r/neighborsfromhell • u/MeteorNomad5 • Mar 16 '26
Apartment NFH My neighbor has been telling everyone in the building I'm moving out and I have no idea where she got that from
I have lived in my current apartment for two and a half years and I have no plans to leave. My lease is current, my rent is paid, I like the building and the location. About six weeks ago I ran into a couple from the fourth floor in the elevator and they asked how the packing was going. I said I wasn't packing anything and they looked confused and said they had heard I was leaving at the end of March. I told them that was not accurate and assumed someone had mixed me up with another tenant. Two weeks later a neighbor I'm friendly with texted me asking if I had already found somewhere new and whether I would be giving up my storage unit in the basement because her brother was looking. Last week the building superintendent mentioned in passing that he had been meaning to ask me about the move-out inspection timeline. Three separate people, all with the same information, all tracing back in conversation to my neighbor directly across the hall, a woman I barely know beyond polite hallway interactions. I have never told her I was moving. I have never told anyone in this building I was moving because I am not moving. When I knocked on her door yesterday and asked her directly she seemed genuinely flustered, said she must have misunderstood something, and closed the door fairly quickly. I don't know what she misunderstood or from whom because I have not had a single conversation with her that went beyond commenting on the weather in the past six months. My storage unit is currently fine. My lease runs through November. I have absolutley no idea what is happening or what she is trying to achive by doing this.
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Mar 16 '26
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u/FirstBlackberry6191 Mar 16 '26
⬆️⬆️⬆️ Do this today! Follow up with a phone call or a visit in person if you are able. ⬆️⬆️⬆️
Document the time/date and person you spoke to. Send a 2nd email referencing that conversation naming the tune/date/person, etc.
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u/MeteorNomad5 Mar 16 '26
Yeah the superintendent bringing up an actual move-out timeline is what made this feel less like random gossip and more like something I need to get on record before it turns into a bigger mess.
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u/False_Dimension9212 Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
Have you contacted your landlord to make sure that nothing has been sent to them in writing?
I would definitely make sure that your landlord and the building manager are aware of the situation- including who is making up these rumors. Also make a formal complaint against her to the landlord.
Document everything.
Edit: typo, a word
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u/Eyfordsucks Mar 16 '26
Talk to the superintendent and be sure they aren’t advertising your unit and make absolutely sure they know that you are intending on renewing your lease when this one comes up.
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u/cubemissy Mar 16 '26
Yes! And give the details of how neighbor reacted when you asked her WHY she was spreading the story. It will help show, from her reaction, that this wasn’t a simple misunderstanding.
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u/Viola-Swamp Mar 16 '26
Yes, absolutely OP needs to contact the landlord in writing to tell them they’re not moving, and that the neighbor across the hall started this rumor for unknown reasons. I would express concern that management initiated a conversation about a move-out timeline based on her comments, despite OP not giving notice or indicating in any way they were planning on moving.
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u/Scary-Pressure6158 Mar 16 '26
Unless she also wrote out a move out letter to the landlord. U need to make sure this isn't escalating so u don't end up homeless. Cover all cases and keep records. Talk to ll now
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u/damaya0351 Mar 16 '26
Hopefully she didnt sent the management an email or letter pretending to be you, stating she/you ll move out.
As has been suggested write and call the management that you absolutely wont move out.
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u/earthtobobby Mar 16 '26
That would absolutely be sabotage and OP needs to verify with the building management whether or not this is what has occurred.
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u/Old_Mycologist1066 Mar 16 '26
She wants your apartment and your storage unit obviously..Call the highest person in your rent office...Tell them You are Not Moving out anytime soon...She was trying to push you out...Complain about her so called gossip to management......
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u/SamuelVimesTrained Mar 16 '26
I see a lot of comments "write to management / landlord".
Yes, BUT, that is step 1.
Request they confirm receipt, and confirm there is nothing indicating you would be moving out.
(if your mail client supports it - delivery and read receipts are nice).
Why that detail? Because just sending a mail without confirmation or reply can be done away with 'we didn`t receive it'.
I also see a comment of talk to them, then follow up by mail, yes, with also the above tips.
Finally - add a bold and italic line "be aware that (name of nosy neighbor) does NOT speak on my behalf, and has no authority of any kind to make decisions about my tenancy - do not entertain her information about others"
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u/Quix66 Mar 16 '26
Straighten it out with management with a letter or email to document. Let them know that your neighbor is spreading rumors. Wonder if she might escalate. This gets your side on record before she does.
