Being a Rotten Landlord

The plaintiff rented an apartment from the defendant, who recently bought the building. She says the defendant raised the rent, so she moved out. She never got her full security deposit back, so she’s suing. The defendant argues she had to increase the rent and she took the money out of the security deposit because the plaintiff shortchanged her.
Case # 28-175
#PeoplesCourt #RealityTV #Court

[@Nevaeh1]

She was a difficult tenant = She knew her rights as a tenant, so I could not bully her into a new lease, raise her rent without proper notice, give her back her security deposit when I felt like it, or keep part of it.

[@JamieM470]

Exactly!

[@jaleinegreen7411]

✔️💯

[@daymonnin]

Oh yes. Well done to the plaintiff!

[@Nicoleeash]

*Drops mic*

[@jennamont6618]

Excellent points.

[@allthingsartwmari]

You were not her landlord long enough to determine what type of tenant she was. You were trying to bully her and be greedy, but the tenant did her due diligence and won 👏🏼👏🏼

[@jedimasters1462]

The fact that the plaintiff actually tried to get more services for the increased rent is a good sign that she wasn't going to be a reasonable tenant.

[@dwhit2612]

@@jedimasters1462you’re out of your mind. Shoveling snow on a rental property and a place to put household trash?? Those are bare minimum for any decent owner. I would never dream of having my current or past tenants be derived of those. She might even get crazy and ask for door locks!😮 You are an absolute clown.

[@dakalashi]

@jedimasters, couldn't disagree with you more. You're too sensitive. Your premise cuts both ways then and the landlord trying to raise the rent prior to ownership and within the month is a good sign of a difficult and overreaching landlord.

[@allthingsartwmari]

@jedimasters1462 The tenant's request was not unreasonable for the $300 increase. Plus, the landlord actually said that the tenant was welcome to stay. She would't have wanted her to stay if the tenant was a difficult person. Also, her lie regarding the date she sent the check proved she was not being honest. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@aaa-pp]

LL needs to know the laws of lanlording.

[@BobBlumenfeld]

A place for trash was NOT included? How is that legal? That's like not providing toilet facilities.

[@VirtualLunacy]

Lady tries to raise the rent before she even owns the property... She's a treasure

[@zuritribe4844]

AND THOUGHT THAT WAS "NOTICE"

[@jedimasters1462]

It depends on where they live. In some places, it could be considered enough notice since the landlord informed the plaintiff that the rent will be increased when she told her in May. It may be considered as a notice if she told the plaintiff that the rent will increase in July when she believed that the closing was happening in May. Plus, the plaintiff was negotiating with the defendant before the purchase was completed so it could be viewed as an acceptance of the notice. Most landlords wouldn't even bother negotiating for the rent since, legally, all they have to do is give 30 days notice and the tenant can't make demands for extra services to pay the new rent. Many would have actually evicted the plaintiff once they owned the property for her requests.

[@jennross6466]

@@jedimasters1462 Landlords MUST give you notice in the state of NJ where they're from.

[@marcanderson8669]

Exactly. How can you raise the rent on something you don't own? 😂🤣😂

[@jennylynx1869]

@@jedimasters1462you can’t give “notice” on a building you don’t own. If you give notice the middle of May it would be for July 1…she didn’t even own the building until mid June and the tenant was out before the amount would’ve taken effect. So the LL is wrong period

[@danir6695]

Good for the plaintiff, what a shady landlord

[@tricetaylor7918]

Out the gate she was shady

[@OWEN-CASH]

How ironic that the defendant called the plaintiff 'difficult' when in reality, she was the one being difficult.

[@jasoncoughenour8911]

Yes a difficult renter is one who wants to follow the law and be treated fairly. Renters are just p.o.s Amirite👍👍👍

[@ec-kj4yp]

She tried to cheat her out of 200 bucks, and got whipped with over 5 times that 😂I love it when people who try to take advantage of others get what they deserve.

[@adlifting9824]

Interesting how she lied to the judge about sending the check September 1st, not thinking about how all mail gets STAMPED. 🙄 😂

[@keithkemp3008]

How could she be a difficult tenant when she wasn't a tenant of yours for only a month !!! Oh because she wouldn't roll over a play your games 🤣🤣🤣

[@katie1535]

Yep

[@keeper6458]

Exactly

[@Astonio]

Bravo to the plaintiff! Did her homework!🙌🏾👍🏾

[@daniela36849]

The Defendant is so greedy. Why not hold a meeting with all the residents get to know them and tell them that in 3 months this what the rent will be etc... Glad I don't rent anymore

[@private464]

And I think the renter woman was the one who was greedy. Yes, it was mailed 6 days late with $200 missing. She should have gotten the whole security deposit back. But to sue for $1800 & take 9x definitely makes HER the greedy one, imo.

