The Landlady's Rules

They crucified me on the Willow Creek community forum. I was the heartless landlady, the one with the outrageously overpriced apartments.

What they failed to mention was that my building was all-inclusive. Utilities, gigabit internet, central air and heatall of it. In the summer, you could run the AC at full blast 24/7. In the winter, it was warm enough to walk around in a t-shirt.

The entire buildings group chat was buzzing about me. Even my cousin, Mark, who helps me manage the property, couldnt take the heat. Liv, maybe just drop the rent a little? Itd save us a lot of headaches.

I didnt argue. I just opened the tenants group chat and posted a new announcement.

[To address the recent concerns regarding rental prices, we will be implementing a rate adjustment.]

[Effective next month, rent for all units will be reduced by $400 to align with the market rate. Concurrently, the all-inclusive utilities policy will be discontinued. Each unit will be responsible for its own utility bills.]

The moment I hit send, the group chat exploded.

1

Liv, what the hell did you just post?! Marks frantic call came through immediately, his voice an octave higher than usual.

I told you to lower the rent, not cut off their life support! Do you have any idea the kind of hell theyre going to raise now?

I calmly scrolled through the 99+ notifications lighting up the tenants chat, a flood of jubilant messages. Mark, I said, my voice steady. Just watch.

In the group chat, a user named Jenna was being hailed as a hero.

She was the ringleader of this little rebellion. Jenna, a recent college grad, was the one who wrote the tear-jerking forum post painting me as a greedy monster. She was the one who started this Tenant Justice League group chat, strategizing daily on how to take down the old-school landlady.

And now, she was savoring her victory.

Jenna: [Sisters! Do you see this?! VICTORY! When we stand together, even the capitalists have to bow down!]

A cascade of cheers followed.

[Jenna, youre a legend! Gen Z is shaking up the workplace, and youre shaking up the landlords!]

[LOL, an extra $400 a month! Think of all the new clothes I can buy!]

[I knew it! She was just bluffing. We called her on it, and she folded!]

[@Jenna Were taking you out to dinner tonight! Youre our champion!]

Jenna responded with a GIF of a queen waving, the digital embodiment of smugness.

Jenna: [It was nothing! I just cant stand to see people get taken advantage of. We have to fight for whats rightfully ours!]

A cold smile touched my lips as I read the messages.

On the other end of the line, Mark was still panicking. What are you thinking? You give in like this, and theyll be walking all over you from now on!

Mark, I said again. Just watch.

I hung up. Just then, my doorbell rang.

I opened it to find Jenna flanked by two other girls, all of them beaming.

She tilted her chin up at me. Olivia, look, this wasn't personal.

We just wanted you to understand that times have changed. You have to be fair in business, listen to the people. See? If youd just done this earlier, we could have avoided all this drama.

I leaned against the doorframe, my face a blank mask, and watched her performance.

So, youre satisfied? I asked.

Jenna took my question as a sign of surrender, her smirk widening. For now. I hope youll continue to be this reasonable.

Right.

I nodded, then signed my name on the addendum to the new lease agreement. The terms were simple: effective next month, the rent would be reduced by $400.

Here, I said, handing her a thick stack of the documents. One for everyone. Ill need them back by tomorrow.

Jenna accepted the stack like a general receiving the enemys sword, then turned and strutted away, her victory complete.

I watched her go, a small, knowing smile on my face, and closed the door.

2

The euphoria of their win spread through the building like a contagion. Tenants celebrated in the hallways, their faces glowing with the thrill of getting one over on me. They even threw a small victory party in the courtyardbeer, barbecue, the works. It was quite a scene.

Jenna was at the center of it all, holding court like a queen.

She raised her plastic cup of beer, her voice ringing out across the lawn. This is just the first step! The fact that she lowered the rent proves she knew she was screwing us! Next, we make her replace all the crappy old appliances with brand-new ones!

The crowd roared with approval.

Mike from 302, the same guy whose rent Id waived for three months when he lost his job, was the loudest of all. He held up a kebab, shouting, Jennas right! We cant let that old hag get away with it!

I stood on my balcony, silently observing the absurd comedy unfolding below.

The next day, everyone returned their signed addendums. Each of them wore a poorly concealed smirk, their eyes a mixture of pity and contempt.

I collected the papers. Since were all in agreement, I said, the new terms will take effect on the first of next month.

Jenna crossed her arms, her tone a challenge. Youre not going to regret this, are you, Olivia?

Dont worry, I said, my smile cryptic. I never regret my decisions.

And they, in turn, wasted no time showing me the true meaning of the phrase, give them an inch, and theyll take a mile.

The trash in the hallways started piling up. Takeout containers and beer bottles were left by their doors, sometimes blocking the walkway entirely. The cleaning lady complained to me several times, saying they wouldnt listen to a word she said.