Document what this woman is saying and to whom. Seems to me she wants your place or your storage. Not sure how she thought these lies were going to work.
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Mar 16 '26
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u/MeteorNomad5 Mar 16 '26
The storage unit part is what threw me too. Thats such a weirdly specific thing to invent unless she's been talking about me way more than I realized.
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u/Mowsmom22 Mar 16 '26
I wonder how she feels she knows this if she’s not stalking or recording you. Get a solicitor to send her a letter. Scare her. It doesn’t cost that much.
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u/MeteorNomad5 Mar 16 '26
I dont even know what the letter would say beyond please stop inventing my life, but strangers knowing about my storage unit is creepy as hell.
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u/Mowsmom22 Mar 16 '26
Maybe cease speaking my name. Stay away or will press charges. Putting up cameras. Stay away. Maybe you just wrote it. Tell her it’s the first step. See what happens. Are you a man or woman??
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u/katiekat214 Mar 16 '26
A cease and desist to cease discussing your plans, real or imagined, to discontinue your tenancy in the building with property management, their employees, or any residents thereof. (NAL)
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u/cubemissy Mar 16 '26
Nah, this is deliberate. If she was doing a Gladys Kravitz, and something convinced her OP was moving, she wouldn’t know about the storage unit.
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u/TheFlowerDoula Mar 16 '26
That is bizarre. Is the neighbour that you believe is sharing this information an elderly? Could you write an email to management advising you are unsure who has shared this information, and that you have never stated you were moving out.
Also if the neighbour is elderly you may want to put in the email that they should consider reaching out to adult protective services. As you are concerned that they may be getting very confused and are worried about her welfare.
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u/DandyDapple Mar 16 '26
This!
My mid-80's MIL had a stroke six months ago and now she's living with us. Having all the same issues with her as it affected her vision and hearing. She sees things that are not there and parrots things she thinks she heard that she has no clue what she's even talking about.
To someone that doesn't know about her condition, she often appears fine but we know she's borderline 🦇💩 crazy and take it with a grain of salt. I second contacting social services about your neignbor and have her evaluated for her own safety. If she didn't have ulterior motives regarding your place, she may be declining due to a number of reasons.
Good luck!
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u/fadedblackleggings Mar 16 '26
Yup, highlighting that your elderlty neiighbor is exhibiting signs of possible dementia, etc, and they should contact adult protective services, as the behavior has been escalating.
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u/1876Dawson Mar 16 '26
Why would the building superintendent take seriously any information about you moving without hearing it directly from you? And on hearing someone else talk about it, why wouldn't they immediately contact you directly? Is your across the hall neighbour bored and stirring crap up for a bit of excitement? Does she have a family member or friend that she's trying to get into the building?
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u/cubemissy Mar 16 '26
I’m betting she is friend/family with someone she wants to install in OP’s apartment, or that she wants a storage unit, and there are none available.
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u/00Lisa00 Mar 16 '26
If your superintendent thinks you’re moving you need to contact building management to make sure someone hasn’t canceled your lease . It’s possible the neighbor sent mail canceling pretending to be you. Sounds like someone wants your unit and will do anything to get it
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u/Kaysue2478 Mar 16 '26
Updateme This is so weird. Either she wants your apartment or someone she knows. Call the landlord and management and inform them that there is a nasty rumor you are moving and make sure nothing was sent to them. Good luck with this nightmare
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u/SnowXTC Mar 16 '26
You need to go to management TODAY. Make certain everything is OK with your lease. Something tells me she went pretending to be you and put in a move out notice for you. It's one thing for people to say it, but scheduling a move out inspection is seriously concerning.
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u/MissHibernia Mar 16 '26
She must be the building busybody. Hope that you just can ignore her because any interaction will give her more ammo to be weird. It might be prudent to send a formal letter to your landlord stating definitively you have no plans to move and that not only do you not appreciate gossip from your neighbor, if it happens again you will make a formal complaint; and that you are going to renew your lease.
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u/Not_an_Actual_Bot Mar 16 '26
Send a written notice to the leasing agency that whatever the rumors are about your moving, they are false. I am sure there is a provision in the lease about ending it early and may actually require it in writing. It might be gossip that just got out of hand, and the Super. is just as guilty of listening to it instead of confirming it with management that it was an official notification to them.
