Posted by Rampop II  5/03/2023 5:47 pm | #1 |
Listening to a local pharmacy's hold music intermittently interrupted every 10 secs or so by a Wiscahhnsin voice, "We're sahrry, are steaff is eansering other calls," in hopes of finding a pharmacy within 50 miles of me that has my meds in–stock. Maybe I could have titled this section "Rampop off his meds." I've sunk cumulative HOURS into this problem. "You are the 13th caller in line. Your estimated wait time is 47 minutes." It's a nationwide shortage that's been ongoing since October 2022. Lots of finger–pointing about that; the drug manufacturers blame the DEA, the DEA blames the drug manufacturers, and patients get fucked endlessly. People getting fired from their jobs due to performance issues, kids' grades plummeting... Can you imagine a million–ADHD patient march on Washington? I sure can't. We'd never get our shit together for something like that.
But that's not what I'm here to write about.
So, I spent four hours filing an official report with the Seattle City Department of Construction and Inspections Code Compliance office Monday night regarding my latest situation:
Sleazy new landlords bought my house last month, and promptly began efforts to illegally railroad me out so they can convert it into multiple rental units. Then this morning it dawned on me: I often say I am not a very prolific writer, but when I really think about it, I am a very prolific writer; it's just that a great deal of my writing is dedicated to crap like this. Not the fun stuff I would like to be writing, and nothing I imagine anyone would want to read… "Or..." I suddenly ask myself, "...or would they?" Maybe I should compile the detailed, already–written chronicles of my dealings with all the evil giants I've had to contend with over the years, wicked landlords, identity fraud enforcement authorities, and evil, evil, EEEVIL health insurance companies! Dreadful work, but it is work that's already done, and maybe someone else could benefit from it.
Not that I'll intend this thread to be limited to such things. I'll just write stuff that doesn't fit under any other heading besides "stuff Rampop wrote."
Well, it was, finally my turn with the pharmacist while writing this intro. The answer, well the short answer because fuck writing all the achey details, at least fuck that right now: "NO." No soup for you. Good luck finding your keys.
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Posted by Rampop II 5/03/2023 5:51 pm | #2 |
Last names will be redacted to protect their lack of innocence.
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Posted by Rampop II 5/03/2023 5:53 pm | #3 |
My name is Scott ____. Ryan and Liz ____, who recently bought the house where my next–door neighbor Bill ____ lives, are now in the process of buying the house I have been renting, 925 ___ St, 98___, which is currently owned by Randy ____, who verbally notified me on March 9th, 2023 that he would be selling the house. It seems the buyers' intent is to have me out by the end of April, based on what little I have been able to glean from our brief verbal interactions, but I have received absolutely nothing in writing, and they seem dubious about disclosing their intentions to me verbally while probing me for details. While I would prefer an amicable arrangement in which all parties feel satisfied with the outcome, Bill and others are advising me to prepare for a much more difficult experience. I am recovering from neck and brain trauma, currently working with the Department of Vocational Rehab (DVR) to get employment, and I have been losing a great deal of sleep over the uncertainty of my future and the specter of potentially being pressured to find a new place and move in a short period of time. Over the past eight days I have already had to scramble and re–shuffle my appointments and means of transportation to accommodate one "inspection" and two appraisals, one of which was scheduled with less than 24 hours notice, only to be rescheduled at the designated time, and another which was rescheduled to an earlier time of day, also with less than 24 hours notice. The "inspection" turned out to be a complete walk–through by the prospective buyers, which was humiliating, and Bill tells me the "inspector" was not an inspector at all but an unlicensed contractor, Juan _____, with whom they discussed installing a second bathroom. It appears I need to familiarize myself with my rights as a renter asap, and need to know what my next steps should be. I would be grateful if you could send me any information regarding that, if possible.
I'll reiterate, I have received nothing in writing of any kind.
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Posted by Rampop II 5/03/2023 5:59 pm | #4 |
To Scott ____:
Please call 206-684-5700. That’s the Renting in Seattle line. You can also enter a complaint through the Seattle Services Portal: Code Compliance Complaint - Seattle Services Portal | Seattle.gov
Our team has a varied schedule, and reporting the complaint to the main-line or through the portal will get you the next available analyst. You’ll want to start by saying, “the owner is suggesting a termination of tenancy.”
