Stefanie Beninato    |    Sante fe    ,    New Mexico 87504    Landlord Complaint 21-7885

I moved into this duplex March 1st, because it was the only non-smoking apt listed. Because of some lingering construction, there are various random cars parked in my spot, giant piles of dirt and debris that require my constant retrieval during storms, and though I have been assured for about a month it would be cleaned up, nothing substantial has been done at all. The main problem, though, is that my first week here, I recieved an early morning bang on my door, it was my landlady, Stefanie, holding a box-cutter, standing in front of the giant pile of trash, and ranting about a random cigarette butt that had blown into the yard from the main road. She spent 30 minutes accusing me of being a smoker, which i vehemently denied, and re-iterated in writing. A few days later, Landlady called to talk privately, I met her next door, whereupon she blamed the pile of trash on the lazy workmen, and as if that was my responsibility, told me I needed to be picking up trash around the entire property. I told her my trash goes in the trash like a normal person, and that she needed to address her own trash situation. She became accusatory once more, so at that point I requested she not show up on my doorstep without notice, and henceforth, needed all of our communication in writing. This was followed by two more surprise door bangs, and frantic rambling monologues about my rental car (an issue that was already addressed, people rent cars, right?) She once more accused me of being a smoker, partier, and trash-thrower. I offered her a look around my place to see how clean i am, to which she mumbled something about 'I don't know you', and abruptly ended the conversation. A week or so after paying two months rent (stipulation of the lease), she wrote me once again in a panic about the rental car I have, which was replaced by the rental agency, a reasonable concern which I rectified, but the email went on to accuse me of being in violation of the lease (again, see smoking above), saying that not only did I have someone else living there, but that I was being extremely loud, and she had advised my 72 year old neighbor to simply call the police. This was another outright, uninvestigated lie. The neighbor in question can hear me because Stefanie (landlady) never installed the soundproof insulation over the adjoining door (was supposed to be done over a month ago). *ps- she rudely demands utilities checks, and if you ask to see the bill, she charges 5 dollars (law states $2)