I came here to find advice on this specific issue; my situation is very similar to the above and I'm so worried that I had to go to ER yesterday due to major anxiety attack. I'm 66, have been on disability for major depression and anxiety for the last 15 years, and have a Section 8 housing voucher. My mother had to be placed in a memory care facility 3 months ago due to worsening Alzheimers. I'm an only child, single, no children. Only family I have is my 89 year-old step-father. I'm grieving over the situation with my mother. She was always my "sounding board" and could talk me down if I became overly anxious about an issue, etc.
The apartment complex where I've lived for 9 years is owned by one man who owns several other complexes in this town. He hires retired husband/wife teams as on-property managers/maintenance. When I first rented here I had one cat, Kali, a Hurricane Katrina rescue who was 10 years old at the time. The manager said, "I'm not going to charge you a pet fee for a 10 year old cat."
This sounds like I'm going off on a tangent but it all fits together... When I first moved in the complex was 5 years old. The carpet was fairly worn; asked manager if they would replace carpet before I moved in, told no but they'd clean it. Carpet was still damp when I moved in so wore white tennis socks while unpacking the next few days. The socks got wet after several hours and were black on the bottoms when removed.
After 2 years I found black mold on the walls when the wallpaper began peeling off and I mean a LOT of mold on every wall. I researched black mold and was terrified. Contacted managers who initially said they would just let me out of my lease. When I pretty much begged if something else could be done due to no money to move & my health ie. not well enough to move, they contacted the owner said they would clean the mold and housed me/Kali in the model unit during the work. All they did was have the maintenance man remove the wallpaper, wash off the mold, and paint over it. Three areas that they said they would also clean (bathroom, utility room, pantry) they did not and there is still visible black mold underneath. I've had constant issues with the A/C in the bedroom overflowing and soaking the carpet underneath. Each time this happened the male manager/maintenance person just wet-vacuumed out the A/C pan and never dried the carpeting so I used towels to sop up the water. There are black mold stains on the carpet in that area. Two years ago during an apartment inspection I asked the managers of that time if that portion of the carpet could be replaced since there is still a strong mold odor in my bedroom. Managers said, "The owner won't do that, especially since you've been here 9 years." The carpet is 14 years old and one would think it ESPECIALLY should have been replaced since I've been a long-time, excellent tenant - as each successive management team told me.
Last year the woman in the apartment next to mine apparently filed a lawsuit against the owner due to black mold (this is a problem in all the communities owned by this guy) that was causing respiratory issues. She was moved to another unit and the apartment practically torn apart and rebuilt including new carpeting, vinyl tile, new A/C units, refrigerator, and dishwasher. Since then, any mold complaints are handled in the same manner, unlike my issue.
Back to the cat part of the story - After 7 years the managers retired. Next managers were very brusque; I avoided them as much as possible but they were animal lovers with two small dogs. A very sweet male cat that looks like a British Shorthair was likely abandoned by a former tenant. He came to my patio and I put food & water out for him for a year. Told the managers who thought it was great I was taking care of him. Decided to adopt him but first talked to the manager to make sure it was ok. She replied, "You're doing a good thing; you're saving a cat." Took him to the vet for neutering, exam, and vaccinations. Vet told me the cat (I named him Raj) was FiV+ but the only way that could be a danger to my female cat was via a deep bite. The two cats are now best friends and they're the only thing that keeps me going sometimes due to my depression/anxiety issue now exacerbated by grief re: my mother. Several months later pet owners in the complex received notices that monthly pet fees of $20/per pet (max. 2 pets) would begin when leases were renewed. $40 is a HUGE amount of money for me. Neighbor (same one that later sued the complex re: mold) said she really couldn't afford the pet fee but when she renewed her lease she was told since she had lived her so long she was "grandfathered in" and since I've lived here longer than her, I will be also. Bzzzzzttt!! When I renewed my lease I was presented with a "Pet Addendum" and $20 pet fee added to my lease. I said I understood that long-time residents were "grandfathered in" (without naming the source) and was told that was not the case but I can easily charge you for two cats. I was so stunned to see a fee after talking to my neighbor that I didn't notice the fee was $20 and not $40. The addendum only listed Kali. Manager said since no pet fees had been collected by the former managers, they were not charging the $200 pet deposit at this time. I was so relieved to only have to pay $20 that I made the mistake of not carefully reading the pet addendum. Those managers left after two years.
