and I have busted our butts cleaning this yard planting beautiful flowers, mulch the whole 9. So he will look like a DONKEY if I ever need to take him to court.
Back to the old landlord cause its all about the Benjamin's baby! I was awarded $989.45 in my deposit $1,500 in damages and $160 in court costs! The funny part is he hired this woman to represent him as his property manager. She is the one that served me a 30 day and I wanted to rip her face off, but that is not smart so I acted like a professional and showed her by draining her bank account. Because she claimed to be the property manager she had to write the check not the Landlord! BAM BAM BAM.... I called friends skipped out of the court house with a big old smile and said I am buying drinks tonight! They walked out pissed and cursing me in SPANISH... I might be a hairstylist that only schooled for 2 years, but I am no fool.
Stick up for yourself... research your rights... Do not allow anyone to run over you or belittle you ever. Stand tall and proud and as long as you do right by others, the Karma game comes full circle in your favor. I am a firm believer in this. Life is all about experiences you live, you make mistakes, and you learn that is the whole point. Focus on one tiny positive out of the negative and it will not only help keep you sane but I promise you will get through it.When I was served that 30 day from my old landlord I had just been in a horrific car accident 2 months prior broke my face, the other party had no insurance and I have no health insurance. I was out of work for 1 month and facing $250,000.00 in hospital bills. Plus caring for 3 kids and running a business. I thought the world was crashing in on me. Then seriously no lie my attorney called me 2 weeks later and said my insurance had uninsured policy and they cut me a check it was at his office in his hand!
I fell to my knees....God loves me he always has and always will. He will never forsake me, I am his daughter! The timing was beyond perfect because if that had not happened I would be homeless with my 3 kids and dogs. The reason I put up with that landlord is because I was struggling to make ends meet and could not afford to move.
Chain of events....Broke my face in car accident, got my own car cause they totaled it, BTW my dad and I were sharing this 1 car between us. He got a new car and I got my own car....Landlord served us 30 day... 2 weeks later I got a settlement check from my insurance. I found a beautiful new safe house for my children and I and here I am with a extra couple of grand in my pocket after court. Do not question why? Why me I believe God allows certain things to happen because I am too stubborn and do not listen to him with out being forced by traumatic events to listen and follow his plan! I swear ask anyone that knows me on a personal level if it is going to happen it happens to me! I have learned to embrace it, I had panic attacks and worried myself sick years ago. After that accident I threw my hands up and let go. I surrendered to GOD....
I hope that this helps others... I blog for my own personal growth, so I can look back and say wow I endured a lot, but I am still here standing tall.