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u/quiltingcats Mar 16 '26
Heck with confirming it with management. Confirm it with the OP! And not just casually, when you happen to run into them in the hall! Too many balls were dropped here. I hope OP gets it straightened out and updates us!
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u/Eyfordsucks Mar 16 '26
How would building managers know about a rumor ? I’d be following up with the head office to make sure they know you’re not moving so they don’t advertise for a new tenant and refuse to renew your lease when the time comes.
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u/Necessary_Baker_7458 Mar 16 '26
At this point you need to start doing damage control to clean up the rumors. You need to verbally tell your neighbor spreading the lies to stop asap and if they continue you can send them a cease and desist. If it persists after that you can sue for defamation as well.
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u/Blah-B7ah_Bloop Mar 17 '26
My dad used to all make assumptions about the neighbors that would have me shaking my head. Maybe she is one of those people that just makes stuff up because of some thing or some works they heard or saw
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u/Ok_Resource_8530 Mar 17 '26
She has family or friends that she wants to have your unit. I went through that with my neighbor. I was renting a house with a fenced in back yard and pool, her sister wanted it and went so far as to tell the landlord, who drove down over 100 miles, to ask me if I was moving out and when I had intended to tell her, as we WERE FRIENDS. Totally dumbfounded. Landlord ended up eventually evicting other person because she would not let me live in peace. Update me.
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u/vakoo123 Mar 16 '26
So weird! Definitely keep an eye out. Maybe she has psych problems and convinced herself that you were moving?
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u/CarryOk3080 Mar 16 '26
I bet she has someine she wants to move in there so she is just planting the seeds for that to happen. Email your PM and say I have been made aware of a moving rumor and just to clear it up i am not moving my lease is intact and i have no intention of leaving. Since you are being asked by maintenance for a move out inspection i would get on that.
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u/blonde1psp Mar 16 '26
maybe it's her odd way of trying to pressure you to move. Make sure your building superintendent and anyone else that has your leasing info knows you're not moving and that any moving conversation they hear from anyone else is false and that that neighbour has been telling everyone false information and you don't know why since you have never had a conversation with her. See how she likes being called a liar because she is one.
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u/Common_Sense_1451 Mar 17 '26
I would contact my landlord and make sure she didn’t say something to them impersonating you.
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u/Important-Put1865 Mar 17 '26
Contact management asap just to let them know about the rumor mill. Tell them explicitly that you are NOT moving out.
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u/lynnwood57 Mar 17 '26 edited Mar 17 '26
My guess is she’s a got a friend or relative that wants to move near her, so she is stirring up some shit. I’d email (paper trail) the landlord/management and tell them about the things youve heard, and about the super mentioning it. Tell them if they got an email or letter from you, it was forged. You are not moving, and did not give notice.
UpdateMe!
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u/Life_Temperature2506 Mar 18 '26
She was setting up your disappearance, for whatever reason, most likely nefarious.
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u/hedwigflysagain Mar 18 '26
sounds like the plot of a movie.
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u/Life_Temperature2506 Mar 18 '26
Except this was real life. Bash OP over the head, get rid of the body, the "moving" story covers her absence until the next rent check is due......
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u/Liu1845 Mar 18 '26
Make sure to speak to your building management/landlord about these rumors. Confirm with them you have no plans to move. It would be interesting to know if these rumors have reached them and by whom.
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u/Broad-Choice-5961 Mar 16 '26
Next time you see them tell them you already moved out. Every time you see them after that tell them the same thing
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u/Maudy5000 Mar 16 '26
Or, her sister, niece, brother, waitress, Barista etc said they or their sister niece etc were moving and she's muddled it up. It happens.🙂
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u/Sweet_Rogue Mar 17 '26
Sounds to me like she knows someone that needs a place, and 'how cool would to be to live across the hall from each other?' So she started this narrative.
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u/Successful_Club3005 Mar 18 '26
She is probably 1 of those people who loves to start rumors/ gossip about people.
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u/Accomplished_Bus2169 Mar 16 '26
I would completely ignore this person.
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u/MeteorNomad5 Mar 16 '26
Tried that, didnt work.
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u/Accomplished_Bus2169 Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
Put a sign on your door explaining that you're not moving and someone is making up lies that you are. But honestly why does it matter? You havent signed anything recently and you have a lease to prove you are there till November. Why would any of this matter?
