Apartment layout, 2 adjoining rooms, Hole throught the wall??

[Boyd]

Trust me I would have been out of here a long time ago if I could have. I've tried. I've had lots of health problems and mom pays the rent. Oh and my moms a pack rat. The scarriest thought is moving moms stuff. But its a beautifull place to live and the Minnesota Zephyr goes right behind the house. Off street parking. Its an old house built in the 1850s. We are on the main floor. Another apartment above us and the owners son lives in the smaller apartment below us. None of the other renters have been much trouble. I avoid the landlord like he is a flesh eating virus. Half of my family has worked as painters so doing stuff to the wall wouldn't be that hard. I don't think I'm going to mess with a hole in the wall.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not! It's not your building--you're just renting space in it--so you have no right to make alterations of that type to the structure. I imagine your lease even specifies as much.

Yes, anything can be repaired, but that's not the point. You have no business making that kind of modification to someone else's property without the property owner's permission (in writing). Keep in mind that landlords have the right to inspect the apartment from time to time, with advance notice. That also is most likely specified in your lease. If he finds that you've gone ahead and done such a thing without permission, you'll probably find yourself out in the street rather quickly, and definitely will be without any security deposit you may have made.

You elected to live there, so you'll just have to live with the landlord's rules, or be willing to suffer the consequences. If he's such a jerk, my first question would be: Why have you stayed there so long?

[Big_Boy_4005]

Like I said, I've been a landlord, and lesson number one is, ALWAYS SAY NO!!!! That's his job. His number one priority is collecting the rent.

It is a bigger deal to him if he has to replace the carpet when you leave. Repairing and repainting walls is just part of doing business. Do you have to ask to hang a picture on the wall? I know, the hole in question is larger than a picture hook, but given how long you have lived there and paid rent, he will expect to have to do some work when you leave.

I'm not sure what the rental market is like these days. Are there any vacant units in the building? Do you have any idea what the cost of evicitng someone is? Do you know how much he has to spend to rerent the apartment if you leave? The answer to the last two questions is hundreds of dollars for each part, and if the apartment sits empty for a month or two, he can never get that money back. A smart landlord won't mess with good tenants. Good tenants pay their rent on time, and don't disturb others, simple as that.

This guy sounds like a real jerk, but you've learned to deal with him. Keep in mind, under Minnesota law, he can't just come into your apartment. He needs a specific reason, and has to give you notice, unless it's an emergency.

Bottom line, it may be his building, but it is your apartment as long as you pay your rent. What you want to do may violate his rules, but he would be stupid to evict you for it. If you don't tell him, there is little chance that he will find out. If you repair it before you leave, what can he do? If you don't, he can charge you for it.

[Boyd]

The word "STRICT" doesn't even come close to describing my landlord. He puts much effort and harrassment into trying to make everything and everyone around him perfect. I'd bet everything I own that if I asked him his answer would be a big NO! If I want to do something I make a point to not ask him. Whatever you want to do he just says no. For the first 2-4 years of living here he could be bugging me 2+ times a week asking me when I was going to buy a new truck and get rid of the ugly one I was driving. I finally got to the point of going out of the rear basement door to my truck to avoid running into him. I still do that to this day and we have been here almost 8 years.

[Anonymous]

If your the apartment owner, punching holes though a wall is a big deal!!! What's the old adage? "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?" ASK YOUR LANDLORD FIRST! What's the big deal in not asking?

[jonadel]

Here's another grand example of not being able to follow basic rules in writing. I could go on but I won't.

Jon

[FJ and G]

I agree 100% with Elliot. Punching holes in the wall is really no big deal and can be patched up very quickly without any notice except possibly for a paint match. I really can't add anything to what he said.

[Big_Boy_4005]

A hole in drywall is a common problem and very easy to fix regardless of whether it was caused by a doorknob, a fist, or a model railroader.

I learned this trick from a maintenance man at one of the apartment complexes we used to manage, and have used it many times with great success.

Step 1: square out the hole in the wall.
Step 2: find a piece of sheetrock a couple of inches larger than the hole in both dimensions.
Step 3: on the back face of the oversized filler piece, use a utility knife to score the paper, to form a slightly smaller version of the shape of the hole, centered in the piece.
Step4 : Carefully snap and peel off the gypsum layer on all 4 sides, leaving a flap of paper on the front face, then dry fit the patch.
Step 5: apply mud to the edges of the patch, making sure to use enough, so that excess squeezes out from under the paper when smoothed with a taping knife. Let dry.
step 6: skim coat, let dry, then sand and paint.

Boyd, I would gladly come over and do this for you in exchange for a couple of pizzas.[swg]

[lionelsoni]

If your conclusion is that you shouldn't do it without getting permission, then you have nothing to lose by asking, even if you think he will turn you down.

I suggest offering an ample additional deposit specifically for the proposed hole, if you can afford it. The landlord might feel comfortable about it if he has a few hundred dollars of your money in advance. And you get it back of course if you repair the hole to his satisfaction.

[Anonymous]

A bad idea! Get a 4x8 piece of plywood or a couple of hollow doors that will fit in one of your rooms. A smaller layout is better than none at all.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Gee Boyd, I have first hand experience on both sides of this one. Having been a landlord, I've seen my fair share of holes in walls. I think you're right not to ask, as you do know what the answer will be.

As a model railroader, I've punched through a couple of walls, the first being almost 35 years ago at the age of 9.

When you go to punch through, just make sure there isn't a stud or any pipes or wires in the way. If you need help with this let me know. Still have my number? If not just email me.

Do you know how to patch drywall? It will save you a lot of your deposit when you move out.

[mackb4]

Yeh, same reply here,not such a good idea.You could cut into wires and make a short,maybe causing a fire.I think there's way to much legal action that the landlord could use against you if he/she ever found out.If you have the room to negotiate putting a curve around the doorway may be a better alternative.I'm building a layout with a similar plan putting a branch line thru a wall to another room.But I don't have a landlord to deal with.Good luck on your pike.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like a new tv show Extreme Railroading! I can give you my opinion on the apartment - don't do it. It is after all his building. I'm assuming the holes are big enough for a train to go through. Even if it's a hole for some wires I would still recommend against it.

[Boyd]

I now have use of 2 rooms in this apartment and am thinking of an idea to put one or two holes in the wall of the adjacent closets for both of these rooms. The landlord is extremely strict so I wouldn't even ask him if I went ahead and did it. It would be rather easy to do this in these walls. Your thoughts?