# Detecting Landlord Snooping In My Room! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 6, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976 "2014-08-06T20:13:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BlueValley45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BlueValley45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueValley45)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/21 "2014-08-07T17:42:42Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > Obviously, there are potential legal issues, but I figure I could give a a few simple tricks. All of these are free, whereas a camera would obviously be the best, but would cost money and may not be worth it if you’re not sure. > > For a drawer, you can use a hair or dental floss, possibly with tape or a dab of glue across the side or bottom where he can’t see it. If it’s unstuck, someone was going through it. > > For a closet, door, or possibly also for a drawer, use an object like a penny and close it so it holds the penny then pull the penny out. It’s unlikely that anyone who goes through it will close it to exactly the same gap, so if it’s too small or big to hold the penny, someone was probably going through it. Or similarly, you can leave a gap large enough to put your hand through and lean something against the inside, like a toothpick or straw, and if it’s knocked over, you know someone was in there. > > For a swinging door, you can put something like a shirt or whatever behind it and squeeze through so pushed back to a minimum distance. Someone coming through probably won’t squeeze through and it will show that the door was opened wider when you see it again. > > A little bit more difficult to pull off, but also impossible to detect by the snooper would be to deliberately leave some sort of snoop bait out, maybe pictures, bills/mail, money, etc., and have it arranged just so. Someone snooping will have a hard time resisting touching it and it would be impossible to put it back exactly as it was. A quick picture on your phone can help you be sure of exactly how it looked when you set it up. I’ve thought about leaving the laptop cam on rec . . and going with the phony "this is being sent to a web server . . . " idea brought up earlier. But some good ideas you have, Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/22 "2014-08-07T19:39:13Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > How about setting a bear trap and covering it with a throw rug? Mantraps are generally not legal. You’re life is not in immediate danger from a casual intrusion - you aren’t justified in using deadly force, especially not with an automated system that has no intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/23 "2014-08-07T20:32:01Z")
Do you have any friends living nearby? If so, first turn off any energy saving settings like standby or hibernation on your laptop. Then open a web chat session with your friend and then hustle over to their house. When your landlord enters your room scream obscenities at him. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/24 "2014-08-07T21:29:12Z")
[Tamper proof seals](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamper-evident_technology) are easy to get online and reasonably cheap or you could make your own using [glitter nail polish](http://www.wired.com/2013/12/better-data-security-nail-polish/). ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/25 "2014-08-07T21:42:31Z")
> [@BlueValley45](#): > > Yes . . but I’m not financially ready to move out yet. Thanks! One thing has nothing to do with the other. Your lawyer in re: the lawsuit will advise you what you can and can’t do. Forget the stupid sign. Record. Sue. Do not go prancing about in front of the owner and cackle about what you have. Go to a lawyer before doing anything else. ---
**Author:** ![BlueValley45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BlueValley45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueValley45)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/26 "2014-08-07T21:49:58Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Mantraps are generally not legal. You’re life is not in immediate danger from a casual intrusion - you aren’t justified in using deadly force, especially not with an automated system that has no intelligence. Yes . . I agree. Lawsuits/jail I do not need. Maybe **kayaker** was being humorous. That I can appreciate. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![BlueValley45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BlueValley45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueValley45)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/27 "2014-08-07T21:51:41Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Do you have any friends living nearby? If so, first turn off any energy saving settings like standby or hibernation on your laptop. Then open a web chat session with your friend and then hustle over to their house. When your landlord enters your room scream obscenities at him. Ha! Thats beautiful to vision, just not practical. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![BlueValley45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BlueValley45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueValley45)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/28 "2014-08-07T21:55:58Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > [Tamper proof seals](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamper-evident_technology) are easy to get online and reasonably cheap or you could make your own using [glitter nail polish](http://www.wired.com/2013/12/better-data-security-nail-polish/). An interesting read. Yet anything that he could claim caused damage **when he** **needed to remove it** to get in the room he will deduct from my deposit. **He will** claim he needed to get in the room immediately whatever the reason. