Renters receive shocking email after landlady called out to deal with pest in the ceiling

A renter in the US has vented her frustrations online after her landlady sent her a strict list of house rules, including a deadline, following a recent home visit.

The tenant, who did not reveal her identity but stated she lives in Texas, claims her landlady emailed her a list of six rules to better maintain the property. 

The renter alleges the email arrived after the landlady was called out to the seven-bedroom home to deal with a pest in the home’s ceiling.

“My roommates and I received this email after the landlady came by to deal with a raccoon in the ceiling,” the tenant wrote in a post to social media platform Reddit.

The renter – who shares the property with five other female housemates – claims rather than resolve the raccoon issue, the landlady was more focused on the state of the home.

Among the rules included setting up the home interior “in a timely manner”.

“This refers, in particular, to the living area as the home may be shown soon for pre-lease,” the note read.

They were also asked to remove the large plastic tub in the kitchen. The tub is used to collect recycled items.

“The plastic tub can scratch the floor if pulled across the flooring. The items to be recycled must be placed in the blue recycle bins no later than Tuesday,” another rule advised.

The landlady’s rules didn’t stop there.

“Please keep countertops wiped down and free of small items,” the list read.

“Please remove cardboard boxes from home in a timely manner as well.”

 If that wasn’t enough, the email also included a four day deadline for the rules.

The tenant shared their frustration at the email.

“I think her requests, especially the one to keep small items off of the counter tops is genuinely ridiculous and plain stupid,” the renter wrote. 

“There’s six women living in a seven bedroom house and we’re still in the process of getting furniture and figuring out where to put personal and communal items. 

“We have boxes out because one of our roommates moved in a couple days ago and has to unpack. Our landlady is aware of this.” 

The tenant also clarified her stance on the list.

“Just to clarify: Our house is clean and I only have issues with her asking to keep the house show ready immediately after moving in and to keep items off of the counters,” she wrote. 

“We clean regularly.”

The tenant then asked for advice to deal with the situation.

Many social media users took umbrage to a single rule on the landlady’s list – suggestions of regular showings.

“They are required to give you at minimum 24 hours notice before they are allowed to stop by. They can’t just walk in on you. What she’s doing is not legal,” one person wrote.

“A month and a half into your lease and she’s talking about showing. That’s insane,” a second person wrote.

Others took a more tongue-in-cheek approach to their response.

“Who is she planning to show the house to with a raccoon running around in the ceiling?” one person wrote.

“Maybe the note was for the raccoon that’s still there?” a second person wrote.

The renter then provided an update. The racoon is still in the ceiling.