Your first point, from The Good Neighbor Commitment, stated that I am not allowed to use my balcony for storage. Hanging laundry out to dry for a few hours hardly constitutes storage. I hope that if this truly is your concern, you have also addressed fellow residents that are keeping bikes and grills on their balcony. [Surely propane tanks are more hazardous than laundry.]*
Your second point, from my lease, informed me that I am to keep my balcony in a "clean and sanitary condition." I assure you; I am. I sweep the floorboards when bird seed accumulates from the birdfeeder on the balcony above mine. I do not let unused items sit on my balcony for long periods of time. I have even been known to Windex the sliding glass door from time to time. If you are concerned that the laundry I hang out to dry is not clean or sanitary, allow me to put your mind at ease – it is.
As for the laundry room in my apartment building, I did not mean to suggest I was unhappy with its location. It is conveniently close and I am grateful that you provide it. I thank you for addressing the unsatisfactory nature of the dryer and the cleanliness of the room so quickly and, in the future, I will notify you of such requests more promptly. Your swift attention to my needs is what makes this apartment so enjoyable for my family.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Zapf
[On the matter of grills, I am sure you are familiar with the
But I was strong and I resisted. I need to withhold something for a Plan C, after all.
8 comments:
Can you identify the origin of the complaint? Was it a neighbor, or management themselves? My guess is, it wasn't management.
Your points are clear and tactful.
Love you!!!!!:)
-GMOM
Ah, yes, I never posted their original letter, did I? Here you go:
Dear All Residents,
It has been brought to our attention that you are hanging innappropriate items on your balcony such as laundry. Residents are not allowed to hang or dry clothing on balconies. We provide plenty of washers and dryers for your use. Hanging clothing on the balcony makes the community unsightly and is a hazard.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at [blah].
Sincerely yours,
[Community Manager]
You crack me up Beth. Well done! ;)
I must say, I am enjoying reading these letters. You seem to handling the situation well, better than me, who would not put up a fight, even if I know it was ok (I'm a slight push-over). I hope everything ends well.
Okay, I'm pretty sure the first Melissa to comment (on an earlier post) was Melissa W. because she posted at a rediculously early time (4:30ish AM!). This one isn't capitolized and is in the middle of the afternoon... Melissa Z? Come on guys, you know how common your name is... help me out!
For you, Beth, a picture I took this weekend
Perhaps you are forgetting that the central issue here is not that your landlord cites irrelevant clauses in your contract, but that someone was upset enough about the situation that they have contacted your landlord (most likely numerous times, judging by the firmness of the letters).
While your candor is appreciated and your letters are well-written, your blatant disregard for the feelings of your neighbors is a bit disturbing. I personally get irritated that someone in my neighborhood continually parks their DISH network truck in their driveways and does auto work in their front yard. It makes the neighborhood look terrible.
This wasn't meant to come down on you, but I thought another opinion was necessary.
anonymous- You have a point, someone must have complained in order for the letters to be sent. However, I don't think that just because Beth chooses to hang her laundry and another person thinks it is unsightly means that Beth should have to stop hanging her laundry. I see people every day who where the ugliest clothes i've ever seen, but no matter how much i think their clothes are ugly I don't expect them to stop wearing those clothes- maybe those are the only clothes they can afford. And I would like you to reconsider getting irritated that your neighbor works on their cars in their front yard. If they had broken down cars up on blocks every day of the year- then i see reason for complaints, but simply working on their car is something to be proud of. And a business truck parked in a driveway does not make a neighborhood look bad- it lets you know that the people work. Some people can not afford paying $60-$120 a month on dryers, some people can't afford expensive mechanics, some people have business cars, some people wear ugly clothes. We just have to get over it.
Post a Comment