[@keiariabailey8739]

@@private464no that’s the law. The defendant tried taking money that wasn’t even hers yet

[@aliciacarstensen7904]

I was a homeowner for 21 yrs. I misss it. I moved back to my home state which is twice as much as home I had inn previous state. Once my kids graduate from college I may move back to that state with cheap housing! I also have a German shepherd which makes it extremely difficult to find rentals

[@allisoncastle]

@@private464 Ok then, continue to live your life getting walked all over and not knowing your rights.

[@private464]

@@allisoncastle She deserved her full deposit returned to her...$200 more dollars. I'm not saying she should be "walked all over". BUT she only won 9 times that on a technicality...not because she deserved it.

[@16MedicRN]

She was 'so difficult' she told her she was welcome to stay 😂😂😂

[@claypartridge7553]

…for an additional $225.00 per month rent.

[@K_Cole0128]

At an increased price of course

[@magicworld3242]

She was a difficult tenant... "(Code For)". The tenant knows her rights. The tenant isn't going to allow me to lie and bully her. That's really what the defendant wanted to say 😂

[@tricetaylor7918]

💯💯💯

[@Musicfan-dz6yz]

Plaintiff:landlord said don’t tell anybody I’m going to make your rent cheaper…. Well now everyone knows🙃 sure it was fun for that landlord collecting rent after this aired🥴

[@vivoyeur]

Greed for $200 & a bitter, bitter landlord. Serves her right. Great job Judge Milan. 😊

[@sashabenoit1518]

"She was a difficult tenant" In the words of Harvey... She hardly knew her! 😅

[@shaydaslays]

I'm so glad the plaintiff knew her Rights! I hope the defendant doesn't get any business after this!

[@ls253]

Always very satisfying when landlords get stung.

[@deewah1698]

Unless you are a landlord.

[@FrankGiuliano]

you have no idea what hell the average landlord goes through. yet you have such distain for landlords. this landlord is in the minority - a female bully. " always very satisfying" - really.. this makes your day? wow.

[@ls253]

@@FrankGiuliano its 'disdain', and cry harder.

[@Tinamarie10289]

Mail lady here. I know the post office can be slow sometimes but i can promise that letter didnt sit for 6 days lol shes lying our drop boxes get checked (90% of boxes 2 times a day) the other other 10 once a day

[@mzmelindapeacelove3447]

I was renting in Hawaii and when the Pandemic finally hit over here the landlords all tried to greedily double their rents. My rental was paid ahead by 3 months. My landlord wanted to increase $500, obviously not double but still too much, x so I notified I would not be renewing. He then during the pandemic wanted to have open house showings weekly during my last 3 months. I put him on notice I wanted assurance his agent would provide hand sanitizer, masks and that people would not be allowed to touch surfaces etc as it was unreasonable for that amount of time my home should be open to strangers and place us at risk for illness when essentially the island was on lock down. He backed off and became reasonable and finally allowed me to live out my tenancy in peace. I went on to buy a home and so happy I did. No more being at the mercy of landlords, some of whom definitely take the lord part of the title too far!

[@KDanielsDesigns]

Welp, that’s what happens when you be greedy 💅🏽 Also, how was she a difficult tenant when you just got there? You don’t know what kind of tenant she was.

[@scotthewitt258]

She was "difficult" because she stood up for her rights. Woman didn't even own the house and was trying to raise the rent. The sheer funnelcaking hubris to take $200 out of the security deposit for the raised amount is insane.....

[@jedimasters1462]

The landlord is actually within her rights to raise the rent. Her problem was the timing of notice. With a month-to-month, she could have actually raised the rent every other month if she wanted to, unlike with a lease that is more protected. Month-to-months are not as protected as those with a lease, as in they can have the rent raised more often and they can be evicted easier. With a lease, the landlord can only increase the rent once in a twelve month period. With a month-to-month, the landlord just needs to give a 30 day notice. For example, the landlord can give notice on March 31st that on May 1st the rent will be going up to X amount, the do it again a few months later.