Late-night parties and gaming sessions became the norm. The bass thumped through the floors, rattling my walls and my sanity. A few times, I went down to ask them to keep it down. Theyd offer a giggling, insincere apology, and the moment their door was closed, the music would get even louder, punctuated by mocking laughter.

A couple of days later, it got worse.

The private parking spots assigned to my building were suddenly filled with unfamiliar cars. Several were even blocking the fire lane.

I called property management. They were just as frustrated.

Olivia, its your tenants. Theyre selling access to their parking spots.

They posted on the community forum that since their spots are often empty, theyre sharing them with people who need them. For ten or twenty bucks a pop.

We tried to talk to them, but they claim its their right. They even said you, the landlord, approved it.

I hung up, a laugh bubbling up that was pure rage.

I own this building. The deed is in my name, which means the parking lot is mine. I provided the spots and the key cards for their convenience, free of charge. And now, they were subletting my property and pocketing the cash.

I stormed downstairs just in time to see Mike waving a sedan into a spot, a crisp twenty-dollar bill in his hand.

He saw me and didnt even have the decency to look guilty. Instead, he puffed out his chest. Hey, Olivia. These spots are just sitting here empty. Im just helping you monetize your assets. A little management fee, you know? Its a win-win.

My parking spots, I said, my voice ice-cold. When did they become yours?

Oh, come on, dont be so stingy, Jenna chimed in, strolling over. You already gave in on the rent, dont get hung up on a little perk like parking. We put in the work to get this communitys rules straightened out. We deserve a little something for our efforts, dont you think? Call it a consulting fee.

They had completely reframed my retreat as their rightful conquest.

I looked at their shameless, entitled faces and didnt say another word.

I just took out my phone and dialed the number for the local towing company.

Hello, Im at the Willow Creek Residences, Building 3. There are over a dozen illegally parked vehicles here. I need them all towed immediately.

3

The tow trucks were impressively efficient. Within thirty minutes, two massive flatbeds were maneuvering through the lot.

Watching his customersand his cash flowbeing hauled away one by one, Mike flew into a rage and tried to block my path.

What are you doing?! Youre killing my business!

Jenna, followed by a small posse of tenants, surrounded me, their faces contorted with righteous indignation.

Olivia, youve gone too far! What, you lost on the rent so youre taking it out on our parking? We were just fighting for whats fair! This kind of petty revenge is just pathetic!

Their twisted logic was so astounding it was almost funny.

My parking spots, which you were using to make money, are now being cleared of unauthorized vehicles. And somehow, Im the one in the wrong?

What do you mean, your spots? We live here, so we have the right to use them!

Yeah! If youre going to take away our income, you have to compensate us somewhere else!

The commotion was drawing a crowd of neighbors, which only emboldened the tenants to shout louder.

That afternoon, flush with their perceived power, they doubled down.

Jenna and Mike, leading their little delegation, knocked on my door again. This time, they came bearing a printed list of demands.

Olivia, Jenna said, arms crossed, chin held high. Weve decided to let the parking thing slide. But our quality of life needs to be addressed.

Weve all agreed that you need to replace every mattress in this building with memory foam, all the sofas with genuine leather, and all the TVs with 75-inch screens. Consider it compensation.

I stared at the absurd document. Before I could speak, Mike jumped in.

Look, Olivia, we know youre a good person deep down, and its not like youre hurting for money. Just think of it as a little bonus for us young people trying to make it in the world.

You even waived my rent once, he added, a smug look on his face. Be good to us, and well remember it.

He was using my past kindness as leverage, as a weapon to control me. The sight of his face then was more disgusting than any of the insults in the group chat.

I looked at him, my expression unreadable. So, this is what youve all decided?

Its the will of the people! Jenna corrected. It was a unanimous decision! And if you refuse, we have no problem letting the whole neighborhood weigh in on this!

Just then, my phone rang. It was the property manager.

Ms. Hayes, I have to inform you that weve received formal complaints from over ten other residents about the tenants in your building!

The complaints include noise violations, improper trash disposal, obstruction of common areas, and blocking the fire lane! This is extremely serious! If you dont rectify the situation immediately, well be forced to report it to the city and issue you a substantial fine!

I took a deep breath. I understand, Mr. Davis. Ill handle it immediately.

I hung up, a white-hot rage surging through me.

I took their list of demands and, right in front of their shocked faces, tore it into tiny pieces.

Get out.

All of you, get out.

Mikes face flushed a deep red. You Whats your attitude? You want to see what we can?

Do you want to see if I can have you evicted by sundown? I cut him off, my voice dangerously low. Dont forget, I hold the leases. And I have the right to reclaim my property with proper notice.

My sudden shift in demeanor stunned them into silence. They exchanged uneasy glances, their blustering bravado gone.

Fine! You just wait! Jenna spat, before turning and leading her defeated crew away.

I shut the door, pulled out my phone, and began composing the email Id already drafted in my head. It was to my lawyer.

You want fairness? You want to shake things up?

Fine. Ill give you exactly what you asked for.

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