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![BlueValley45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BlueValley45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueValley45)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/29 "2014-08-07T22:04:30Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > One thing has nothing to do with the other. Your lawyer in re: the lawsuit will advise you what you can and can’t do. > Forget the stupid sign. Record. Sue. Do not go prancing about in front of the owner and cackle about what you have. Go to a lawyer before doing anything else. I am not claiming he has entered the room to snoop. Someone else has claimed that in the past. Knowing the landlords personality and how he constantly shows his attitude that this is **HIS** home and we are **GUESTS** says it all. I’m just looking for other peoples ideas about detecting a intrusion. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/30 "2014-08-07T23:10:03Z")
> [@BlueValley45](#): > > Good idea! There is a large area rug but wood floors are directly in front of each door. If the water spills he will never know exactly how much was in each glass if I measure it out precisely using a measuring cup, so after he wipes the floor he would half to guess how much was in the glass. Bingo . . busted. Thanks! Depending upon how long your out just remember that evaporation would slightly lower the water level. If it’s just running to the store not an issue, but if you’re going to work, it might be. ---
**Author:** ![BlueValley45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BlueValley45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueValley45)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/31 "2014-08-07T23:13:45Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Depending upon how long your out just remember that evaporation would slightly lower the water level. If it’s just running to the store not an issue, but if you’re going to work, it might be. Very good point! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/32 "2014-08-08T05:38:59Z")
You have an interesting situation here. Finding out if someone is entering your home while you are away is not the same as finding out **who** is entering your home while you are away. To find out the latter, you probably need a photo, or better yet, a video of them “in the act”. I am very curious as to what you plan on doing if you do catch him “snooping” in your apartment. If it is just to have him know that you know, I do not see the point. If you plan on some kind of legal action, see your lawyer before doing anything! If it is just to see if he is and you do not plan on doing anything about it, why bother finding out? Do you plan on changing your behavior if you find out that he is indeed “snooping”? If so what will you change? Also why not just change your behavior anyway, without knowing if he does do this? Of course, you are probably very curious as to whether he is snooping or not. Heck, you even have me a little curious now! Yet I ask again, how will the knowlege help you? Is the reward worth the effort? If I am going to the trouble to find out if he is “snooping”, I have to have a plan of action for either a positive or a negative result to the question. You may not feel a need to have a plan. In any case, a photographic record will be the way to go. I would try a web cam focused on the door discreetly. You say that you rarely leave your apartment, so you do not need hours and hours of records. Do you have that much memory in your computer? If not how much do you need and how much does that much memory cost? You will use the memory once it is installed, so I would consider this an “upgrade” to the computer. IHTH, 48. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/33 "2014-08-08T06:02:27Z")
> [@BlueValley45](#): > > An interesting read. Yet anything that he could claim caused damage **when he** **needed to remove it** to get in the room he will deduct from my deposit. **He will** claim he needed to get in the room immediately whatever the reason. Thanks! Ah, yes, now I remember your earlier thread. Didn’t everyone agree, you’re not likely to get a dime of your deposit back from this crook? This is the guy to accepts rent in cash only, and doesn’t give any kind of written receipt, right? Do you really think you’d like to catch him snooping and then sue him for lots and lots of money? If you caught him, would you really follow through and do that? If so, set up that web cam. And in any case, it sounds like you _still_ need to study the tenancy laws in your state or community so you’ll know exactly what a landlord can and can’t do. And also what your rights and obligations are. You can’t always go by what your lease says, even if you had a lease, which you don’t anyway. State laws, in some states anyway, give you some protections that _cannot_ be overridden by terms of a lease. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/34 "2014-08-08T10:47:37Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Mantraps are generally not legal. You’re life is not in immediate danger from a casual intrusion - you aren’t justified in using deadly force, especially not with an automated system that has no intelligence. Yeah, I thought that was an obvious joke. Outside of cartoons do huge jawed bear traps even exist? ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/35 "2014-08-08T11:11:25Z")
Replace the door knob/latchset with a locking one that looks like the current knob, and don’t tell him. Keep the original so that when you leave you can replace it. If you get bitched at, you know he tried to go in your room. (Is it really just a bedroom in the house, or is it an apartment?) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/36 "2014-08-08T11:47:06Z")
> [@48Willys](#): > > Do you plan on changing your behavior if you find out that he is indeed “snooping”? If so what will you change? Start leaving an array of really off-the-wall bondage gear and sex toys out in the open, e.g. pony-play equipment, or maybe gigantic insertables. Lay out a few relevant DVDs nearby just to make it explicitly clear what it’s all about. Hidden camera would be nice just to record his reaction when he sees all this stuff. Wouldn’t really help with any legal case, but shoot, might as well enjoy making him uncomfortable. ---
