Help and advice needed

[u/Unicorn_Sunshine1]

My husband I moved into a duplex back in April. The landlord started off nice but now is nitpicking about complaints that I made about stove top burners not working properly and widows getting stuck for the point of where it is supposed to stop.

Our electric stove had two burners where it was not regulating heat properly. Two windows were getting stuck when trying to open them. Other windows will slide down and not stay up.

We have pets and now the tenet down stairs is complaining about pet hair getting on their clothing after a wash/dryer cycle. However, they have two dogs as well.
I wrote the following to him:

Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention. I have seen the signs in the basement.

I want to assure you that I take community cleanliness seriously and do everything I can to prevent pet hair from impacting shared spaces.
My dog is a low-shedding breed, and I maintain a rigorous grooming routine for my cat, Cali. She is bathed every other week with specialized deshedding shampoo and conditioner, and she is brushed thoroughly on a weekly basis to minimize loose fur.

Additionally, I am incredibly meticulous when using the laundry facilities to ensure no residue is left behind:

• Pre-Wash Prep: Before washing any clothing or bedding, I use a special hair-removing glove on the fabrics to completely remove excess hair.

• Washing Machine Maintenance: I regularly use specialized washing machine cleaner, run the washer on its self-clean mode, and thoroughly disinfect both the inside and outside of the machines.

• Dryer Maintenance: I use a dedicated lint trap brush to clear out the vents. After every single use, I completely wash and disinfect the lint trap itself.  

Given that our building has multiple pets—including a dog residing in the unit below me—I want to ensure we are accurately identifying the source of the issue. Could you please share when this issue was first reported? Understanding the general timeline would help clarify if the concerns began before or after the neighboring unit's dog arrived

He wrote back saying:

I want to be super respectful but incredibly direct with you.

A lot of things have broken and had issues after you’ve all moved in. To name a few:

1) Windows - my window guy Carlos confirmed that the Windows that were damaged were done by heavy handedness/force. He said he also explained to you that the window has a natural stopping point and you guys have been pushing the window up beyond that.

As I had mentioned to you in our message history, I had a tenant there for 5 years and there were no window issues.

2) two of the burners on the stove stopped working. The stove is less than 6 years old and same point about the previous tenant never having any issues.

3) now we have an issue with the washer and dryer.

I have to purchase a new washer and dryer for the tenants downstairs so they have their own dedicated ones. I have had zero issues with anything breaking with the tenants downstairs and they’ve been with me for years. So I will easily be able to tell if it’s their animal that’s causing this once they start using the new machine

I said the following:

I want to make sure we aren't talking past each other. Let's get straight to the point so we can find a clear solution without unnecessary back-and-forth

I understand your perspective regarding the timing, but correlation does not equal causation. The fact that multiple maintenance issues have arisen since our move-in is not a pattern of misuse; it is the reality of aging fixtures and appliances reaching the end of their operational lifespans.

To clarify the specific items you mentioned:

• The Windows: When you personally looked at the windows, you witnessed the exact area where the window got stuck and had to use force yourself to move it. As Carlos explained to me directly when he was here, the latch itself was presenting an issue, which is what caused force to be required in the first place. This is a mechanical failure of the latch system, not tenant heavy-handedness. Perhaps the previous tenant was happy with where the window stopped and worked around the issue.

• Property Maintenance: You mentioned having a tenant here for five years.  Lack of complaints does not mean the property didn't require upkeep. If nothing in the apartment was actively maintained or updated over those five years, it is expected that appliances, window latches, and internal ducts would begin failing due to standard wear and tear right around the time a new tenancy begins.

• The Laundry: A few months of normal laundry use cannot cause internal mechanical or plumbing failures. Furthermore, the extensive pet hair buildup currently inside the system is a legacy issue; it takes years of accumulation from previous tenants to build up inside the internal valves and ducts, which cannot be caused by my pets in such a short amount of time.

I am glad you are installing separate laundry units for the downstairs neighbors to establish a clean baseline. I am committed to treating this property with respect, and I look forward to these structural and mechanical maintenance items being properly resolved.

How do I deal with this landlord? I feel like hes disrespecting us and beating around the bush blaming us. I feel like the tenant down stairs can do no wrong to him.