Next manager couple were very nice, professional, and really began cleaning up the complex. The male manager said this place looked like a dump since upkeep hadn't been done for years. When I renewed my lease I told the manager that my Pet Addendum and pet fee only reflect one cat and told her why. She said, "That's ok; as long as we're collecting $20/mo from you, it's not a problem." When they did the 6-month inspection on my apt., they entered and said "WOW! You've kept this unit in great shape!" They did such a great job in sprucing up the complex exterior that the owner moved them to another complex that needed the same treatment. They were only here a few months.
Current managers - very nice and told me repeatedly what a good tenant I was. At lease renewal time the main issue was helping the manager complete the yearly Section 8 paperwork so I was focused on that and didn't even think of telling her about the second cat on the Pet Addendum based on the info received by the former managers. HUGE MISTAKE plus each management couple used a different set of "rules," especially with one pair, if they really liked a tenant they were granted latitude others weren't (ie. my neighbor's dog being "grandfathered in"). The building inspector for Section 8 housing did a thorough inspection of my apt. in July 2020 and Section 8 is very strict. Everything ok.
Now the "fun" begins: On August 20 managers did their 6 mo. inspection. Everything ok. Later that day an old oak tree, that I was told by management last Spring would be removed "soon" because it was dead and a hurricane, hazard fell on the (fortunately) tin roof of my apartment causing interior damage to the ceiling/plaster in my bedroom. When owner checked the damage he said since the roof was intact over that area and no water/rain could get in I could safely stay in the apt. until repair work began and I'd be relocated to either a unit in this complex or in another of his properties. Two months went by. I regularly asked the managers if they knew when work would begin so I could start packing to move. Was always told they hadn't heard anything and "I knew as much as they did." During that time manager was in apt. for minor maintenance.
10/20/20 - I woke up coughing and saw plaster dust on my night table. Went outside later to see a hired maintenance man jumping on the ceiling with the manager on the ground watching. I asked the maintenance guy to please stop jumping and manager said, "No, keep jumping" and laughed. I said, "I'm serious; that is causing plaster dust to filter into my bedroom and I've been coughing." I asked again if there was any update on available apartments when I had to move and was again told no. I was so frustrated and said, "That's going to be a problem because inhaling the plaster dust can be "hazardous to my health" (remember that phrase) plus there's still a strong mold odor in the bedroom." Manager said, "I can't do anything, I'm just the manager. Only the owner can make those decisions, but I'll sure let him know." Later that day a notice from management was placed on my door stating the owner wished to meet with me in the rental office the next day re: storm damage, cats, and bad urine odor in your apartment." Cats? Bad urine odor? What?!?!? Anxiety kicked in; called my step-father. He advised I not walk into a meeting without knowing what my tenant rights are. He also suggested I contact Legal Aid for their advice. I called the office, got voice mail, stated that per the advice of my step-father I should contact an attorney to know what my tenant rights are before meeting and I would contact them as soon as I'd done so. Step-father said he didn't know what the deal was with "cats" but thought the "urine odor" was a retaliation for my complaint about the plaster dust and mold. Completed online form for Legal Aid; received message I would get a call within 5 business days.
10/26/20 - Rec'd “Pet Problem” notice that I was in violation of my lease due to having a second cat without notifying management, hadn't paid the pet deposit nor monthly pet fee for second cat, Pet Addendum, with my signature on it, lists only one cat, and several similar issues. In looking back, my mention of contacting an attorney probably alerted owner (possibly after consulting his attorney) to "take it up a notch" with this notice. The frustrating thing is that I ethically and morally always did the right thing but, since much of it was verbal, legally the owner is "right." I've remained friends with the first manager after she retired; called her & relayed all this. She said it looked like they were building a case against me for possible eviction but that the owner is really nice and reasonable and recommended I communicate directly with him.
Sent email to owner saying I was confused about what was going on as my apartment had been recently inspected by Section 8 & the managers and two months had gone by with no comment about "cats" or "urine odor." I said I was only contacting an attorney for advice since I was completely taken aback by the first notice that I take excellent care of my cats, and re: only one cat on the Pet Addendum, went through the history of that. His emailed response was that he was disappointed I did not meet with him when asked when the issue could have been discussed and possibly resolved. He stated the issue was not so much the second cat but that when he came to inspect the tree damage the urine odor was so strong that it made his eyes water and for me to live in the apartment with that odor is "hazardous to my health." (Exact words I said when speaking to manager about the plaster dust.) He said when I reported the mold issue they bent over backwards for me in relocating me, etc. but this was a problem of my own doing for not caring properly for my cats. That REALLY hurt since I am an excellent cat mom and, especially having lived in apartments the last 20 years, I've researched and tried various cat litter box types and litter to keep litter box odor to a minimum. Owner stated he could not permit me to move to another unit and bring in the same problem as it is going to be very expensive for him to address the damage I've caused. WHOA!
