Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Missouri

''Rights of Tenants''

I moved into an apartment and I feel that my rights as a tenant have been violated. My landlord, an elderly woman, has harrassed and threatened me numerous times. I was first asked to not run my washer/dryer past 9:00p.m.. This causes a big problem for the simple fact I am student and work part time so I dont have any other times I could possibly to that. Then I was asked to take down my Christmas lights in the middle of January, or she would go into my apartment and take them down herself. I have caught her in my apartment without my permission and she would not tell me why she was in there. I have been a good tenant, never paid my rent late or had any complaints. I have always done what she has asked, no matter how ridiculous it seemed, to avoid problems. On March 31, 2006 she gave me a ''note'', which she claimed to be an eviction notice for parking in her spot. Althought, there was no written reason for eviction on the note. We dont have designated parking spots but her response to that was that ''people just know that is my spot''. Looking closer at the ''note'' we realize she had written it on the back of a post it note. I then asked her who owned the actual apartments and she refused to tell me. Is any of this legal?


Asked on 4/05/06, 5:07 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Anthony Smith LawSmith

Re: ''Rights of Tenants''

Your question raises many variables that your fact pattern does not explain, such as, is this a separate apartment, like in a building of apartments, or a boarding situation where you and the landlord live under the same roof. Do you have a written lease agreement? If so, what is the contractual termination date of teh lease, and what does it say about early termination.

if you have no written agreement, and you pay your rent monthly, then you are probably a month-to-month tenant. That means that either you or the landlord can terminate the tenancy with a one month written notice. a handwritten note on the back of a Post-it note may be adequate notice.

Generally, landlords are permitted to enter into the rented space at reasonable time and at reasoanble frequency to check on the premises and make repairs. It is up to the Judge to determine what is a reasonable time and reasonable frequency. A prudent landlord would give Notice of the time and dates they are going to enter, so as not subject themself to liability for any damged or stolen property belonging to the tenant. Unfortunately, not all landlords are prudent. Therfore, many written lease agreements describe teh process for the lanslord to enter the rented space.

If you need more concrete answers, you will need to provide more information to an attorney in your area.

Good Luck,

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Answered on 4/06/06, 1:33 pm


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