Sincerely,
Alek ____, Code Compliance Analyst, City of Seattle Department of Codes and Inspections
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Posted by Rampop II 5/03/2023 6:03 pm | #5 |
My official complaint filing:
The owner of the home I am renting is suggesting a termination of tenancy. Last month, April 2023, the single–family house I have been renting from Randy ____ was sold to Elizabeth ____ and Ryan ____ on very short, verbal notice. There are many fishy details to how this transpired which I can describe if necessary, and which placed significant burden on me. The only written documentation I was ever given regarding the sale was a text message from the former owner instructing me to send future rent payments to a new address. He sent me this message on the final day of March 2023, a Friday, at 3:12 pm, twelve minutes after the pickup time for outgoing mail. [minimizing my chances of paying my rent on time] Nevertheless I promptly rushed to the Post Office and sent the rent check via Priority Mail, ensuring it would arrive in time. Last night, April 30th 2023, the new owners met with me under the pretext of “touching base on a few items,” and “nothing major.” However, when we met, they notified me verbally of their intent to substantially remodel the house, displacing me permanently. Their plans include the installation of an additional bathroom and the conversion of the house into multiple rental units. As it is my understanding that a landlord is legally required to provide 90 days written notice in such a situation, I stated that I would "need the full 90 days" to be completely moved out. They indicated this was satisfactory to them and proposed an additional stipulation of a rent increase in the event that I would be unable to move out at the end of the 90–day period. I replied that I believed such a condition to be reasonable enough. No actual dollar amount was discussed. They asked if I would like it in writing. I replied that it was best for us all to get everything in writing. Ryan ____ said he would email me. I had of course expected something official which we would both sign. Instead, Elizabeth ____ later sent me the following, very brief email:
“Hi Scott,
Thanks for meeting with us this evening. Please confirm you plan to move out by July 31, 2023.
Also, let us know if you think the date will be sooner, so we can plan accordingly. Otherwise, we will plan on July 31.
Thank you,
Liz and Ryan”
That is the entire content of the email, which constitutes the only written documentation I have been given of any kind regarding the proposed termination of tenancy. The email states nothing indicating their plans for renovation or the fact that they are requiring me to vacate. I have not yet replied to them, knowing full well that complying with their request would create a false record indicating that I am choosing to vacate of my own free will rather than being displaced permanently due to renovation. My neighbor, Bill ____, has warned me about these two, Elizabeth ____ and Ryan ____, as he is also currently in legal disputes with them over landlord/tenant code compliance. I now feel I need legal counsel before taking further steps. While I am not averse to relocating, I want to ensure everything transpires legally and fairly. I can provide many further details if necessary. Please feel free to contact me at any time. Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
____
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Posted by Rampop II 5/03/2023 6:25 pm | #6 |
I should note an important distinction. In the event the owner terminates tenancy with the tenant for the purpose of significant renovations, permanently displacing the tenant, they must give 90 days written notice, apply to for a relocation permit from the city, and are required to pay half of about $4800 to the tenant. Not so, of course, if the tenant terminates tenancy voluntarily. The owners also have to apply to the city for a construction license, a process which can take 6–12 months.
I spent about an hour on the phone with a city inspector, Fran, the following day, who gave me plenty of assurances.
according to my notes, Fran will take over now and call the landlords to tell them that so far there has been no written notice. Email doesn't count, texts don't count. Also, Ryan and Liz know this; the city has had issues with these two creeps before, and have had to intervene on their shady dealings on multiple occasions. Fran will take the reins from here if I ask him to. But I'm a sweet guy, and I believe in offering the honey before the vinegar, giving the benefit of the doubt, if for no other reason than to say I tried. I'm willing to write a polite reply requesting proper procedure, just as a peace gesture, and for documentation, if it's advisable, before reaching for the big guns and involving "the authorities." Fran says there's nothing wrong with that, as long as I set clear boundaries.
One question, Fran asks: Do you need Ryan to be a reference for future rental?
I hadn't considered that. That's right, Ryan can tarnish my good name to any future landlord if I try to use him as a reference, and there's nothing stopping him from doing that. Luckily I don't need Ryan; I have Randy and other references.
