Landlord is a lunatic - not sure how to proceed? (apartment, lease)
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My husband and I have been renting an apartment in Capitol Hill for a little over a year. We decided not to renew the lease when it ends in June, for many reasons, not the least of which is the poor maintenance of the building/unit and the complete failure of the landlady to make good on various promises.
She started bringing prospective tenants through without any notice to us, which I understand now is legal in DC. However on Saturday, I came home to find that she had showed the apartment and found it "cluttered" and had taken it upon herself to tear through the place like some kind of deranged home organization show hostess. She shoved dishes under the sink, she threw laundry under beds and behind a desk, she cleared my dresser of all my jewelry and picture frames by shoving things into drawers and cabinets. She even took our garbage (which was not half full). You get the gist. I was floored and completely repulsed by the idea of this crazy woman handling all our personal things. We're only in the unit for another month so I'm inclined to bite my lip because she's already made veiled threats about our deposit (though we've taken excellent care of the place and never once failed to deliver our rent on time.)
But what should I do? Document this somehow so that I have something to show a judge if it should come down to that in the future? I'd like to protect our investment if possible but surely this kind of behavior is unacceptable if not downright illegal?
#1. In DC, the landlord can show the apartment and has the right to utilize a cursory inspection and possibly move things around (but cannot go into anything personal like drawers). Write her a letter or note expressing your displeasure to have it documented. You can try the police to take a report, but it is likely they won't since there's really nothing criminal that occurred.
#2. Take pictures unless you already moved the stuff. If she attempts to seize your deposit, her actions could be grounds for a civil remedy.
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