Tenant rights..question

[alnpar]

I moved into a new apartment at the end of the year. It's a mother-in-law, which doesn't have a separate entrance, so I have to go through the house to enter. Today I was surprised to come home to a balls cold space. My independantly controlled heating was completely turned off, and there was a sign taped to the heater in my living room (politely worded)...requesting that I turn off the heat when I know I'll be gone for protracted periods of time.

I have several problems with this...
First off, I have things I don't want frozen.
I have a freezer for that purpose.

Secondly, I'm not interested in waiting 2 hrs for my personal space to become warm and comforting.

Thirdly, My personal effects are still in great disarray from the move, and there could be literally dozens of valuables missing, and I wouldn't know it until 6 months down the road when I go looking for it

And lastly, I want to do great bodily harm to the individual who raped my privacy, and took advantage of my absence to do so. So ballsy in fact that he left plain evidence of it. I think that takes a special kind of ballsy.

So...questions. In every state I've lived in, there were laws which protect tenants from such an intrusion of privacy. Usually a landlord can only enter under emergency conditions, or with 24 hr notice. Does Oklahoma not have such laws?

Put a lock on your door!

 

[TwoShoots]

He didn’t want a paper trail for the IRS…he didn’t want to pay taxes on the rental.

Which is the dumbest thing because rentals don't pay taxes, they make deductions and credits.

Put a lock on your door!

He may not be able to unless it's allowed in the lease that he can install things. His best bet is to move to a real rental and not talk to the guy anymore. Be cordial because he for all intents and purposes owns your stuff (when you're not at home). Sure you can call the cops, but it's too late by then.

 

[HKP7M13]

Which is the dumbest thing because rentals don't pay taxes, they make deductions and credits.

He may not be able to unless it's allowed in the lease that he can install things. His best bet is to move to a real rental and not talk to the guy anymore. Be cordial because he for all intents and purposes owns your stuff (when you're not at home). Sure you can call the cops, but it's too late by then.

You can not hold a person’s tools, or possessions for owing you money.

 

[TwoShoots]

You can not hold a person’s tools, or possessions for owing you money.

Legally no, but the "landlord" doesn't sound like he's read up on renting laws - or possibly even his own lease agreement. That's why I said "You can call the cops, but it will be too late".
If he's at work and Mr Big Man comes in there for whatever reason, no one is there to stop him.

 

[HKP7M13]

Legally no, but the "landlord" doesn't sound like he's read up on renting laws - or possibly even his own lease agreement. That's why I said "You can call the cops, but it will be too late".
If he's at work and Mr Big Man comes in there for whatever reason, no one is there to stop him.

If your landlord holds your “stuff” call the police. The police will make the landlord release it on the spot. Ask me how I know. The landlord can go to jail for that.

 

[Bixby Sooner53]

This might help you out. It is the official Oklahoma Law regarding Landlords and Tenants rights for residential properties.

https://oklaw.org/resource/oklahoma-residential-landlord-and-tenand-act

 

[RockHopper]

My gun safe is pretty small, and won't fit quite all my rifles. This morning I stuffed the rest of my valuables into it, and brought the other few into work with me to store here in my office. Unless he cracks open my safe, there's nothing of real value he can take. I don't owe him any money, and all my tools are at work...so there really isn't anything more he can do other than snoop through my things.
I've got an appt this afternoon to look at an apartment, and I'm gonna try to get outta there asap. As someone else suggested earlier...I don't see me being able to stay here through the rest of the month. In the meantime, I'll just avoid speaking to anyone in the house, and keep to myself.
I can't imagine he isnt gonna try to make up some excuse to keep my deposit, and it isnt really worthwhile to fight over it. I plan to report him to whatever housing authorities, and just let it go after that. My peace of mind is worth it.

 

[RockHopper]

Can't believe I got a move my damn safe twice in one month...ugh.

 

[Shadowrider]

Yes, the lease specifies that the landlord pays the utilities. The end. No specifications beyond that aside from a verbal understanding that I would not abuse said utilities. I wouldn't consider a thermostat set at 64° to be abuse. Especially considering until today, it's not been on at all unless I was present.

OK, it’s time to take a month off work, stay home, set your thermostat to 78 and wear a bathing suit for the entire time. Might hang some tanning lights too until you get moved.

 

[Rez Exelon]

OK, it’s time to take. a month off work, stay home, set your thermostat to 78 and wear a bathing suit for the entire time. Might hang some tanning lights too until you get moved.

I think a real question would be if he was wearing a birthday suit instead, could he have the landlord arrested for peeping when they barge in? Sexual assault maybe?