Landlord is lying to my references to stop me from moving out. What should I do?
I’ve been at my current place for 3 years and I’m trying to move out, but my landlord is sabotaging every application I submit.
I’ve applied to three places so far, and they all declined me after calling him for a reference. I found out he’s telling them I don’t pay rent on time and that I’m messy. Both are total lies. I have every single e-transfer receipt showing I’ve paid in full and on time for years, and I keep the house spotless.
The issue is that he comes by 1–2 times every month for "inspections." He gives the legal 24-hour notice, but he’s really just snooping. I usually follow him around because I don’t trust him, and now he’s telling potential landlords that I’m "troublesome."
What am I supposed to do to make this better? I feel trapped because his lies are stopping me from getting approved elsewhere. How do I handle the landlord reference part if he’s just going to keep trashing me?