So here's a rough draft of my honey–soaked reply to Liz and Ryan's sneaky email, which needs editing; Fran says I need to specify "If you are terminating my tenancy, please provide proper notice," and just to clear up any confusion with anyone else who might read their email, I need to clarify that I am not agreeing to move out July 31, 2023.
Dear Liz and Ryan,
It was good to finally have the chance to meet with you after your purchase last month of the house I am renting.
You told me beforehand that we would merely be touching base about a few items, but "nothing major." But when we met you informed me of your wish to begin work asap on converting my basement which contains the furnace and washer/dryer, and where I currently have a great deal of my belongings, into two new bedrooms and a new restroom, for the purpose of converting the house into multiple units, targeting new, young renters [an interesting factoid], and that you would therefore need to terminate our rental agreement and need me to relocate. You also asked if I would be open to the work beginning while I am still living here.
I stated that it would be too difficult for me to have work begin while I am still living here, but that I was interested in reaching an arrangement in which all parties feel satisfied with the outcome, and that I would need a full 90 days to be completely moved out. You indicated that such an arrangement was amicable, and proposed the additional stipulation that my failure to move out within 90 days would entail a rent increase at that time. I replied that I also believed that to be reasonable. We then discussed putting all this in writing, and we agreed that you would email me to get everything in writing.
However the email you sent me is very thin on details. The matters we discussed are indeed quite major, and so far we have nothing on paper. It's important that we get everything in writing, with all the relevant details, on paper so that we can all sign it. I want to ensure this transition goes as smoothly as possible which is why it's important and best for all of us that we make sure to do it according to proper procedure. I have no desire to stand in the way of your plans, which are just cause for terminating our lease, and I promise to continue to operating in good faith in seeing this transition to completion. Let's ensure that this matter is handled legally and fairly.
...ain't I the sweetest stinka? And that's far from my final draft. No wonder I don't spend more time writing fun stuff.
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Posted by Rampop II 5/03/2023 6:26 pm | #7 |
Scott:
Thank you for your time. Here is a recap of our conversation:
We spoke about the Tenant Relocation Process or TRAO for short. That is an extensive process that is initiated by the landlord when the landlord needs to displace a tenant due to redevelopment. They would need to contact our department for that. It is a 5-6 month process.
Regarding eviction notices, note that a landlord can only terminate your tenancy for specific reasons. A summary of those reasons is here: https://www.seattle.gov/rentinginseattle/renters/moving-out/just-cause-eviction-ordinance. Again, if your landlord wishes to terminate your tenancy due to development, they need to speak with our department to start that process first before they can issue any notices.
Eviction notices of any sort need to be in writing and need to include specific language, which can be found here: https://www.seattle.gov/dpd/codes/dr/DR2021-9.pdf
I’ll call you 5:30PM on the 8th of May to check in but in case something changes or escalates, please let me know via email or if you don’t hear back from me and it is still urgent, contact the Renting in Seattle line at 206-684-5700 and someone from the team will call you regarding the situation.
Please let me know if you have any other questions or if I missed anything in this email.
Fran ___
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Posted by Rampop II 5/03/2023 6:30 pm | #8 |
That actually did help me sleep well last night.
Now where did I put my keys...
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Posted by Jinnistan 5/03/2023 8:22 pm | #9 |
You must be using some kind of voice-to-text software.
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Posted by Rampop II 5/04/2023 2:31 am | #10 |
Jinnistan wrote:
You must be using some kind of voice-to-text software.
Yes, dear friends, this, is my voice. And I always talk, just... like... this. Pleasantly. Insincere.
And now you can, too! Yes friends, let your sepulcher–white picket bridge of pearly insin–cisors be your necktie–keys to the gates of even the most exclusive predators' dens, with thisss new reasssonably–priced masterclassss seriesss: Bluto Viper'sss Goodspeak Verrsssessssssssssss...
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Posted by Rampop II 5/18/2024 7:50 pm | #11 |
Rampop, here! Rampop's here!
After a year, a whole damned year, I reappear in the blogosphere!
Ah...
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Posted by Rampop II 12/29/2024 3:47 am | #12 |
Do you think Triceratops and Styracosaurus made fun of Monoclonius?