[@cguevara671]

This is the type of landlord that will squeeze every penny out of you if you don’t know your rights. So shameful.

[@gracemunich1476]

yes, a shameless greedy individual…ugh

[@grizzlyg4008]

Good for her! I'll have to sue for double my deposit soon. It's been over 30 days and I haven't heard anything about my deposit.

[@crazy_old_bat]

In some states, it’s TRIPLE damages

[@anitamartins4102]

There are certain requirements a tenant must comply I.e. forwarding address

[@colleenknapp8626]

​@anitamartins4102 If they put in a change of address, the post office will automatically forward their mail to their new address.

[@allisoncastle]

I know this was a few months ago but if you haven’t yet, good luck!! ❤

[@peryole]

What a shady woman, the plaintiff deserved every penny she won. I lived in my old apartment for 17 years, my landlord was in the process of selling and the new owner came into my apartment without my consent before she even owned the place, on the day of closing she did it again. This woman is the prime example and I should have had the woman arrested.

[@jenn_x.]

Defendant: I'm just glad she doesn't live in my house anymore. Doug: Why? Because she did what's right? Me: 🤭 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Doug is 🔥🔥

[@WarGrowlmon18]

"I didn't get the forwarding address for her until August 17th so I waited until September 1st to mail it to her."

[@tiffanyr3218]

I’m glad she won greedy landlord

[@charles0322mrsdani]

An “experienced “ landlord should know better I think she has skirted the law and no other tenant knew enough to challenge her

[@user-vd5ii4eo7u]

Did you learn anything? Yeah, don't be a thief 😂

[@msteinberg7]

i like how the Judge's glasses match her hair and nails :)

[@rookie_hero8682]

Drive the letter to the post office, the mail box means nothing!

[@scotthewitt258]

I'm REALLY skeptical that the letter sit in her mailbox for SIX DAYS before the postal worker took it.....

[@KrazyVideoChick]

I feel bad for her current tenants.. good job, son!!

[@j2.015]

That landlord was an evil cow

[@FrankGiuliano]

some people in business , and being a landlord is a business, go on a power trip. the landlord was totally wrong on every count.., and those that have not had power, historically (like women and minorities) go on a wild power trip, they become little dictators.

[@islandyyt]

The Judge called out that landlord. JM’s judgement exposed her character and who she really is. Kudos to the plaintiff!

[@r1verman]

Serves the greedy landlord right. The tenant was only "difficult" because she knew her rights and wasn't manipulated or bullied by the defendant.

[@marlonmalcolm1738]

This case was nice it back fired 😂😂

[@crystalshaw8744]

The Defendant knew she was being shady and greedy.

[@GeeBee909]

Landlord was on a power trip now that she owned the property. This is a case where Greed exceeded need. She said he wasn't a new landlord, so she should have known the rules. If she doesn't change her ways, she's gonna cost herself even more money in the future

[@MJ-fy4yj]

Landlords like this are exactly why the law exists. Good for the plaintiff!!!

[@Greenmachine79]

The landlord was greedy. Upping the rent 27% as soon as the ink was dry and then trying to withhold security. Had she not been so money hungry she wouldn’t have gotten sued. Karma always delivers!!!

[@naydrum6293]

They are always difficult when they don’t do what they want you to do.

[@RoderickTom-ge1vc]

Justice for the People😁

[@gracemunich1476]

yes! 😊

[@BREEZYM6015]

Fair is as fair does. 😂

[@scotthewitt258]

I know landlords have the right to change the rent if the lease is up and you are on a month-to-month. I don't even know why she thinks she can make rent changes when she is not even the landlord yet.....

[@travonnasanderspitts2171]

Greed meets Karma! 👏🏾

[@teairathomas663]

The judgment was so satisfying.Because these greedy landlords be trying to Get over.. She was trying to be greedy over two hundred dollars and now she has to pay over a thousand

[@AC081361]

Landlords that immediately raise rent based on “fair market value” are 🗑️ I love love LOVE that she got “spanked” by the state of New Jersey 😂😂😂👏👏👏

[@musicman1734]

Somebody took the lord part of landlord a little too seriously. Pay the lady!

[@they-live1]

Defendant got spanked hard for being greedy AF

[@gage51desoto]

Love how the defendant comes out throwing shade. Lady you got greedy and held out your grubbing hand demanding $200. Learn the law if you want to be a landlord.

