My Landlord Raised the Rent After Renovating My Apartment Without Permission

When single mother Sage returns home after caring for her ailing mother, she finds her apartment unrecognizably renovated and a note from her landlord, Gary, announcing a steep rent hike. What Gary didn’t anticipate was Sage’s fierce determination to make him regret his underhanded schemes.

Returning from tending to my ailing mother, I was not prepared for the sight that met me as I walked into my home. The apartment, once a warm haven filled with the essence of family, was now a sterile shell. A note from Gary, my landlord, lay waiting on the kitchen counter, coldly announcing a 30% rent increase due to “upgrades” he had made without informing me.

It’s been five years since the day life decided that I would tell my story as a single mother of three. Yes, I kicked my cheating ex-husband out and embarked on the path that countless brave women before me had walked. We all had our battles to fight.

The transition from a double-income household to a single paycheck meant pulling double shifts. It wasn’t long before sheer exhaustion became my steadfast companion. Determined for a better life for my children, I learned new skills in the precious hours when they slept. And, bit by bit, it paid off.

Persistence yielded a better job, and I could finally gift my family the stability we needed. That’s when I found the apartment. It felt right – a cozy space for the four of us. Gary, the landlord, seemed decent, though now I see just how well he masked his true intentions.

But life can turn quickly, as it did when my anchor, my mother, fell ill. Without hesitation, I packed up the kids, leaving our apartment for a short while to care for her. Upon our return, the sight that met us at the door left us speechless.

Our home, once vibrant and personal, now seemed alien. Sterile white walls replaced the lived-in charm, and the soul of our home was stripped away. My children’s space in the corner disappeared, replaced by something supposedly “modern.” It was as if we were no longer welcome in our own home.

Gary’s impersonal note was infuriating. I was determined to confront him. My hands trembled with anger as I dialed his number.

“Gary, what have you done?” I demanded once he picked up.

“Oh, you saw the renovations! Isn’t it much better now? You’ll thank meโ€””

My voice trembled with anger as I cut him off, “You erased our home without even notifying me! We don’t want this, and you cannot just raise the rent!”

“Well,” Gary replied, infuriatingly calm, “thatโ€™s all my property and if you’re not happyโ€ฆ the door is always open for you to leave.”

I realized then that he wanted us out, setting us up for failure, and wanting someone else to take our place, someone without children.

A quick conversation with my supportive neighbor, Melissa, enlightened me further – Gary had already promised our home to a prospective tenant. This only strengthened my resolve.

After some online digging informed by Melissa’s hints, I approached Michael, Gary’s new intended tenant. We sat for coffee, where I laid out our ordeal.

Michael was taken aback by what I told him. He understood now that Gary’s story of us “moving on” was far from the truth.

“That’s… wow. That’s terrible,” he said, shaking his head. “I had no idea. I wouldn’t have considered moving at all knowing that.”

Michael’s expression turned serious. “We need to show Gary he can’t get away with this. He messed up, and if he thinks he can just bully his wayโ€””

The day after, Gary arrived with Michael to “finalize” my departure. But Michael had something else in mind.

“Actually, Gary,” Michael announced, “there’s been a change of plans.”

Gary squirmed, his calm demeanor crumbling. “Change of plans?”

Michael went on to explain how he had consulted with a lawyer, noting how Gary’s actions were indeed illegal and subject to legal action.

“You can undo your mess and treat these tenants right,” Michael stated, “or you’ll be hearing from us in a courtroom.”

Over the subsequent weeks, Gary corrected his wrongs, returning the place to its former state. Michael became an unexpected blessing, bringing joy back to my children’s eyes with his newfound friendship.

Life has a curious way of turning our foes into springboards for our journey. Gary’s ploy, intended to displace us, ended up enriching our lives and opening the door to new friendships. And that’s how I knew I’d made him regret his choices without lifting a finger in anger. Justice, as fate would have it, truly has a way of coming full circle.