eccen – I know of a very good real estate attorney. If you post your email I can email you his phone number. It could not hurt to give him a call.
Disasta – My landlord doesn’t just pop in. He calls when he wants to come by or when I call him and ask him to come by to fix something. He sees a stain on the carpet or the faded spots on the lawn and comments on them. He sees the dead ice plant and comments on it. Of course it was dead when I moved in and I of course took photos. It is just what it is, the price to pay for renting. He doesn’t break any laws at all. We have moved 3 times in 3 years so making suggestions to just move is not really comprehending the situation well.
I rent only for the economic reasons of where I see the market going period. There is ABSOLUTELY no other benefit for myself and family. On top of that it is a constant topic of bickering between my wife and self and I am growing very tired of it. Maybe that is why I have a bit kinder to response to those inquiring about buying. I don’t recommend economically, but I do understand why they are doing it.
Of all the renters here I would like to know how many of them have toddlers and pets. I rent and I am one of them. I am sure there are some others. Yet I believe those who shout loudest about how great it is to rent don’t fall into that category. They maybe have kids that are at least a little older then toddler age and it would surprise me if they had a few dogs/cats as well.