**Author:** ![BlueValley45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BlueValley45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueValley45)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/37 "2014-08-08T11:58:47Z")
> [@48Willys](#): > > You have an interesting situation here. Finding out if someone is entering your home while you are away is not the same as finding out **who** is entering your home while you are away. To find out the latter, you probably need a photo, or better yet, a video of them “in the act”. > > I am very curious as to what you plan on doing if you do catch him “snooping” in your apartment. > > If it is just to have him know that you know, I do not see the point. If you plan on some kind of legal action, see your lawyer before doing anything! If it is just to see if he is and you do not plan on doing anything about it, why bother finding out? Do you plan on changing your behavior if you find out that he is indeed “snooping”? If so what will you change? Also why not just change your behavior anyway, without knowing if he does do this? > > Of course, you are probably very curious as to whether he is snooping or not. Heck, you even have me a little curious now! Yet I ask again, how will the knowlege help you? Is the reward worth the effort? If I am going to the trouble to find out if he is “snooping”, I have to have a plan of action for either a positive or a negative result to the question. You may not feel a need to have a plan. > > In any case, a photographic record will be the way to go. I would try a web cam focused on the door discreetly. You say that you rarely leave your apartment, so you do not need hours and hours of records. Do you have that much memory in your computer? If not how much do you need and how much does that much memory cost? You will use the memory once it is installed, so I would consider this an “upgrade” to the computer. > > IHTH, 48. Yes, if I catch him snooping in my room I will get with a lawyer without hesitation about legal options and secondly I will let the other tenants know and depending on what the lawyer says I may even confront him in front of the other renters. He loves to try to keep everyone compartmentalized and separate from each other. He does not like when people are whispering, wandering off talking etc. Thats exactly why we do it! Unfortunately my best partner in defiance will be leaving here in a few weeks and most of the others here are pretty lame minded about whats going on. Anyway, yes I agree the webcam/laptop cam is the way to go yet I would like to f\*\*k with him anyway I can because you really can see him sweat and pace around like the rat he is. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/38 "2014-08-08T12:03:33Z")
He’s taking rent money cash only, no receipts? Tax evasion most likely, no? Not blackmail, but if he knows you know, maybe he’ll be more likely to cut you some slack and leave you alone. ---
**Author:** ![BlueValley45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BlueValley45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueValley45)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/39 "2014-08-08T12:10:13Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Ah, yes, now I remember your earlier thread. Didn’t everyone agree, you’re not likely to get a dime of your deposit back from this crook? This is the guy to accepts rent in cash only, and doesn’t give any kind of written receipt, right? > > Do you really think you’d like to catch him snooping and then sue him for lots and lots of money? If you caught him, would you really follow through and do that? If so, set up that web cam. And in any case, it sounds like you _still_ need to study the tenancy laws in your state or community so you’ll know exactly what a landlord can and can’t do. And also what your rights and obligations are. You can’t always go by what your lease says, even if you had a lease, which you don’t anyway. State laws, in some states anyway, give you some protections that _cannot_ be overridden by terms of a lease. Yes, here is the thread: > **[Can Landlord INCREASE Sec Deposit? Illinois](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=730099)** > > Hi . . I moved in here in Feb this year paying the landlord his requested sec deposit of $375. vs monthly room rent of $400. . . . Now he has given me a written note declaring rent to increase to $425. on Sept. 1st and I will need to pay up another... Yes, I want to ruin him if I can. As I mentioned earlier, there is a pending case before the court of a former tenant suing him for illegal eviction and not returning his sec deposit. Someone here is in contact with the plaintiff and trying to keep watch on it. I myself want to be sitting in that courtroom if it does go to court and **I want the \*\*landlord to see me there. Just last week he evicted someone at midnite without notice, without the police and he was gloating about the fact he was going to keep her sec deposit and her months rent. She was here 3 days, yes just 3 days. She was sitting outside waiting for a cab and he was inside taking her frozen pizzas from one freezer to his freezer. He is a major d**k. Yes I need clarification on the l **ocal** tenant/landlord laws. The county and state laws appear to compliment each other and favor tenants rights over landlords rights when there is no lease to prevent this kind of abuse. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![BlueValley45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BlueValley45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueValley45)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976/40 "2014-08-08T12:18:52Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > He’s taking rent money cash only, no receipts? Tax evasion most likely, no? Not blackmail, but if he knows you know, maybe he’ll be more likely to cut you some slack and leave you alone. Right! Cash only . . no receipts. I thought about sending him next months rent via insured certified mail (cash) so he would have to sign for it. Theres my receipt! I’ll see what a lawyer says. Maybe I can get the Ill. Dept. of Revenue to send me some forms or anything irrelevant etc. to myself to spook him also! He spooks easily. Thanks! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/detecting-landlord-snooping-in-my-room/694976.md?page=3)