My email response explained that I use pine pellets for litter with a layered litter box system and explained in detail how it worked. I said the only time I smell urine is when my older, smaller cat urinates she doesn't scratch the pellets causing the wet urine-soaked sawdust to remain in the top box instead of dropping through to the second litter box level and drying. I immediately take the litter scoop and stir the pellets, causing the wet litter to drop through the grates, replace fresh pellets and the odor is gone. Relayed that I'm home 95% of the time and rarely out of the house for more than a couple of hours so this is not an issue that builds up. About relocating me due to the mold issue, I asked if he might be confusing me with someone else such as (named two neighbors that I know were relocated) because I was housed in the model unit & not relocated. I said that this entire issue may be a misunderstanding and hoped we could come to a resolution.
After five days - rec'd notice of re-inspection. Owner would come to my apt. on 11/09/20 (last Monday) to re-check the urine odor. I scrubbed both litter boxes, sprinkled baking soda on the carpets and vacuumed, etc. When the owner arrived he brought the current managers plus the manager of another of his properties who used to be one of my neighbors. All said they could smell strong urine odor. Both the current managers and the manager of the other property are cat owners. They all said using “natural products” was going to cause odor issues and I should be using clumping litter. The upshot of this meeting was the owner telling me to have the (14 year old) carpet cleaned at my expense, provided the name/number of who to call for the cleaning (the person they use) and after the carpet was cleaned they would re-inspect, and if odor not gone “the cats would have to go.”
As cat lovers you can imagine how that last comment affected me. As if I wasn't already anxious enough, that threat (as I firmly believe this is all retaliation for my comment about the plaster dust and mold, which is a hot button for the owner and now I so wish I'd not said anything at all) sent my anxiety symptoms off the wall. I had been updating my step-father about the situation; the last time I did he said that he'd like to help but, according to the therapist he is seeing re: dealing with my mother being in memory care & him living alone for the first time in 46 years, he had enough to deal with and to not get involved with this issue. That threw me into a greater panic to the point of not being able to sleep, eat, constant fear of losing my cats - I absolutely cannot give them up; even if I would, no one is going to adopt a 19-year-old cat and probably Raj who is FiV+; I don't have the money to board them for very long; apartments that are within my price range & accept Section 8 all have long waiting lists, etc. After my step-father's last comment, I didn't contact him and I became so ill I was in bed most of the time since last Monday, tormented by thoughts of "What can I do...what can I do?" I ran out of my anti-anxiety meds early due to this and yesterday was to the point that I knew I had to go to the ER. In the state I was in, I couldn't think clearly enough to speak to the Legal Aid attorney, look for an apartment, etc. I have no idea if I should bring Section 8 into this - if it would help or make things worse, etc., etc., etc.
I put out more litter boxes & enough food/water to last my furbabies at least three days in case I was admitted in the hospital. Sent an email to my step-father telling him I hadn't wanted to bother him with the ongoing issue but brought him up to date and told him I was going to the ER & would let him know if I was admitted or when I returned home. At ER i was hooked up to monitor & pulse rate was 159!! blood pressure 153/114, which is very high for me; had blood drawn, received saline fluid since I was dehydrated, had to figure out how to briefly relay why I was there to the nurse, behavioral specialist, and Dr. Was given a sedative via IV. Dr. asked if I had enough of my anti-anxiety meds at home; told him I'd run out early due to everything & couldn't refill until 11/17/20. He wrote a script for a 7 day supply.
So here I am today, as soon as the sedative from the hospital wore off, I was back to the same state of major anxiety, including my body physically shaking, just picked up the meds ER Dr. prescribed which has taken the edge off but I'm still terrified. Carpet cleaning is scheduled for next Wednesday. Still have the threat hanging over me of "and if the odor isn't gone, the cats have to go" - and I literally have nowhere to go.
I'm dealing with a somewhat unscrupulous property owner who, imo, cuts as many corners as he can to pay as little as possible for property/apt. upkeep, uses retaliation tactics when he thinks a situation might arise such as I might report the mold to the health department, and hires managers who keep moving the goal-posts where apt. regulations are concerned. I'm totally alone and terrified. The very painful lesson I learned was, if it's not documented on paper, it didn't happen.
