{"items": [{"author": "cbr", "source_link": "http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/n1hea#c35iskv", "anchor": "r-c35iskv", "service": "r", "text": "Followup to All Your Evil Plans Against Me Will Amount To Nothing, In Jesus Mighty Name\n", "timestamp": 1323115684}, {"author": "Mac", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284371254933862", "anchor": "fb-284371254933862", "service": "fb", "text": "ROFL!!! If this door represents an exit to your apartment, she can get in a whale of hurt with the city. I've locked doors with duct tape before, but - duh - it's just a little ineffectual when placed on the \"inside\" of the door. :) Suggestion: Go quiet on the issue and figure out how to get a key made.", "timestamp": "1323116638"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284376328266688", "anchor": "fb-284376328266688", "service": "fb", "text": "@Walker: both the primary and secondary staircases are still accessible. The porch (and this door) are off of a common rear staircase.", "timestamp": "1323117246"}, {"author": "Mac", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284385021599152", "anchor": "fb-284385021599152", "service": "fb", "text": "Bet the local inspectors would give her righteous flak about it. And that flak might be more than the police can muster. Closing doors to the outside is generally a no-no. How does this door compare to the other two egresses on distance from your living space and access to outdoors? Is it better than either of the others? Landlords live in quaking fear of city inspectors.", "timestamp": "1323118262"}, {"author": "Karl", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284388521598802", "anchor": "fb-284388521598802", "service": "fb", "text": "This might not be a problem for either of you in the near future anyways if this web page is accurate: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search...
It appears that your landlord might be getting foreclosed upon. Don't know if you'd seen or heard about that notice yet or not.", "timestamp": "1323118675"}, {"author": "Kali", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284395761598078", "anchor": "fb-284395761598078", "service": "fb", "text": "Crazy.", "timestamp": "1323119488"}, {"author": "Mac", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284395894931398", "anchor": "fb-284395894931398", "service": "fb", "text": "WOW! Let's hear it for the internet. As a tenant in the Commonwealth, you have rights that are a royal pain in the ass to landlords, whether crazy ladies or banks. So you've got a home for a while. Any possibility of everyone forming a condo corp and buying it?", "timestamp": "1323119505"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284396064931381", "anchor": "fb-284396064931381", "service": "fb", "text": "@Karl: We did not know. Thanks for pointing this out!", "timestamp": "1323119521"}, {"author": "Karl", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284398374931150", "anchor": "fb-284398374931150", "service": "fb", "text": "No problem. I tried poking around on the Land Court's website to see if there was a way to find out the status of current cases, but didn't have time to follow every rat hole on their site right now. It's possible that the landlord has satisified the bank's demands and the foreclosure is off or something. I don't know the intricacies of foreclosure cases/notices.", "timestamp": "1323119804"}, {"author": "[deleted]", "source_link": "http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/n1hea#c35jl79", "anchor": "r-c35jl79", "service": "r", "text": "Looks like you're doing well with documentation. I assume you've read your lease carefully to see what she can and can't do? I'd talk to a lawyer to see what you can do that you haven't. Personally, I'd work on finding a new place to live. I (not a lawyer) believe you have enough evidence to justify breaking your lease without penalty if she tries something.\n", "timestamp": 1323120202}, {"author": "Petraptor", "source_link": "http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/n1hea#c35jnyy", "anchor": "r-c35jnyy", "service": "r", "text": "I hope you do all of us Boston renters a favor when you leave that place and post the woman's information publicly so none of us move in there accidentally. \n", "timestamp": 1323120640}, {"author": "cbr", "source_link": "http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/n1hea#c35qf7g", "anchor": "r-c35qf7g", "service": "r", "text": "→ 63 Pinckney St, Somerville\n", "timestamp": 1323175495}, {"author": "ComebackMom", "source_link": "http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/n1hea#c35ldh8", "anchor": "r-c35ldh8", "service": "r", "text": "Yeah, that's all kinds of illegal. Check for a community center/local housing group. It might be well worth your time. Have you asked if her concerns are heating related? The duct tape suggests she's thinking draft. \n\n
(On the less upright citizen note, see if you can locate a master skeleton key.)\n", "timestamp": 1323131044}, {"author": "shader", "source_link": "http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/n1hea#c35rxws", "anchor": "r-c35rxws", "service": "r", "text": "→ From her letters, it sounds like she isn't thinking at all.\n", "timestamp": 1323189331}, {"author": "David German", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/111229345142780712481", "anchor": "gp-1323133544352", "service": "gp", "text": "The precise time of day on the letter is a nice touch.", "timestamp": 1323133544}, {"author": "Hollis", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284502728254048", "anchor": "fb-284502728254048", "service": "fb", "text": "Fraudulent dealing in renting out a to-be-foreclosed property?", "timestamp": "1323133819"}, {"author": "George", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284546561582998", "anchor": "fb-284546561582998", "service": "fb", "text": "Is there really no other place you can live? In your position I would have moved a long time ago. I know you said that this is a very cheap place because of the hidden crazy landlord cost, but is it really worth it?", "timestamp": "1323140144"}, {"author": "neonmo", "source_link": "http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/n1hea#c35natm", "anchor": "r-c35natm", "service": "r", "text": "Judging on the comments on the website, the ownership might be in question? I came here to point out a very helpful public records site run by the registry of deeds: http://www.masslandrecords.com/\n\n
