How can I find an attorney that handles Landlord-Tenant problems?
On Jan 3, 2021 I signed a new one year lease for the house I am currently living in. I originally moved in the month of December 2019. The current lease, according to what was written in the lease, is good until Jan 3, 2022. The owners came to the residence on Jan 3, 2021 for me to sign the new lease and for them to do an annual inspection. The wife decided she liked what she saw when they came in so she decided an inspection did not need to be done. On Wednesday, Feb 17, 2021, during the snow storm the husband decided he needed to come check for leaks in the attic and to check the French drains in the back yard and I agreed for him to. We discussed the broken window of the kitchen storm door while he was here and I advised him that I was going to get it fixed after the bad weather passed. He called 2 days later on Friday and wanted to come do an annual inspection. He advised that he would be at the house when I got home that evening. I told him that he needed to give me a minimum of a 24 hour notice according to the landlord/tenant act. He stated that he would be here at 11:30a the next day. I told him I would be working but that I would be home at 5. I arrived home early and at 4pm and I called him to let him know I was home. Other than the storm door and the dog poop in the back yard (keep in mind it had been snowing and I had not been able to scoop) nothing else was mentioned. He told me as they were leaving that they would be taking back over the house. I asked why, what had I done? I have paid my rent, kept the house very clean, and they had even complimented me several times on the way I was caring for the house and the yard. He told me I had done nothing wrong but that they were going to take back over the house. Again I asked him the reason. He stated that he had been recently diagnosed with Parkinson's and that he would not be able to maintain the 3000 sq ft house that they had moved into in November 2019. He also asked that I let him know when I am able to find a place - whether it was 2 weeks, 30 days, 3 months or 9 months. He has called me numerous times since that day. If I don't answer the phone he will leave a VM but then continues calling. Sometimes in less than 5 minutes. If I don't call him back immediately he gets very angry. I have never been given a written notice to vacate. He also told my neighbor that he understands that I have a valid contract that is good to the end of the year. This has escalated to harassment,. He also left a voice mail today that I consider a threat. I have finally found a place to move but it will not be ready until June 1. I will be signing the contract this week. I am at a loss as to what to do. He did a very thorough walk-through and inspection on February 20 and other than what I have already mentioned they did not find anything wrong. I do not understand why he would need to do another inspection 6 weeks later. I sent him a text message this morning (Easter Sunday Morning around 8 am) letting him know that I will be mailing a certified letter tomorrow letting him know that I have secured another place to live, asked why he needed to inspect it again so soon, and when to expect me to vacate this residence and that I felt like I was being harassed (I have had to see a doctor for severe anxiety and was put on medication because of the constant phone calls and complaints - I do have heart trouble). The window and screen for the storm door have been repaired and will be installed on the last day of occupancy to prevent any further damage. I need to speak with an attorney about this - I need help, please. I have no idea who to call or what type of attorney to ask for.
