Landlord Complaint Record: #20-1933

Dianne Bunnell    |    Yelm    ,    Washington 98597    Landlord Complaint 20-1933


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CASE CLOSED MEDIATION REFUSED Oct 17, 2011


WARNING! This property/ landlord refused to mediate a fair resolution or response to this complaint. Landlord refused to cooperate.
 



Case Number : 20-1933 Filing Date : Sep 4, 2011
Investigating Agent : Kept Private Case Disposition : Mediation Refused
Complaint Level : Code 5 Landlord Response : Case Closed

SUPPORTING DETAILS
Type Title / Link Posted By Date Uploaded Comments
upload Kept Private Renter Sep 4, 2011
This is the main exchange of emails in regards to the current situation. The problem has been evolving over some years, but has now erupted full blown because I finally told my landlord that she was being inconsiderate. She has been a personal friend for nearly 10 years, but does not like it when people stand up to her, or tell her something she does not want to hear.
upload Kept Private Renter Sep 4, 2011
This was my formal notice to Dianne Bunnell, my Landlord and supposed friend of 10 years, that this situation had become a Dispute. It was becoming clear to me that she was not going to be rational or reaonable and was attempting to escalate the situation in order to try and falsely claim grounds to evict me.
upload Kept Private Renter Sep 4, 2011
This is the main exchange of emails in regards to the current situation. The problem has been evolving over some years, but has now erupted full blown because I finally told my landlord that she was being inconsiderate. She has been a personal friend for nearly 10 years, but does not like it when people stand up to her, or tell her something she does not want to hear.
upload Kept Private RPA Mailing Center The following attachment is a copy of the mailed complaint notice that was processed and sent out the Landlord/ Manager.
upload Kept Private RPA Mailing Center The attached file is a copy of the 2nd written notice that was printed and mailed to the landlord/ manager.
upload Kept Private RPA Mailing Center This is the 3rd and final notice that was sent to the landlord/ manager. This is the final attempt / notice to request an immediater resolution to the complaint. I has been processed for mailing.

LANDLORD / MGR : Dianne Bunnell RENTER : Kept Private
Property Name :      
Address : 14507 Berry Valley Rd. SE Address : Kept Private
City, State - Zip : Yelm, Washington - 98597. City, State - Zip : Yelm, Washington - .
Phone : Kept Private Phone : Kept Private

COMPLAINT : Harassment via improper entry % fraudulently claiming violation of lease
Fair Resolution according to renter :
  1. Retract false claim of violation of lease agreement. Abide by proper notice laws. Refrain from retaliation. Stop use of entry for harassment

RENTAL DETAILS
Address               :   14507 BERRY VALLEY RD SE
City, State - Zip   :   YELM, WA - 98597 9703.

COMPLAINT DETAILS (from renter)

My landlord has been improperly making ever increasingly frequent demands for entry without giving me adequate notice. Because I recently sent her an email response politely asking her to follow the rules for proper notice (after her pulling this 3 times in a little over a week,) she is now claiming that I refused a request for a so called "inspection" to harass me and falsely claim that I have unreasonably denied access. This last Weds. she emailed me that she needed access to my apartment to turn the power off so that her boyfriend could work on her front porch light. Her request only said "in 24 hours" which not only was not the required two days notice, but did not give me a specific time or how long the power would need to be off for. I had to tell her that I could not do it in 24 hours as I was working under an IRS deadline helping my mother (who is very ill,) with her taxes and that I needed my computer on. She then insisted that I either let her and her boyfriend into my apartment while I had to be away the next morning or do it the next day (yesterday.) I have explained to her on many previous occasions that I am not comfortable with people being in my apartment when I am not there (she used to bring handymen in without asking me first when I was gone.) I agreed that I would turn off the main breaker at 3pm yesterday, but that it did not require access to my apartment by her or her boyfriend. I have frequently turned off the main breaker for her when there was work needed in the past 10 years and it was never an issue before. Even just a week previous to this, I flipped the main breaker off at her request for a PSE representative to remove and check the meter. She asked me to do this with absolutely NO notice, even though it resulted in my power having to be off for over a half hour. She then tried to force the issue by emailing me that she needed to do an "inspection," but did not explain of what or for what purpose. She then cancelled at the last minute by email notice only, an email I got about 5 minutes before 3 pm yesterday, after I had changed my plans for the day in order to comply with her demands. She is now lying and claiming that I denied access and violated my lease because I said I could turn off the main breaker as I usually do, and did not feel comfortable having her boyfriend come into my apartment for no reason. She plans to try to evict me, falsely claiming that I denied "reasonable" access.