You can search by property and pull up public land records, notices, deeds, etc. It's under Search Criteria ---> Property Search.\n\n
If it is the case that the house is being foreclosed, get a lawyer, if you can. It's an incredibly complex situation because it calls into question who you should be paying, who is in control of your lease - and could make for an even uglier living situation than you already have. I was in a similiar situation and it was my own special corner of hell a little over a year ago. \n\n
Oh, and any apartment I'm looking at to rent, I always check the registry of deeds now to make sure it isn't some sketchy foreclosure. It's free and public info.\n", "timestamp": 1323143217}, {"author": "newarchivist", "source_link": "http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/n1hea#c35p4fy", "anchor": "r-c35p4fy", "service": "r", "text": "→ If it's being foreclosed upon, you can also check out the resources from or attend a meeting at City Life/Vida Urbana. They work with tenants to keep people in their homes through good old community organizing. There have been a number of instances where they have successfully pressured banks to allow tenants to stay in their homes.\n", "timestamp": 1323156112}, {"author": "cbr", "source_link": "http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/n1hea#c35qh7h", "anchor": "r-c35qh7h", "service": "r", "text": "→ Thanks for the pointer to the registry of deeds. The only entry in the last two years is an order of notice which is the same as what I saw online earlier.\n", "timestamp": 1323176332}, {"author": "Beth", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284649214906066", "anchor": "fb-284649214906066", "service": "fb", "text": "and this is why i happily lived in a broken down RV in the middle of the woods for six months. so glad i don't have any more crazy landladies.", "timestamp": "1323157107"}, {"author": "Kiran", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284650574905930", "anchor": "fb-284650574905930", "service": "fb", "text": "WHY HAVE YOU NOT GOTTEN HER COMMITTED", "timestamp": "1323157551"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284707808233540", "anchor": "fb-284707808233540", "service": "fb", "text": "@Hollis: I'm sure she didn't intend to get foreclosed on. I don't see how there's fraud here.", "timestamp": "1323172600"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284708228233498", "anchor": "fb-284708228233498", "service": "fb", "text": "@George: we could live somewhere else, but its much harder for our housemates because of unintended consequences of lead laws.", "timestamp": "1323172692"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284709608233360", "anchor": "fb-284709608233360", "service": "fb", "text": "@Kiran: the state won't hospitalize people against their consent unless they pose a danger to themself or others. Our landlord is a pain, but she isn't dangerous.", "timestamp": "1323172763"}, {"author": "Kiran", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284719178232403", "anchor": "fb-284719178232403", "service": "fb", "text": "Lead, the metal?", "timestamp": "1323173388"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284728861564768", "anchor": "fb-284728861564768", "service": "fb", "text": "@Kiran: 'lead' as in 'lead poisoning'. Lots of buildings have lead, if you have a child living in your building it has to be 'lead safe', this is an expensive process. Legally, the landlord is supposed to cover it and not preferentially rent to tenants without children, but the expense of lead removal and the potential liability are high enough that they usually prefer discrimination. This applies because out housemates have kids. Our current apartment is deleaded.", "timestamp": "1323174387"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284730654897922", "anchor": "fb-284730654897922", "service": "fb", "text": "Update: http://www.jefftk.com/news/2011-12-06.html", "timestamp": "1323174766"}, {"author": "Hollis", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284854614885526", "anchor": "fb-284854614885526", "service": "fb", "text": "@Jeff, I was thinking more that I suspect there's some sort of duty to warn lessees when the landlord's ability to continue offering the property for rent gets encumbered or jeopardized.", "timestamp": "1323194343"}, {"author": "Jim", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284888014882186", "anchor": "fb-284888014882186", "service": "fb", "text": "I'm surprised the police have been willing to get involved with this, i.e., a civil matter. I'm glad they have been helpful, but I don't think you can count on it continuing.", "timestamp": "1323198762"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284889931548661", "anchor": "fb-284889931548661", "service": "fb", "text": "@Jim: we have a harassment prevention restraining order against her. By my reading of the order she is in violation, which makes this a criminal matter.", "timestamp": "1323199007"}, {"author": "Julia", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/284364958267825?comment_id=284963708207950", "anchor": "fb-284963708207950", "service": "fb", "text": "Jeff, I don't think the order applies to the porch. The police don't think so either.", "timestamp": "1323205745"}, {"author": "missdingdong", "source_link": "http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/n1hea#c38xu0l", "anchor": "r-c38xu0l", "service": "r", "text": "Why did she put the lock on the door in the first place? Is there more to this that you aren't telling?\n", "timestamp": 1324159462}, {"author": "jdennon", "source_link": "http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/n1hea#c3dbmqi", "anchor": "r-c3dbmqi", "service": "r", "text": "→ (I'm the OP's wife.) She believes we're opening our porch door to cause a draft while she is in her bathroom. I explained we don't know or care when she is in her bathroom, and she told me I was practicing witchcraft to know where she is. \n", "timestamp": 1325537748}, {"author": "missdingdong", "source_link": "http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/n1hea#c3de2xl", "anchor": "r-c3de2xl", "service": "r", "text": "→ → OK. She's crazy.\n", "timestamp": 1325552833}]}