My landlord enters my apartment whenever he wants.

For the love of God, set up some cameras. They're not very expensive, and you can get them to just record onto SD card and alert you whenever the motion detection goes off. Like 50 to 100 bucks a camera, no service attached, all wifi based. I have them, they work great.

After that, get soon. Good candid camera shots and take it to a judge. Like, I have no idea how you can live like this.

Set up some cameras and start monitoring them. What he is doing is illegal and catching him in the act and having evidence will be handy in the future. Visible cameras may actually be enough of a deterrent, you never know.

Couple things:

As many others pointed out, it's most likely illegal for him to do that (depends on the state and the purpose for his being there, but from the sounds of it, this doesn't sound like it is legal).

As for the locks thing, you'd have to check your lease. Most leases do not allow you to change locks without the landlord's permission and then they require copies of the keys anyways because it is technically their property and they are responsible for upkeep, showing the place, and after you leave.

As for something you touched on early on but I've seen no one mention in this topic so far, you should really check your state's laws and the zoning laws of your area as well as your lease. While what the landlord is doing is very likely illegal, it is quite possible you running a small business out of a residential facility (especially one you don't live in) is also illegal. There are quite a number of leases that forbid this as well (in fact, my current lease very specifically states my apartment is only allowed for residential purposes... Any commercial business cannot take place within my apartment without written and signed documentation from the landlord and from the town board that I live in).

I agree with the others: you definitely need to do something about this. However, I would make sure you look into all the legalities of your lease, your local/state laws, and similar. You want to make sure you have a strong case and, if it can be determined that you are breaking the law/lease requirements, it can come back to bite you if you don't research in advance.

Check your state laws.

What your landlord is doing is likely illegal.

It's definitely illegal in Maryland.

Your landlord sounds weird.

Go across the street and ask that lawyer if he ever did it to them.

Then ask is that legal.

WTGHookshot posted...

As for something you touched on early on but I've seen no one mention in this topic so far, you should really check your state's laws and the zoning laws of your area as well as your lease. While what the landlord is doing is very likely illegal, it is quite possible you running a small business out of a residential facility (especially one you don't live in) is also illegal.

I don't think it is. I'm pretty sure it's a commercial building. It used to be part of the town office like 50 years ago. Then it was the doctor's office. Then he converted it into an apartment after that. Then it was a lawyer's office until about 3 months ago.

I think he just advertised it as an apartment to expand who might want to rent it. Then again, idk for absolute certain either.

KogaSteelfang posted...

I don't think it is. I'm pretty sure it's a commercial building. It used to be part of the town office like 50 years ago. Then it was the doctor's office. Then he converted it into an apartment after that. Then it was a lawyer's office until about 3 months ago.

I think he just advertised it as an apartment to expand who might want to rent it. Then again, idk for absolute certain either.

That's why I'd look into it. You are probably in the clear, but if you need to go down the road (particularly a legal one) against the landlord, then you'll want everything clear and above table so they have nothing to use against you.