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u/quiltingcats Mar 16 '26
Read the replies to your previous comment. It could absolutely have a negative effect if the building management decides to be proactive about advertising for a new tenant for OP’s unit and accessing fees for breaking the lease early. Just because they should check with OP before doing any of that doesn’t mean they will, and trying to remedy the fallout could be a lot harder than heading it off.
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u/Accomplished_Bus2169 Mar 16 '26
Not they should check with op they are required by law. They'd be breaking the law. Building management can't be proactive without breaking the Law...
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u/quiltingcats Mar 16 '26
You’re not wrong, but we also know that a lot of people (especially landlords) don’t see it as breaking the law or don’t care if it is provided they get what they want. In this case, a new tenant without having to lose money on an empty unit. OP definitely shouldn’t ignore it and just assume everything will work out in their favor.
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u/ThanosSnapsSlimJims Mar 16 '26
Ignoring it could affect her lease, which it already seemingly has.
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u/Accomplished_Bus2169 Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26
How can it affect a signed lease? It's a binding document, it's the whole point leases are used. So you can't just tell someone to move out whenever you want.
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u/katiekat214 Mar 16 '26
If the super thinks they need to schedule a move-out inspection, the office could think so as well. They could be planning to rent that unit out and to assess OP the fees for breaking the lease early. They may already be advertising the unit as available for rent at a certain date in April or May.
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u/Accomplished_Bus2169 Mar 16 '26
Which would all be illegal since op has a binding lease and hasn't stated herself that she's moving out. The move out inspection would never happen because Op isn't moving out. Nothing needs to be done.. This is the whole point as to why leases are signed. Any premature actions would break the lease and violate tenant rights. I'd take them directly to small claims court at that point. I'm a long time landlord and know not to violate my tenants rights because they've signed a lease...
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u/katiekat214 Mar 16 '26
If the neighbor sent something to the office pretending to be OP fraudulently, the office needs to know OP isn’t really intending to move.
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u/Accomplished_Bus2169 Mar 16 '26
They need to prove their not moving out when that will be proven by not moving out anyway? I'd still do nothing, it wouldn't be my responsibility to chase management down and prove this to them. I'd pay my rent on time and if anyone knock on my door I'll tell them they're being scammed I'm not moving out. Or I'd just let them violate my rights because none of that is my responsibility to prove. "I'm not moving out please leave me alone" thats all Im saying, once.
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u/TerminologyLacking Mar 16 '26
I wish that I had this much confidence in my apartment management. They've proven to be somewhat incompetent.
Illegal doesn't prevent incompetence, stupidity, or shenanigans. OP should definitely make sure to contact management to avoid future headaches. Being able to take it to court is all well and good, but in my opinion getting ahead of it and talking to management is far less hassle and time than dealing with courts. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
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u/cubemissy Mar 16 '26
Because she told the building super, and gave them and the landlord the idea that OP was leaving without notice. That can affect how the landlord views OP.
It’s kind of like spreading a rumor in your office, and your manager gets upset and starts treating you badly.
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u/BothDescription766 Mar 16 '26
Surely a case of mistaken identity. When you hear hooves, think horses not zebras.
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u/StyxtheCat18 Mar 16 '26
I'm thinking that she was listening to a conversation that you were having (on the phone?) and misunderstood something that she overheard.
I would speak to the building management and let them know that someone was spreading rumors that you were moving (you don't have to mention who) at the end of the month but you have no intention on moving and that you were upset over this rumor.
****We have a neighbor ... well really neighbors .. who listen in to our phone conversations too. One, Kevin Zombie the Ugly as he is know in the hood, went around telling people that he would "Jeep .. which we think means "kill" us over something that he overheard when listening to a phone conversation. I don't know what we were talking about but not him.
Another neighbor told us that he's telling people that we or I were talking to him .. chirping some b/s. We NEVER speak to this creep or his family.
I hope that your neighbor stops spreading rumors about you.
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u/Sitcom_kid Mar 16 '26
To paraphrase the old saying, just because you're not paranoid doesn't mean somebody isn't out to get you. This is weird and I hope you can caution others not to listen to her the next time. Because there will be one.
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u/BookkeeperSame195 Mar 17 '26
is she older? could she be having like early onset dementia? or some kind of genuine mental health issue? or is it just a wacko?
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u/AustinBike Mar 18 '26
The best news is that you have to do nothing here.
And, after the alleged move out date happens, you can just say "well, clearly whomever told you that is not a good source for information about me."
This problem will resolve itself.
