My husband and I rented an apt for $1000.in Quincy area as Tenent at Will. We knew when we saw the place why the rent was so cheap. It really needed a paint job/fresh coat in all the rooms etc. We painted the bathroom which was a green ceiling and green trim white etc. We did a hallway/kitchen/pantry also. We used Benjamin Moore Paint in Linen White which is a cream colour. (neutral) and perfect for an apt. The living/dining rooms had dirty dark wood and wallpaper that was tearing away. We took off the wallpaper in the living room and flat whited the wall and trim. We did not get much further. The landlady claims that this is damage. We were stunned. She can easily get more money for this apt because we updated it. We were afraid of being evicted and told her she could come in and inspect the place. We told her that we could put everything back to her colours (green ceilings/navy blue trim/etc. and that we would take the flat white paint off the wood in the living room. We planned on living there for a long time (we are in our late 50's almost 60)and doing it over a period of time hoping she would change her mind. She started calling us. 7 times in 10 days leaving messages and wanted it all removed in 2 weeks. I cried almost everyday as we were only there for 4.5 months. We gave a 30 day notice and pd for the month of July even though we left July 6th. She also had the last month rent and a $1000.00 for paint removal which she cashed on July 8th. After we left she decided to hire someone to remove the paint etc on July 15th or July 22nd. She senta note claiming we are resp. She already has a new tenent and cashed the $1000.00 ck. We were only there for 4 months...How awful. We feel harrased. She did this after we no longer lived there. We spent 4 months updating her property and this is how she treated us.
Can she continue to harrass us? Most landlords have problem tenents that really cause damage. We didn't...We updated and now think that is why she wanted us out so that she could get more money. We have photos of the rooms before during and moving day.