So Hubby and I spent Mother's Day talking about our dwelling. I am, not to any one's surprise, not too impressed with numerous issues in our apartment. First issue would be the mice. I know that eventually they will get killed off by the exterminator but the problem exists beyond our own house. One, we belong to a whole line of duplexes that all have problems with mice but not everyone has exterminated... Two, icky landlord refuses to admit that they could possibly be getting into the building from downstairs and doesn't want to repair openings that they're getting in from. Contrary to a certain some one's belief (no names mentioned), they did not come in from a box of groceries! And I really do believe that our landlord is convinced that they just flew into our apartment via the sky and I have to inform him that it's "highly" unlikely (in other words impossible!) My second issue is the landlord himself. Our relationship with him has gone down the drain (to no fault of our own) because every time something goes seriously wrong in the apartment, he's uppity about actually doing anything about it! Just last week when we informed him about a hole at the bottom of our staircase (which I've seen a mouse escape into) that leads into his apartment, he had the nerve to say, "Well did you fix it?" Urggh. It's not our job! We didn't buy this place, we shouldn't have to donate all our time fixing it up so one day he can sell it out from under us and we'll have to find another place to live. Caulking the sink/counters, patching up a hole in the cupboard, fixing the collapsed pole in our closet, taking care of the yard, etc... NONE OF THOSE THINGS ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES! No problem, we accept your non-existent thanks for all the work we do!
Hubby on the other hand loves our apartment but doesn't like the area. He wants to live in a more "urban" setting, somewhere that doesn't quite look like the suburbs. He lives for the hustle and bustle, for the traffic noises and the people population. I understand too, I hate being so far from everyone. Without a car, grandparents and friends are not around the corner from us anymore.
So what was the consensus? Neither of us is actually ready to move again. We've moved three times in the last few years and it's just that much harder when you have kids. I remember when we were moving to this apartment and Bulldozer seemed to be taking it really well, we were so impressed. However when we actually moved into this place, every time a box came into his view he'd break down and cry because he thought we were moving again! Poor guy! I'm just not ready to do that to not one, but two kids. So my solution to the problem is the following:
1. Fight the mice! I've had enough of them and it's time to finish off what was started. Big words for someone who jumps up on chairs when they scurry through her kitchen!
2. Not care anymore. If the landlord isn't going to do what he's supposed to it's called the "Regie de Logement", a nice little organization that helps fight scum lords!
3. Garden like a madwoman! Sometimes doing things you love allow you to move past that bitter place!
4. PAINT! My Hubby's least favorite because he ends up having to work but there's nothing like a coat of paint to make a house feel like a home!
2 comments:
How about #3 and #4, and if that doesn't do the trick for you, go for #2!
If you do # 2, keep a record of everything that you do, that should be the landlords responsibility. Take pictures of the holes that you think the mice are getting through. If you spend money to do a repair that should be a landlord expense..get receipts, make a copy for yourself.. Keep a record of every single thing that you do,
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