Tenant’s sleepwalking claim questioned
DEAR ABBY: Iamowna four-bedroom home, and I have two tenants. One pays the rent on time, helps with cleaning and yard work and is a great roommate. The other has been here for four months, has never paid his rent on time and always disappears when we must clear off the driveway or do yard work.
The major problem with this guy is he sleepwalks — at least he claims he does. He opens doors at night. Some mornings I have found the front door or garage door wide open.
Additionally, he raids the refrigerator at night. He claims he doesn’t realize he’s doing it. It’s annoying to find food I prepared to take to work has been eaten.
I have spoken to him on numerous occasions, and he claims that he can’t control his sleepwalking. I feel he should have told me about his issues prior to signing the lease. None of the references he gave mentioned sleepwalking.
Would I be discriminating against a disability if I chose to not renew his lease? — Landlord in Wisconsin
DEAR LANDLORD: Because doors are being left open, it might be in your interest to install inexpensive cameras. Sleepwalking can be symptoms of a sleep disorder or can be caused by sleep medications. If your tenant is unaware of this, he should be advised to be evaluated at a sleep clinic.
Because he doesn’t pay rent on time or do other things expected of him, you may not be obligated to renew his lease. My advice is to talk to a lawyer.
DEAR ABBY: My ex-mother-in-law, “Blanche,” takes my 14-year-old daughter, “Grace,” shopping often. I was grateful at first, but now she buys her anything she wants.
Grace has a high school dance soon, and I was looking forward to shopping with her. But before I could go, Blanche bought her a $299 dress. I wasn’t consulted because Grace knew I would’ve said no. She’s a freshman and that’s just too much money to spend.
I asked them to take the dress back, and Blanche said OK. A week later I called her to explain why I said no, but instead of listening, she told me it was her Christmas and birthday present for Grace, and she wasn’t taking it back.
Grace said she was keeping the dress, and I told her she was not wearing it. How do I explain this to my daughter? — Anything She Wants
DEAR ANYTHING: You have already explained it to your daughter. You told her it was too much money to spend. You are Grace’s mother, and your wishes should have been respected. I don’t blame you for being angry.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www. Dearabby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.