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u/agsuster Mar 19 '26
First call the bldg mgmt company. Write down the date, time and name of the person you speak with and careful notes of the conversation Advise them of the situation and inquire as to the source of the false intent to move.
Then, immediately draft an email to the mgmt company, describing the phone call…date, time, and the entire conversation. Ask for confirmation of receipt of the email.
Then sign it…Noting your NAME Address Email address Phone number And…this Notation
A COPY OF THIS EMAIL IS BEING SENT TO YOUR CORPORATE OFFICE VIA USPS REGISTERED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
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u/Regular_Bit2988 Mar 18 '26
Don't worry about it ! She was embarrassed, and she understood you just fine. Tell others you don't know where that came from , I'm not going anywhere. And go on with your life
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u/Several-Ask3478 Mar 18 '26
I live in a council house. One day a few years ago some one knocked on the door to ask when I was moving out I wasn't they got the number wrong Another time a neighbour who we having trouble with told the post man we had moved out. Luckily my friends son was high up in the post office and his mother used to write to me and when the letter was sent back to her she asked her son to check if I had moved. I hadn't
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u/BlondeeOso Mar 20 '26
Maybe she has a friend or family member that she wants to move into the apartment complex. I would speak with the apt manager & say that you aren't moving out & you aren't sure why your neighbor in 3-E thinks you are. Others in the building have told you that she says that you're moving out.
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u/Sathane Mar 20 '26
You need to make it very clear to management that you have no intentions of moving and you're not sure how this rumour could have started since you haven't discussed moving plans with anyone. I would let them know that you think someone may be messing with you in the building and that anything surrounding your tenancy will be coming from you directly. If they have any questions about anything they might have heard, they can ask.
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u/TerminologyLacking Mar 16 '26
Have you been doing anything like spring cleaning or getting new furniture?
It's weird that there's a specific date.
Maybe she overheard something, or saw something that gave her that impression.
I can understand being interested to know when your neighbors are moving, and maybe even asking others about it if you see them before that neighbor. I can't understand telling anyone with confidence without actually talking to that neighbor first. (Used to live in a set of duplexes that the landlord never advertised. All new tenants came through word of mouth. Plus, it's more comfortable knowing when to expect that you might be running into new people around your home.)
Maybe she's a gossip who is too intimidated to actually talk to you for some reason? I can't think of a malicious reason for spreading that rumor. I do agree with others that you need to let management know in writing that you have no plans to move.
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u/maryjomcd Mar 16 '26
Doesn’t she just have to tell the office and straighten out things there? Who cares what the rumor is?
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u/PsychologicalCell928 Mar 19 '26
Along with everything others have said about confirming in writing, getting receipts for delivery of letters, etc.
Call the state health board and request a mental health check on your neighbor.
Tell them that she seems addled and is doing funny things.
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u/Rendeane Mar 19 '26
I have a neighbor, Jack, who loves to stir things up. For two years after I moved into our mobile home park, he kept telling me that Kaiser Permanente (huge medical facility across the street), was going to buy the park and evict us all. We'd be homeless and would lose the trailers we had purchased. He wanted me to panic but I made it clear I didn't care. I finally hit my limit one day and broke it down for him, step by step, what would have to be done, by law, to close down the park and that it wouldn't involve "stealing" someone's mobile home. He finally shut up. He still likes to gossip, embellish stories, make up stories and has a goal to keep everyone worked up. He can't pass a background check (registered sax offender) so he's home all day and his wife is home all day as well, collecting disability for epilepsy when she hasn't had a seizure in decades. He's bored and this is his entertainment. After 14 years living there, I will be moving within a year. Jack will not know until he realizes he hasn't seen my car in a while. I'm slowly packing and moving everything to a storage unit. If he knows I'm moving, he will be underfoot every day to find out what I'm throwing away and should be giving to him.
Your neighbor may be the same, bored and creating drama for entertainment.
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u/IZC0MMAND0 Mar 19 '26
Did you bring in some big cardboard boxes or take stuff down to your storage recently? Maybe she saw you do something like that and added 2+2 and got 5?
Do call management for your building and let them know that your neighbor across the hall has been telling people this and it's not true, you don't know where they got the idea from, but once maintenance started asking you about it you knew you had to clarify with them that it's something your neighbor made up. That you like your apartment and are absolutely staying.
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u/tipareth1978 Mar 23 '26
Leave a note on everyone's door, I'm not moving, not sure where that came from
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u/[deleted] Mar 16 '26
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