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A Legal and Revenge-Based Quandary
Hey FRC, I really trust you all when it comes to terms with logic and judgement, but this is something that's really been racking my brain for a few months now, and I mostly need to talk to other people about it to get a good idea.
A few months ago, in the Fail of the Day thread, I talked about how my roommates for the 2010 year had huffed propane and I called the cops on them. That's all over and done, and I was able to get another apartment in the same complex, without having to pay any fees. But an issue with the new apartment I moved into, is that the people who were already living there, don't want me to live there. When I tried to contact them, one of them would say. "We don't want you here, we don't trust you, we think you'll steal our stuff. We don't want to get to know you." This is already sounding shady, but I didn't want to get involved because it could get really serious.
2 weeks ago, during my spring break, I decided to check our mailbox. I still own that new apartment I moved into, received all the keys necessary, and thought someone might send me a card to the new mailbox. And I find that lots of the mail inside is directed to a chinese name, which wouldn't follow because the two people living there have clearly White, Anglo-Saxon names. I'm pretty sure, that they are keeping a squatter in that apartment which would explain everything.
Here's the problem. I would want some form of justice because these two people, wouldn't even allow me to enter my own new apartment. And I don't believe they understand the legal obligations I earn for living in the apartment. So I'm really curious if I can report these goons to the apartment complex for squatting, but do it in a manner where I won't get in trouble. I can prove they don't know me, can't identify me, none of my belongings are in the apartment, and I can't even say what they look like. I've even tried to enter the apartment at one point, but they held the door shut or had a second lock installed.
Everyone is telling me to go ahead and do it, explain everything to the complex. But my brother wants me to completely wash my hands of the situation. That, it'll just create more possible drama. Yet, at the same time, he's very thankful to have me around now. This is just a really hard decision.
A few months ago, in the Fail of the Day thread, I talked about how my roommates for the 2010 year had huffed propane and I called the cops on them. That's all over and done, and I was able to get another apartment in the same complex, without having to pay any fees. But an issue with the new apartment I moved into, is that the people who were already living there, don't want me to live there. When I tried to contact them, one of them would say. "We don't want you here, we don't trust you, we think you'll steal our stuff. We don't want to get to know you." This is already sounding shady, but I didn't want to get involved because it could get really serious.
2 weeks ago, during my spring break, I decided to check our mailbox. I still own that new apartment I moved into, received all the keys necessary, and thought someone might send me a card to the new mailbox. And I find that lots of the mail inside is directed to a chinese name, which wouldn't follow because the two people living there have clearly White, Anglo-Saxon names. I'm pretty sure, that they are keeping a squatter in that apartment which would explain everything.
Here's the problem. I would want some form of justice because these two people, wouldn't even allow me to enter my own new apartment. And I don't believe they understand the legal obligations I earn for living in the apartment. So I'm really curious if I can report these goons to the apartment complex for squatting, but do it in a manner where I won't get in trouble. I can prove they don't know me, can't identify me, none of my belongings are in the apartment, and I can't even say what they look like. I've even tried to enter the apartment at one point, but they held the door shut or had a second lock installed.
Everyone is telling me to go ahead and do it, explain everything to the complex. But my brother wants me to completely wash my hands of the situation. That, it'll just create more possible drama. Yet, at the same time, he's very thankful to have me around now. This is just a really hard decision.
Comments
I'm wondering if I can tell the truth, without being incriminated at all. There's even a small chance I'm wrong and there is no squatter there, but I'm curious if this is true, if it would be better to do nothing or try.
2. Sue everybody.
3. Profit.
4. Get a new apartment somewhere else.
Seriously, there are some major things I don't quite understand:
You moved out of your old propane-huffing apartment and were supposed to move into another apartment in the same building. When you went to go to the new apartment with keys you were given, in which there were already tenants, they refused to let you in? And whoever runs the building knows of this and is just taking your money?
Who runs this building? Who is the landlord?
How can a landlord just tell someone that they are getting another tenant in their apartment?
What does your housing contract say? Is there one? If there was no contract signed, it could be problematic.
You still go to this other apartment building to check mail? You and the tenants who are there share a box, correct?
I find it very hard to believe that there is a living situation that exists in which someone can just say "Oh, yeah, by the way there's someone new that is going to be moving in to your apartment. Have fun." It's pretty shocking unless it's a dorm-type situation. Also, it sounds like these people might be illegally subletting their apartment to someone, as in , they are charging some poor schmuck rent to live there without telling anybody.
Read your contract, and get a lawyer.
If he can terminate the lease, then the solution is simple and he doesn't have to care what happens in that building at all.
That issue has passed.
Now, the reason why I didn't move in with these new guys before hand, is because I didn't get the new transfer until January. I get a call from these assholes who automatically don't want to know me, refuse to know me, and won't change. That already sounds really shady, especially on a high-level considering that reacted badly when I told them why I left.
Me: I left, because my roommates were huffing propane and nearly blew up the house so I had to call the cops.
Their response: Well, why would you do that? Now we're going to see you as some kind of square.
I didn't pursue with it because my family really prefers me living at home, they were tired of the stress, and I was very doubtful that the people working for the company would be by my side. But now that I've learned that the issue isn't something super criminal, it's just a squatter, I'm curious over how I can appraoch it.
I automatically have a moral high ground with this and I can take a sense of judgement. I'm just curious if it's worth dealing with the potential problems that can come from reporting them. My biggest concern is that can I report every issue with these people, without getting myself incriminated. If I just say. "They have a squatter." I know, they can claim that I knew about the squatter the whole time and didn't report it. But I'm going to explain everything single detail of what they've done and how I have this theory that they could be housing someone. The biggest goal? Not to be legally screwed by a potential loophole
First thing is to immediately notify the complex of the situation.
I really do want advice for this, mostly because it feels within control. And I did get REALLY pissed off finding out about this, but I'm still walking on eggshells because of creeping doubt. If this is a sure-fire, then I will actually do it.
If you want to live with your family, that's fine, but you've got to fix the rent situation.
Nuri is right - tell the complex what's going on.
If it makes you feel better you can pay a third of my rent, not live there, and I'll send you a plate of brownies each month. All things considered it's a better deal then what you're facing now.
I'm just asking about the squatters, because that's the issue that can be handled. I brought up everything else as exposition.
disclaimer: Not legal advice, yo. If you're worried about self-incrimination or something, then get a lawyer.
Don't be a pussy. Also, get a lawyer.
For some reason I can't understand the complexity of the issue here. Is this school housing?