Steve Davis    |    Mendota Heights    ,    Minnesota 55118    Landlord Complaint 20-1895

I told my landlord early in June, (before my 60 day notice was due) that I planned to renew my lease ending Aug. 31. He said that was fine, and that rent would stay at the current amount for the RENEWED lease. On July 28, (a month less than the 60 day notice required by my lease), my landlord slipped a NEW lease under the door, with an increased rent amount and asking for a new deposit (I did not pay a deposit when I moved in because I was taking over a lease from someone else - I assumed he should have mentioned it then, or when we discussed renewing my lease in June). It was the end of the week, so I didn't call my landlord to discuss the discrepancies over the weekend. He called me on Tuesday (Aug. 2), literally yelling at me for not returning the signed lease. He said I should have had it to him by the 60 day notice period (before June 30) - even though he hadn't dropped it off by that point. He said he wanted the lease that day, and when I told him I was at work, he said that he'd be at the apartment fixing things (which he didn't give us notice of), and that'd I'd "better not be home" - I was not sure whether he was implying I was lying, or if he was threatening me. He said he would come by when I got home to pick up the lease, and I told him I had plans and would be home late - around midnight. He said he would come at midnight. I thought he was being unreasonable and was uncomfortable with the idea of him coming by that late, so I told him that I would NOT be renewing my lease after all; that I would be moving out by the end of my current lease. I started looking for a new place that day, but with only three weeks to search and reply to ads, look at places when I'm not at work, and to find something where I can get buses to school/etc, I haven't found a new place yet. My lease ends next week (Aug. 31) and I don't know what to do. I can stay with friends until I find a place, but I cannot move all my furniture into my friend(s)' apartment, so I will either need to pay to store my stuff, or stay at my current place (paying rent) until the end of a 60-day notice period starting when he delivered the new lease (Sept. 26) giving me time to secure a new residence. Note: I told my landlord I intend to withhold rent for August until I have secured a new place, because I have to be sure I can afford first month's rent and deposit on a new place as soon as I can find one. I promised to mail him August's rent no later than Sept. 5.