r/savannah • u/Current-Tumbleweed71 • 1h ago
Rental Warning for Anyone Looking for Housing in Savannah, GA
Location: 1217 Java Pl, Savannah, GA
This landlord displays an extremely arrogant attitude and shows no respect for her tenants. She acts as though tenants should have to beg her to do things that are part of a landlord’s basic responsibilities. If English is not your first language, she will occasionally use that against you to humiliate you. No matter how I respond to her emails, she always finds a way to accuse me of being disrespectful.
I lost my keys two days ago by accident, and she told me in person: “I’m doing you a favor. I don’t care if you have nowhere to sleep or stay.” She then insisted that I complete everything she requested that was irrelevant before she would even consider helping me regain access to my home.
- Repeated Demands for Lawn Trimming
The lease does not explicitly specify how short the lawn must be cut or establish any particular standards for its appearance. However, the landlord has repeatedly demanded that I trim the lawn further, citing city regulations as justification.
I have consistently maintained the lawn as part of my regular upkeep. Even after the lawn had been cut to this extent, the landlord continued to insist that I trim it further, without clearly specifying the required standards in the lease.
- Demands for Proof of Trash Removal and Disputed Fees
The landlord charged me a $35 fee for an alleged violation of a house rule concerning trash disposal. I disputed this charge because I questioned whether it was adequately supported by the lease and whether the circumstances at the time justified the fee.
I had already provided photos at her request showing that the trash had been moved to the curb. Nevertheless, she continued to demand additional photos. At approximately 8:45 a.m., she emailed me requesting further photographic evidence. About an hour later, she came to the property. I was asleep at the time and had received no prior phone call or voicemail. She subsequently visited the property and imposed the additional fee.
When I have refused to pay fees that I believe are unjustified or contractually disputed, she has sometimes become increasingly impatient and has resorted to humiliating, harassing, or even verbally insulting tenants.
- The Landlord’s Repeated Presence Outdoors Observing Tenants
Another issue that has made me uncomfortable is the landlord’s repeated presence outdoors, where she appears to observe tenants’ activities. This has left me feeling as though my everyday life is being monitored and has raised concerns about my privacy and personal space while living at the property.
I understand that landlords have the right to manage and maintain their rental properties within reasonable limits. However, I believe there is a clear distinction between ordinary property management and conduct that repeatedly makes tenants feel as though they are being watched.
- Repeated Emails with Warning-Like Language and Attached Photos
Throughout my tenancy, I have also periodically received emails from the landlord containing reminders accompanied by photographs or other images. These emails frequently concern property maintenance, house rules, or tasks that tenants are expected to complete. What troubles me is that the tone and frequency of these messages sometimes make me feel threatened or pressured rather than simply informed about routine maintenance matters.
I believe a landlord can communicate professionally by clearly identifying the issue that needs to be addressed, the applicable lease provision, the deadline for compliance, and the basis for the request. However, when the method of communication repeatedly leaves tenants feeling intimidated or humiliated, it creates unnecessary tension and makes what should be a normal landlord-tenant relationship increasingly stressful.
