I want to keep my window open because it’s my preference. My landlord wants to keep it closed because they remotely controls the house’s A/C. They’ll walk right up to my room and slam it shut whenever they visits on random days to harass us about the kitchen looking like people live here.
The answer hinges on law, which hinges on location, location, location, so you’re asking the wrong people.
Location not specified; OP is presumed American until proven innocent.
Okay, then which state, county, and municipality should we presume?
I’m not a mind reader, it’s just easy to spot Americans online.
I would guess a state bordering one of the Great Lakes though.
It’s California. I guess it’s alright to narrow it down to basically a country within a country
You need to check on tenancy laws in your location.
It might not be considered trespassing, but it could be something else.
Here in the UK tenants have a right to “quiet enjoyment” as it is phrased in law, which means your landlord is not allowed to bother you unannounced, and if they want to come to the property they must give reasonable advance notice (usually 24 hours)
You may have something similar.
Then again, the landlord having remote-control over your A/C sounds like absolutely psycho behaviour already, so good luck with that.
I would physically beat the shit out of a landlord doing that. I am paying to use this property, it’s not yours to do ANYTHING with.
I would physically beat the shit out of a landlord
Depends.
Consult a locally-licensed attorney for legal advice.
What if I want to find out this month and/or not spend 300 dollars?
Most law schools in the US and Canada offer free renters’ clinics. I’d recommend seeking one of those out.
Put a stick in the window on the inside to hold it open, and a camera watching everything
In Australia that issue would fall under ‘quiet comfort’. I don’t think they’d be allowed to do that.
My location also has such a line but there’s no such thing as a law when your landlord can respond within the law to punish you for enforcing your rights.
If they are coming over in announced thats against ’ quiet comfort’ theyre not allowed to do that already. Closing the window is cherry on the cake
It really depends on where you live and if the landlord lives in the same housebut: are there clearly written rules in the lease about the windows needing to stay closed? If not it is likely not justifiable for them to close them. Typically a landlord needs to provide 24-48 hours notice to enter the unit so if they are showing up on random days and entering that it likely illegal. Throwing away personal property is also illegal. The security cameras could also be illegal. The only way to know any of this would be to contact a local housing justice non profit (if it exists) or preferably a local tenant lawyer. You need to make sure you are documenting everything that seems like a violation, even just writing a note of when and what happened but photos and video could be preferable
I mean, if they’ve got AC running and you have a window open you’re killing the efficiency for everyone, it’s sort of a dick move.
But if they didn’t have it running, they could just ask you nicely to close the window since they’re turning the AC on.
Why do they remotely control your air conditioning?
alexa give me a recipe for rat poison cookies
I would guess that it isn’t trespassing in the normal sense since they own the house/building. Since the contract sounds like it allows them access inside and outside based on the kitchen stuff. Still would be good to see what legal protections you have for privacy as a renter in your area. If they are closing the window from the outside, it might not be legally trespassing (again in the normal sense of the law) as they could argue it is a facilities issue or something.
Lock it open?
