u/Fantastic-Average-69

For some context:

I (23 Nonbinary) am disabled. I am autistic, I have an intellectual disability, I have anxiety, depression, PTSD, and ADHD.

On to the story:

I was looking for a place to move to start developing some real adult skills. I was also looking to find a place that could better fit my needs as a disabled person. Who needs lots of time alone, on my bad days.

Then I thought the stars had aligned I found my first apartment. I called the number listed on the back of a newspaper and the landlord said it was available! I celebrated.

I tried a few times to get a tour. The landlord said he was currently going through legal issues with the old tenant. According to him they hadn't paid their rent. In hindsight this should have been my first red flag but I was so desperate for independence, I ignored it.

Then, the landlord called and said he had a bigger apartment on the land that was just underneath his apartment. He was willing to charge me the small rent price, plus 40% of the electric bill. I thought this was perfect. Oh how wrong I was.

I moved in December 27th 2025. I was happy to have so much space! My cat (Name: Hershey kiss) adjusted very well too... But I noticed my very social cat who loves EVERYONE even strangers, hid from the landlord any time he saw him. This was red flag #1 in my brain.

I then noticed 2 days later that my apartment was freezing and nothing would bring the heat up. Then I noticed the small door in the living room. It led under the porch to the apartment building wasn't sealed at all. (basement apartment). It got well below freezing and I got very sick. Not just a winter cold, I mean I was laying on the cold floor to ease my temperature. Yes it was that cold.

I called the landlord and told him the issue he said he'd get it fixed for me. (This would take 2 months)

Roughly 10 days after I moved in I saw the most horrific sight. Hershey was meowing and looking at the ceiling. I thought he was just being goofy so I went to him and looked up I saw two fat mice going across the ceiling just over my head. I screamed. Then a few hours later I saw Hershey playing with something... It was a large adult cockroach. I killed it by dropping something heavy on it over and over.

The next morning I called my landlord and told him all this. He brushed me off. He said an exterminator would be a waste of money and he could just set traps himself. (This would take 3 months)

My landlord would then begin asking me to help with technology he didn't understand. It started small with helping him install streaming services on his TV. I didn't mind as I love to help anyone I can. Then it became helping him set up tablets, phones, and eventually became him asking every other day, for help with SOMETHING on his phone. If I didn't answer his phone calls he'd come knocking on my door. Knowing I'm to polite not to answer.

His wife who lives in another state would call and lecture me for helping him when he asked. Even telling me a "Funny story" about how she once threatened tenants with a gun via firing it in the air, to get them to leave quickly. She was the only one laughing.

For the next several months I had to store all my food in the fridge and plastic containers. I would hear mice scratching inside walls, cabinets, and running across the ceiling tiles. They ruined towels I had put in a drawer. I was freezing cold, and I got no peace at all.

Then I got knock at my door and it was him. I stepped outside into the hallway and closed the door to my apartment behind me so Hershey wouldn't escape. Then he cornered me and went on an erratic complaint about bills and getting angry about his phone and how he needed help with it. Every woman on earth knows the feeling of when you're cornered by a man and all you can think is RUN. I did my best to calm him down and went into my apartment.

I had already began my search for a new apartment but this went from searching every day to searching every few hours. I had several panic attacks. And my before mentioned disabilities got worse under the stress. But I eventually found an apartment.

Through the few months of my living here, my landlord had not given me the electric bills he was meant to give me monthly. Then when he learned I was moving because the housing authority leaked that information to him. He gave me all 4 electric bills at once and 2 gas bills. I learned in looking at this he had my utilities, his utilities, AND A WHOLE HOUSE across the street's utilities divided by square footage.

I handed in my 30 day notice that Monday. I was accompanied by my case manager (Someone who helps me handle things I struggle with). He was friendly infront of her and as my case manager left I ran inside and locked the door.

A few days ago he asked if he could tour my apartment to someone. I said no, that I wasn't comfortable with that. He said "I don't see why we can't just COME IN". To avoid the vague threat of a break in, I let him tour the place. I wanted to have someone there with me so I didn't panic. But he let them in early so I found myself afraid and Alone while strangers walked through the apartment, looking at all my things.

I recently contacted a lawyer about the bills he gave me, and she said I'm not obligated to pay a dime because the lease we had? Wasn't.Signed. She told me he was just trying to take advantage of me. She also advised me to move ASAP. I informed her I was planning to move in the next few weeks.

He contacted me last night via email at 11PM!! Asking for a record of all bills I'd ever paid him. And what they where for.

Now I'm moving in 2 weeks and I'm honestly exhausted. I just wanted some peace and all I got was more stress.

Are there any other precautions I should take before the move?

I just want this mess to be over. I'll update if anything else happens.