Renting a place often turns into a quest with an unexpected finale. Sometimes, a strict-looking landlord turns out to be the kindest person in the world, willing to reduce the rent for a candy that he ate, while the strange nighttime noises from a locked room are just the funny antics of a lost robot vacuum cleaner. Sometimes even a rental agreement can become the start of a warm relationship and a reason for genuine laughter.
1.
We rented an apartment. The landlord forbade us from opening the bottom drawer of the cupboard, saying, “It’s personal.” For a year, we were burning with curiosity, but we held back. Just before moving out, we couldn’t resist and took a peek.
The drawer was empty, except for a note, saying, “Congratulations! You have just passed the honesty test. If you’re reading this, it means you opened it after all. But if you’ve lived here for a year and didn’t open it earlier — you are great people.”
2.
We rented a 2-bedroom. The landlord asked for just one thing. “Open the curtains in the living room for 10 minutes at 9 p.m. every day. It’s important, don’t ask why.”
We did what he asked for a month. Then I couldn’t stand it any longer and asked the landlord directly.
He blushed and confessed, “You see, my mom lives across the street. If the curtains are open — it means I’m doing well, healthy and alive. If not, she runs over in 5 minutes. I just didn’t tell her I rented out the apartment, didn’t want to worry her.”
3.
I rented an apartment. The landlady lived on the same floor, almost next door. Once a week, she would come to read the meters and instruct me not to use the lights unnecessarily. Then she started coming every evening, offering me to buy her clothes.
I’d come home from work and tiptoe to the door, quietly opening it, but it seemed like she watched through the peephole and would head straight over to me.
Eventually, I got tired of it and moved out.
4.
I rented a 1-bedroom apartment. When I was moving out, the landlady refused to return the deposit, claiming there was dirt.
I asked, “Where did you see it?”
It turned out to be behind the couch and in the toilet, on the little shelf where the plastic seat attaches.