Renting House in GA -Use of Pool

[georgiamom]

I am renting a home. When I found this home one of the sales features in the ad was that it had an inground pool. I have a lease which details that I may use the pool. THe landloard was suppose to come and open the pool in April, he never showed up. Then in May my rent was late. It is due exactly on the first, no grace period which was not detailed but fine, but I paid the May rent on the 8th. A week later my landoard called me and told me I needed to cancel the appointment I had made with the pool company because there were red flags. He had gotten complaint that the yard had not been cut. The yard was scheduled to be taken care of the day after his designated friend had come by to pick up the rent. He said that the issue was the yard but in our conversation he kept going back to the rent being late. The whole situation is unnerving and I did cancel the appointment with the pool company but now I am thinking that I shouldnt have. DOes he have the right to arbitrarily "change his mind" and tell me he will allow me to open the pool "when he feels more comfortable"? I'm thinking when his designated friend comes by to pick up the rent for June that I will send with her a note just advising him that I am going to proceed with opening the pool as it is outlined in the lease. When we spoke about this he kept saying the pool was optional, however in the lease we both signed off on me using the pool. When I said the pool was one of the reasons I got the house for the kids to use, which he knew and which he continued to go on and on about when he was renting me the house, he said if that is the case then just move. What are my rights as far as use of the pool are concerned?

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

Your landlord is concerned that your paying the rent late is a red flag of problems ahead. Your best option is to show your landlord what a good tenant you are by paying the next months rent on June 1st, then discussing the issue of opening the pool with him.

Gail

 

[sfitz]

I'm thinking when his designated friend comes by to pick up the rent for June that I will send with her a note just advising him that I am going to proceed with opening the pool as it is outlined in the lease.

I think that you are within your rights to do that, but a diplomatic solution would probably be more effective. It sounds like the neighbors may have formed an opinion about you that is disadvantageous to your tenancy. Apologize, take care of your lawn, make the place look nice, and promise to pay your rent on time. Then, explain that, while you were in the wrong, you are within your rights to use the pool, unless the landlord would like to revise the lease at a lower rent.