My husband and I rent one half of a duplex. The landlady lives next door and her son (alias=Eric) does all the fix-it work around the property. My husband is the one who usually messages the landlady or her son when we need something. They are very nice and promptly respond to issues when reported. Promptly, meaning, within a day Eric shows up whenever is convenient for him, without necessarily communicating beforehand what time he will be coming by.
Our latest maintenance request was for the drawer in the fridge broke and keeps falling out. Eric came at 630pm while we were taking a break to eat dinner from packing to go on a trip the next day. I had laundry going, clothes all over, and my toiletries all over the counter in the bathroom. My husband asked if he could return after we got home from our trip. When we did return, We got home late, I worked the very next day, and then started the process of unpacking and doing laundry. Again, Eric shows up in the mid afternoon when I have stuff from the trip everywhere, laundry hanging on racks to air-dry, while I am trying to catch up on bills and emails.
AITA for wanting the house to look decent when the landlord comes over? My husband is of the opinion that guys don’t care what the house looks like, he doesn’t care about a messy looking house either, he just wants things fixed ASAP. He resents that I "make a big deal" over tidying. I have asked that we tidy before messaging or that we request to schedule maintenance visits (Eric lives in the neighborhood and is semi-retired so I don’t think this is asking a lot). Am I being unreasonable?
I can understand that you want the place clean when he comes, but he too has a schedule to work. YNTA, but I agree with your husband, he probably does not care if the bathroom counter has stuff all over or if there is a few dishes out. He just wants to fix it and move on. Let him in.
Especially if the reason is either going on or returning from a trip. It should be apparent that this is normal for the situation and shouldn’t make a statement that this is the way things are all the time. As having been a landlord and finding things absolutely filthy and unhealthy for anyone to live in which is why I’m not a landlord today knowing my tenants were coming and going for a trip wouldn’t make me conclude they’re the tenants from hell.
Not the asshole at all. I do not want my landlord thinking I am a pig.
YTA (though I would say more that you shouldn’t worry about it so much). I get what you are saying, but I doubt that he cares (unless you are a legit hoarder and are destroying the unit with rodents lol) and he’s just trying to do his job. Making him come back when your house is cleaner does not respect his time.
As someone who is in property management I can attest that yes, men DO CARE what the house they are renting to a tenant looks like.
NTA. Your husband is stating his opinions like they’re facts with no basis whatsoever. \*in my best Whitney Houston voice\* He’s not every man, it’s not all in him.
That’s why I’m going with NTA on this. It sucks that the son comes at inconvenient times, but he is the extra eyes and ears of the landlord. When I lived in apts, I err’d on the side of at least cleaning the room/area that a maintenance worker will be fixing something.
NTA
Landlords need to give notice of visits, including maintenance visits.
Please read posts thoroughly and apply critical thinking before judging. These renters are *requesting maintenance*. This is requested visit, not an unannounced visit.
If you want the house to be tidy, tidy it. YTA for actually sending him away when he shows up. You’re wasting his time and delaying your own repair.
YTA, you’re just adding stress onto both of you. “Before we get the fridge door fixed we gotta clean the whole house!!” Is gonna result in no maintenance requests going out. The house is untidy because you’re packing g for a trip, not because you’re a slob. Biiiiig difference. Just let the man fix the thing and move on with his life.
>Promptly, meaning, within a day Eric shows up whenever is convenient for him, without necessarily communicating beforehand what time he will be coming by.
It seems to me that, if this is important to you, you have approximately a 24-hour window in which the home needs to be tidy for Eric. Don’t place a maintenance request when you feel you are unable to keep the place tidy for a day. Problem solved.
Sending him away twice seems excessive and unkind. He even abided by your request that he come back after your trip!
YTA Your landlord does not care about your mess. They are there to do a job. If its that big of a problem clean before you call him but this is really ridiculous to worry about.
Appreciate the feedback of all who commented. Very helpful to gain perspective. Clearly there are a range of opinions on whether the landlord cares or not. I am all for getting things done.
My request to weigh in is more about the conflict with my husband, since he doesn’t agree with tidying before the landlord’s son enters the apt. He doesn’t want to honor my request to modify HIS behaviors: I would like him to request non-urgent repairs at times when I am able to tidy beforehand.