LANDLORD / TENANT RESPONSES (4)
From Date IP Address Response
Renter Sep 11, 2011 216.177.226.38 I have not forgotten all the great things that my landlord and I have done for each other over the years as friends...and they are many, I just would like her to understand that it is difficult for me to have her handymen have to come in repeatedly to turn the water off for example...for the same repair over and over again as was the case with her front outside water faucet. I don't want to make things difficult for her in getting done what she needs to, but do need her to have a greater understanding of what that is like for me as a tenant..especially given the sheer volume of requests for entry in the last several months for various reasons..having to do with repairs to BOTH of our places. It is not due to any personal feelings of animosity or distrust of her as an individual that I am asking for consideration...just my own need for privacy and respect. Thank you!
Renter Sep 11, 2011 216.177.226.38 I have attempted contact with RPA at least 5 times now via email and chat as to how to correct or clarify a couple of errors in my original complaint. I have still not heard back as to how to edit my complaint so will try to correct the errors here. First, in looking back over my calendar, it became clear that the 3 requests from my Landlord for entry without adequate notice were from August 19th through September 1, 2011...so not "in a little over a week," but within a two week time frame to be exact. The first was an approximately 2 hour notice request for the FIrst Responder man, the second was a request with no notice for the PSE man to have the power turned off, and the third was an email request for the power to be turned off in 24 hours in order to facilitate my landlord's boyfriend working on her front porch light. I want to make it clear that I did not object to the first two requests as I try, and have tried to be accommodating whenever possible to my landlord's scheduling needs whether for repairs to her place or mine. I also want to note that there have been times recently when she did give me adequate notice, but it does seem that she views this as an annoyance. The issue here was that she took offense when on her third request, I said I could not accommodate her without the 48 hours notice that time, and being under tremendous stress at that point, asked for her to please be more considerate and respectful of my time and privacy. I also want to address that it's more than likely that she may not remember that she or one of her handymen did come in without notice to me in past years because it happened at least several years ago, but that was the beginning of this conflict. Back then we had to have several conversations in which I endeavored to explain my feelings about my privacy and after that there was no longer entry without my being notified. I do think that much of that issue was because she had not had a lot of prior experience as a landlord and the uniqueness of this rental situation. I also think that much of this current dispute is the result of both of us being under a lot of stress having to do with other issues ie employment, finances, and in my case, a close family member being very ill. I want to clarify that while I was extremely upset at the email exchanges last weekend, what I desire is to find a way to resolve this situation peacefully, allow reasonable access, but have my needs and rights respected as well.
Renter Sep 11, 2011 216.177.226.115 I have not forgotten all the great things that my landlord and I have done for each other over the years as friends...and they are many, I just would like her to understand that it is difficult for me to have her handymen have to come in repeatedly to turn the water off for example...for the same repair over and over again as was the case with her front outside water faucet. I don't want to make things difficult for her in getting done what she needs to, but do need her to have a greater understanding of what that is like for me as a tenant..especially given the sheer volume of requests for entry in the last several months for various reasons..having to do with repairs to BOTH of our places. It is not due to any personal feelings of animosity or distrust of her as an individual that I am asking for consideration...just my own need for privacy and respect. Thank you!
Renter Sep 11, 2011 216.177.226.115 I have attempted contact with RPA at least 5 times now via email and chat as to how to correct or clarify a couple of errors in my original complaint. I have still not heard back as to how to edit my complaint so will try to correct the errors here. First, in looking back over my calendar, it became clear that the 3 requests from my Landlord for entry without adequate notice were from August 19th through September 1, 2011...so not "in a little over a week," but within a two week time frame to be exact. The first was an approximately 2 hour notice request for the FIrst Responder man, the second was a request with no notice for the PSE man to have the power turned off, and the third was an email request for the power to be turned off in 24 hours in order to facilitate my landlord's boyfriend working on her front porch light. I want to make it clear that I did not object to the first two requests as I try, and have tried to be accommodating whenever possible to my landlord's scheduling needs whether for repairs to her place or mine. I also want to note that there have been times recently when she did give me adequate notice, but it does seem that she views this as an annoyance. The issue here was that she took offense when on her third request, I said I could not accommodate her without the 48 hours notice that time, and being under tremendous stress at that point, asked for her to please be more considerate and respectful of my time and privacy. I also want to address that it's more than likely that she may not remember that she or one of her handymen did come in without notice to me in past years because it happened at least several years ago, but that was the beginning of this conflict. Back then we had to have several conversations in which I endeavored to explain my feelings about my privacy and after that there was no longer entry without my being notified. I do think that much of that issue was because she had not had a lot of prior experience as a landlord and the uniqueness of this rental situation. I also think that much of this current dispute is the result of both of us being under a lot of stress having to do with other issues ie employment, finances, and in my case, a close family member being very ill. I want to clarify that while I was extremely upset at the email exchanges last weekend, what I desire is to find a way to resolve this situation peacefully, allow reasonable access, but have my needs and rights respected as well.

INVESTIGATING AGENT - REMARKS (10)
Agent Date Response
Agent Oct 17, 2011 LANDLORD REFUSAL: Despite repeated attempts both written and verbal, the Landlord/ Manager has refused to respond to the complaint. Due to the landlords refusal to cooperate with RPA Mediation, the RPA has no choice but to close this case. The tenant will need to seek other legal options such as court.
Agent Sep 20, 2011 FOLLOW-UP CALL: Agent has contacted the landlord to request an immediate response. Agent has informed management that a written notice was already mailed and has past the alloted response time-frame. Agent has requested an immediate response, within the next 3 business days. Pending Response...
Agent Sep 20, 2011 PAST DUE RESPONSE: Landlord has been provided with a reasonable time-frame to respond but has not. Agent will follow-up with management to request an immediate response.
Agent Sep 9, 2011 LANDLORD RESPONSE DATE: Landlord is expected to respond no later than: September 16, 2011 by 7pm
Agent Sep 9, 2011 EXPECTED LANDLORD RESPONSE: Written notice is being mailed to the landlord and expected to arrive in 3 business days. Following delivery the landlord will have 3 business days to respond. Pending landlord response.
Agent Sep 9, 2011 MAILING PREPARED: Agent has prepared case for mailing.
Agent Sep 9, 2011 COMPLAINT NOTICE: Agent has prepared an official complaint notice and will be attaching the notice to a bonded copy of the case. Pending Mailing...
Agent Sep 9, 2011 CASE REVIEW: Agent has reviewed the case and is preparing complaint notice and paperwork.
Agent Sep 9, 2011 CASE ACCEPTED: Agent has accepted the case and is will be reviewing the case details.
Agent Sep 9, 2011 CASE ASSIGNED: An RPA Agent has been assigned to mediate this case. Pending case acceptance.