[@ANiyaDee]

So happy for the Plaintiff 😊

[@westsidetommie]

I hate when landlords don’t know the law and bully tenants. And this is why renters should know their rights.

[@tangerinerose3724]

I know! I'm going thru hell right now with mine. The live in manager leaves open garbage outside the building and it brought rats... which now infest the building. Owners known for over 3 months about it and says he's going to do something and nothing has been done yet, but lies and stalling ...plus the manager still leaves open garbage.

[@josechavez8636]

On momas

[@eph2vv89only1way]

Most of this type of landlord do know the law but are counting on tenants not knowing it

[@shendelchristian8326]

@@eph2vv89only1way u got that right!!!

[@laurielester9437]

Well i can see this landlord has probably ripped off tons of other tenants.

[@MediaBuster]

The REAL shame is the loser NEVER pays for anything, because the show covers it, so they are never really punished.

[@jncuttie]

She was a difficult tenant because she knew her rights and wouldn’t let you take advantage of her? Girl please! Trying to raise the rent before you even own the place GTFO!

[@WarGrowlmon18]

If she's not new to being a landlord then she really should've known better!!! Unless she's just used to getting away with this kind of thing because that's always possible

[@WarGrowlmon18]

She was a difficult tenant because she wouldn't let herself be bullied and she actually knew the law and she asserted her rights as she SHOULD!!!

[@mykeltucker8128]

The rent will goooo up NOW 😅😅

[@Devinerealestate201]

Good for the tenant, $200 cost the landlord $1650.

[@mildredpierce4506]

Back in 2009, my rent went up by $400 which i couldn’t afford. That particular landlord was very evil. In fact there were a lot of negative reviews on different apartment websites because of her. She was gone not too long after I had left. She was a horrible dictator.

[@EduardoGonzalez-qm2uk]

That narrator should be applauded! “Come ooooonnnnnn!!!”😂

[@Nikki_81]

30 days notice for raising rent is ridiculous! Where I am it has to be done 3 months ahead. That way if its a ridiculous amount and a person cannot afford it, they have time to give the 30/60 day notice to vacate! On top of that, it has to be 3 months notice AFTER the new landlord takes over, not during closing! Jeesh!

[@mildredpierce4506]

I was only given 30 days notice that my rent will go up by $400

[@stephaniehowe0973]

I cant with this Lady She didnt own the house & she thought she could Tell her verbally anything. Maine not only doubles the amount but the Landlord can NOT keep anything. They lose that right.

[@Ryan-pm4fk]

Defendant was a greedy woman,serves her right, ended up paying a heavy price.

[@tamekadavis6641]

Becareful when renting.

[@maxinef6654]

Good for the tenant for looking up the law and knowing her rights.👏Damn greedy landlords. 😤

[@blackchunleerozay3026]

Loss 1850 for being greedy over 200😂😂😂😂😂

[@Idontwantafuckinghandle588]

The defendant is a liar

[@jackiemccoy6282]

Right!?!!! She put the check in the mail on the 1st…🤣🤣🤣🤣Liar!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@adventuresconjuan]

Haha what the hell did the landlord expect 😂😂😂 she thought she had the right ! Get outta her 😂😂😂😂

[@robertgonzalez4646]

I love when greedy people get put in check! And especially for a small amount of money 😂 also when he says “because she did right thing “

[@mandycuttill5569]

Difficult tenant? She owned the house June 12 and the tenant left July 31st. I am glad she got her money!!!

[@deenalandstrom6924]

Good for the plaintiff! Congratulations! Greedy landlords.

[@mudderjen]

Well Karen, the landlord knew this was a difficult tenant after two weeks because she didn’t get her way. I think the plaintiff is lucky she doesn’t live there anymore.

[@scotthewitt258]

I'm not sure why she felt bad about making that swindler follow the law, like everyone else. She would have got dressed down properly if she had lied to Judge Judy and disrespected her in her courtroom the way she did Judge Milian. The plaintiff was even suing for the exactly right amount. Double the security deposit, minus the amount she received late.

[@aurorarosales3385]

Harvey, 30 days is a month. Duh!

