12-25-2009, 10:47 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-25-2009, 11:18 PM by Questioner.)
Thank you! We decided to enjoy Christmas and email the old landlord a "back off" letter. We're hopeful that this will result in him not interfering with the rest of the move. We feel a sense of clarity and peace about the situation now. Thank heaven for the wonderful voice recorder! It was in my jeans pocket but picked up the screaming very clearly.
What we sent:
subject: LEGAL NOTICE
Christmas Day, 2009
To: (old landlord)
(name):
We are responding to your behavior yesterday, on Christmas Eve. The police told us they will come to the house if needed to resolve this matter. The police made clear to us that recordings that expose illegal behavior are appropriate to make. Our recording of you yesterday proves that you screamed "f* the law!," indicated your intention to violate our rights as tenants by breaking and entering our rental, and you claimed that your outrageous behavior was required by mature sophistication, reason, and common sense. These claims and activities on your part were in the wrong. Here is what is accurate:
You are not going to interfere with our move.
You are going to provide a clear path for our move, from the front door or garage to our space, whenever we need it.
You are not going to have any more verbally abusive outbursts, no matter what the excuse, while we are at the house.
Our legal rights will be respected, including our peaceful and quiet use of our rental unit until the 31st, with no property damage or unlawful entry by you.
Our recording of your "f* the law" outburst yesterday, in which you stated your intention to violate our legal rights, is already damning evidence against you. Blustering yelling and intimidation only makes your situation worse. We will respond to respectful, peaceful behavior on your part in kind.
We will provide the keys back, our forwarding address, and your move-out inspection, all by the end of this month. Common sense dictates that we will better be able to clean the room after we move out all our belongings, and while free of any hostile, abusive threats or aggressively threatening and pushy behavior. Inspection of the room while we are in the process of gathering and sorting our belongings, including some clutter, does not make any common sense.
All further communication with us will be calm and nonthreatening. You need to reasonably wait for us to put down boxes and catch our breath or rest if needed before trying to converse. (name) is a (diagnosis) patient with damaged knees, and I do not have enough energy to deal with screamed arguments while moving boxes. Wait for a good time and then talk with us calmly, or leave a note for us on the stairs if you prefer.
Are you clear on what the law requires of you; what the police, attorneys, and courts are willing to enforce for us? If you are unable to be this reasonable, the police are ready to help you become calm. It is simpler and easier for everyone, including not bothering the authorities during the holidays, if you just do what's required in the first place by the law, and reason, and humane caring for a (diagnosis) patient. This is the most appropriate application of common sense.
The best response is your courteous non-interference with our peaceful move out during the coming week. We will be in and out at a variety of times to complete the move in installments.
(signed)
What we sent:
subject: LEGAL NOTICE
Christmas Day, 2009
To: (old landlord)
(name):
We are responding to your behavior yesterday, on Christmas Eve. The police told us they will come to the house if needed to resolve this matter. The police made clear to us that recordings that expose illegal behavior are appropriate to make. Our recording of you yesterday proves that you screamed "f* the law!," indicated your intention to violate our rights as tenants by breaking and entering our rental, and you claimed that your outrageous behavior was required by mature sophistication, reason, and common sense. These claims and activities on your part were in the wrong. Here is what is accurate:
You are not going to interfere with our move.
You are going to provide a clear path for our move, from the front door or garage to our space, whenever we need it.
You are not going to have any more verbally abusive outbursts, no matter what the excuse, while we are at the house.
Our legal rights will be respected, including our peaceful and quiet use of our rental unit until the 31st, with no property damage or unlawful entry by you.
Our recording of your "f* the law" outburst yesterday, in which you stated your intention to violate our legal rights, is already damning evidence against you. Blustering yelling and intimidation only makes your situation worse. We will respond to respectful, peaceful behavior on your part in kind.
We will provide the keys back, our forwarding address, and your move-out inspection, all by the end of this month. Common sense dictates that we will better be able to clean the room after we move out all our belongings, and while free of any hostile, abusive threats or aggressively threatening and pushy behavior. Inspection of the room while we are in the process of gathering and sorting our belongings, including some clutter, does not make any common sense.
All further communication with us will be calm and nonthreatening. You need to reasonably wait for us to put down boxes and catch our breath or rest if needed before trying to converse. (name) is a (diagnosis) patient with damaged knees, and I do not have enough energy to deal with screamed arguments while moving boxes. Wait for a good time and then talk with us calmly, or leave a note for us on the stairs if you prefer.
Are you clear on what the law requires of you; what the police, attorneys, and courts are willing to enforce for us? If you are unable to be this reasonable, the police are ready to help you become calm. It is simpler and easier for everyone, including not bothering the authorities during the holidays, if you just do what's required in the first place by the law, and reason, and humane caring for a (diagnosis) patient. This is the most appropriate application of common sense.
The best response is your courteous non-interference with our peaceful move out during the coming week. We will be in and out at a variety of times to complete the move in installments.
(signed)