Sunday, October 05, 2008

Landlord diaries

So remember last month when I thought our tenant was disappearing after not being able to pay rent? No? To refresh - we have a guy in one of the furnished studios who has been here for over a year. This is the guy that hangs around with the dregs of society, had his car stolen last year, and has been looking more and more haggard this year. He goes to Toronto once a month "on business" for a few days and from what I can tell, he spends the rest of the month holed up in the basement here. We have no idea how he gets his money. He's the one with the raucous BO, and appears to own two outfits. Anyway, he finally came around and paid his rent last month and even paid us on Friday for this month telling us that it was his last month here, though he would confirm that later this week. That brings us to yesterday.

As I was running out to do some errands, I noticed a paper under the windshield wiper of his car. One of the crack whores he entertained last month had left a couple hand written notes in the mailbox last week and I thought it might have been a note from her. I just had to Gladys Kravitz it and have a look. As soon as I bent over to look at the paper on the windshield, two guys jumped out of a big tow truck and accosted me, "Do you speak French?" "Is this your car?" I answered yes and then no and told them to ring the tenant's bell at studio #2. I knew he was inside (but didn't say so) because I had just seen a pizza be delivered to him. He didn't answer. The note was actually from the police. Apparently he fled the scene after crashing his car into something. The men showed me the accident damage on his car and they told me that they had to wait for him until he showed up.

This morning they are still there. Yes, there is a stake-out at our house. We don't want to get involved, so we're not, but I have a feeling that he's going to be moving out a bit sooner than the end of the month. Stay tuned.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Bad boy, bad boy what ya gonna do what ya gonna do when they come for you?" Wow a stake out. I think if I were you I'd go tell them he is home. I would be afraid of being arrested myself for aiding and abetting. ed

My adventures said...

He sells body parts! Just wait, when he's gone you're going to find all sorts things down there. He might even have hole dug! "It rubs the lotion on it's skin" or whatever that line was from Silence of the Lambs! I just have this 6th sense about it. The first time you enter after he leaves, take your camera!

Snooze said...

Oh man. Imagine being trapped in your apartment?

Polt said...

This guy...nude dancer...man you have such INTERESTING people in your building.

There's three apartments in my building, the most excitment we've ever had is when the guy on the first floor had a stroke and the ambulance came for him.

He's better now.

Good luck with your tenants. :)

HUGS...

Lemuel said...

Give us a heads up when the news crews arrive. :-D

And you say you lead boring lives!

Birdie said...

Oooh, intrigue. We're all making up stories about this guy. We expect you to deliver on this, of course. I'm with David—take your camera.

Greg said...

Oh, this IS entertaining...you must've nearly crapped when the guys jumped out at your Gladys Kravitz-ing the note...

...hope the clean-up when all is said and done won't be too intense. "Raucous BO"?!? Wow...

Phronk said...

That's cop movie stuff right there.

I hope there's not a shootout, because that could totally damage the apartment.

dpaste said...

Boy can you pick 'em!

tankmontreal said...

You need to come buy our building and rent to us. We're the best tenants ever; we live inside the law for the most part and we know how to decorate.

David said...

This sounds like a Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez have returned for Stake Out 3: Montreal Run.

Look for cameo's by Rosie O'Donnell, Val Kilmer, the late Roy Scheider and Carrot Top as B.O. Tenant.

travelling, but not in love said...

Lord, he doesn't have a big freeezer in a secret room down there does he? Lock your doors at night...

Anonymous said...

You know I keep reading these words of woe that you write about being a landlord and I cringe because in a short period of time it is looking like I might find myself in such a situation.

But I have resources. I can run BCI and NCIC checks. That helps.

Franciscus van Munster said...

Hey, at least he paid for the whole month already

dykewife said...

you get to meet the most interesting people. it must be really serious if they're staking his apartment out. i wonder why the police don't just get an arrest warrant, get the key from you and pick up that guy's sorry ass is beyond me.

Rox said...

OMG I'd be freaking! I'm dying to hear how this plays out though!

*The Silence of the Lambs reference creeped me right out!

Mark in DE said...

Oh wow, such high drama! Perhaps we will see this in an episode of "COPS"!

Mark :-)

Anonymous said...

No one does "tenant drama" like you, Torn.

I look forward to future installments...