[@BethanyYocum]

Boy the landlord had some nerve. She shouldn’t have tried to be a greedy piggy 🐷

[@poshpearls23]

Greedy piggy lolol

[@JC-cm9bn]

Greedy and piggly Oink! Oink! 🐷🐷

[@KrazyVideoChick]

Literally 😂

[@vivianpatton5692]

Good for Her ! Greedy, GREEDY lying new landlord. Shame on U.

[@Criminal.Lawyer.2024]

Hopefully, the plaintiff will contact the other tenants who moved out and get them to sue the greedy landlord. I'm sure the greedy woman did the same thing to the other tenants.

[@Heather-ml4kj]

Can you imagine this lady is your landlord?! Horrible woman!

[@jennholden-myers1631]

SO GLAD SHE LOST!

[@gracemunich1476]

yes! 😊

[@KingdomKeys53]

Why can’t people admit it when they are wrong? Sheesh

[@alwaysgood_44]

GOOD FOR HER!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot stand greedy landlords!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@christynicholas6855]

I'm glad she moved out because the red flags are already waving.

[@EduardoGonzalez-qm2uk]

Oh well! Tried to be greedy!

[@patriciasaxon1823]

What was difficult about the tenant.?

[@lukerinderknecht2982]

She knew her rights and couldn't be bullied I guess 🤷‍♂️

[@josefwashere]

There’s usually a single name that sums up the defendant.

[@jesnrbrt4evr11]

I'm not saying the defendant is right but it is completely possible for someone to put a piece of mail in their mailbox on the 1st and it not be postmarked for a couple of days later, I've had to go down to the post office to find out where my mail was and somehow it got delayed at their post office and they had to post- mark it the day I went down there and send it out.

[@Dapperbugbear]

Well the defendant cant get that McGriddle every morning for a month.

[@TRal55]

How $200 turns into $1850

[@faznout]

The plaintiffs son looks just as old as she is. I'm guessing she had him when she was really young.

[@jackiemccoy6282]

Yay🎉🎉🎉 Finally twice the amount for a jerk of a landlord and person!!!! I feel sorry for anyone renting from her!!! And yes she was a bully!!! Plaintiff, good job girl!!!!

[@The_Real_Mier]

Not only is the defendant a greedy bit… , she’s also a very SAD, BAD LOSER! She made the mistakes herself and if she would have had even an ounce of integrity, she would have taken the responsibility for it. Instead she chose to whine…. 🤮

[@MT-.]

Yup. Plaintiff did her research and prevailed 👏👏even JM seemed impressed and only had to hit the gavel to make it official🤣🤣🤣🤣 Lesson: Don't be greedy because it will come back to bite you!

[@cotyyoung3872]

She might have sent it out on the first. Where I live they don’t post date things at our post office for some reason they send it to Cleveland so it’s a big deal in our town right now of people bitching about it. But somehow a town that’s 1/10 the size that’s 10 min away can post date things and our town which isn’t very small can’t! So when the judge is acting like that’s a complete lie is so dumb! She doesn’t know how every usps operates!

[@0LadyV0]

She was difficult for that whole 15 days, she owned the building. Because she didn't want to pay more😂😂. Meanwhile she'd already been there for 2 years. She wants to save face and deserves those punitive damages.

[@madmaxofspokane1691]

Good for the Plaintiff to find out her rights and take that bully of a landlord to the cleaners!!👍👍👍😁 And you can tell from the defaming attitude of the defendant that she's learned nothing, and has been bullying and getting away with cheating her tenants in previous sis for years.😤😤👎👎👎👎😡

[@Tuturu708]

The judge seems bias since she herself is a landlord. Made it seem like it was unfortunate the landlord had to pay so much to the plaintiff. Maybe slumlords should stop withholding or deducting security deposits for no good reason. They can get real jobs if they can’t handle people’s money responsibly.

[@KayB-l5h]

I don't think the defendant was being greedy. In may and then june she told her rent would increase she agreed to a cheaper deal of 1325 then stayed til july. She only paid 1100 she owed her 225 for july.

[@sandylane5498]

So you come in raising the rent even before you sign off on the sale, you wrongfully withold the security, she makes reasonable request and she's a difficult tenant? Yeah right! I don't want to have to find somewhere to throw my trash because the landlord is a cheap slumlord either.

[@kerrymaloney5524]

She was a difficult tenant? She wasn’t your tenet!😂 she left cause you were raising her rent $300. You got greedy lady now pay the plaintiff!!!