It sounds like you’ve already made up your mind to break the lease and move out, so I would begin looking for a new place right away, and move at your earliest opportunity.
Yes, it might result in a lawsuit for lost rent (or, it might mean that the landlord keeps whatever security deposit you gave her), but your concerns are sincere enough that I wouldn’t let that dissuade you - you need to feel safe where you live, and you obviously don’t (rightly or wrongly), so I wouldn’t let the prospect of some money keep you in the situation. If it does come to a lawsuit, you may even have a defense of constructive eviction (that is, the landlady made the conditions so bad that you had to move out); I don’t think the facts as you’ve described them rise to that level, but it is still a point of contention that might enable you to settle up with the landlady without further legal wrangling.
In fact, that’s what I’d do: move out right away, then send the landlady a letter that explains that you moved out because her other tenant (a/k/a, her son) had made you very uncomfortable, there was police activity that made you feel unsafe, and that you had to move out for your own peace of mind. Make a demand for a return of a deposit if you so choose, but I would be content to just part ways without further financial obligation. By sending the letter, you’re implying that you would defend your actions with tales of illicit activity should you be forced to do so.
(Then again, if it were me…I wouldn’t be bothered by a loser living above me, even if he was dealing drugs [that’s wrong of me to say: I’d probably be downright if a drug dealer were that close and convenient]. As noted upthread, drug dealers tend to want to keep the peace. If there were cops making arrests, I wouldn’t be threatened unless I was worried about being arrested for my own conduct. As long as he was pleasant when we passed each other in the common areas (and as long as I had secure access to my place), I wouldn’t be bothered.)
OP, where have you ever lived where you have felt safe? I understand needing to feel safe in your own home but I suspect that you have a fear of the world-at-large and wherever you go, there will be shady “felons” (wtf?!) lurking around every corner.
(You said that whenever the mom isnt home, the son has “felon friends coming and going”. How in the fucking world do you know the criminal histories of theze people? Just a feeling you have?)
What’s going to happen though if the said drug dealer in your house decides to stash some money, drugs, or guns down somewhere in your basement apartment when your not there and the cops raid it? Can you say “it’s not mine”?
Who in their right mind would do that?! Guns, drugs, and money have obvious value: why in the world would somebody hide those things in somebody else’s home, where they can be discovered, utilized, or turned over to the authorities? I’ve personally never heard of burglars who break into homes only to leave stuff (well, there is Santa…)
Much like the OP, it sounds like your letting your imagination run wild. But, to answer your query: Yes, you can say those things aren’t yours.
The son has drug charges dating all the way back from 1999. I background checked him. And recently, his girlfriend told him that it’s all happening again. His car got stolen. Police are arresting his friends. What am I supposed to think? There was an undercover cop here 2 weeks that was dressed like a papa john’s worker for christ’s sake.
Also for the record, I just told the landlady I didn’t feel safe via text and just said please don’t let it happen again. I didn’t mention drugs. I just said police were here 2 weeks ago, arrested his friend on her property and were searching for STUFF. I did not say drugs.
No, it’s not “getting worse”. It’s the same as it was when you wrote the OP. The difference now is that you have chosen to deliberately escalate your situation. What good do you think is going to come from that text?
As long as they are not arresting you and your girlfriend and nobody is stealing your car, why get so bent out of shape about this? All of what you’re describing seems rather “meh” to me - you seem very preoccupied with and afraid of things that don’t concern you in the slightest.
And texting your landlady about her son? Really? None of this is normal behaviour.
Add me to the growing ranks of people who think that no matter where you live, you will find people to feel threatened by for no concrete reason.
Well, I mean, there’s also that guy in the ice cream truck, surreptitiously peering at the residence through a big ol’ pair of binoculars from across the street.
Ya’ gotta put 2 & 2 together man.
What do you do, run a criminal background check on ALL your new landlords and fellow tenants or neighbors? Unless they have a methlab or something that can cause your apartment to explode, just let it go.
if a drug dealer were that close and convenient]. As noted upthread, drug dealers tend to want to keep the peace. If there were cops making arrests, I wouldn’t be threatened unless I was worried about being arrested for my own conduct. As long as he was pleasant when we passed each other in the common areas (and as long as I had secure access to my place), I wouldn’t be bothered.)