Tenant hit breaking point after months of ignored peeling paint — then the landlord suggested one move that brought an inspector knocking
A small repair can become a serious concern when a landlord keeps delaying it. One tenant faced this problem after noticing peeling paint on the bathroom ceiling in their new apartment. Moisture made the paint worse, while the ventilation fan did little to help. The tenant contacted the landlord, but getting the repair arranged proved difficult. The tenant later shared the experience on the social media platform as u/octoberflavor on September 12, 2026, explaining how their patience eventually ran out and landed the landlord in trouble.
My landlord told me to go ahead and report her to the city, it did not go as planned
by u/octoberflavor in MaliciousCompliance
The tenant waited three months for the repair, even though the city allowed 21 days for defective paint to be fixed. Contractors arranged by the landlord failed to arrive six times, and the landlord blamed the tenant for scheduling problems. The tenant then mentioned the city's code enforcement office and shared its repair rules. The rude landlord replied, "That is not relevant to me. File your claim with the city." The tenant followed the instruction, and an inspector was scheduled within an hour. The inspection then uncovered several problems beyond the peeling ceiling paint.
The inspector found a broken fire alarm, garbage around the property, and basement windows that did not meet local requirements. The tenant also asked about an electrical issue involving the upstairs neighbor's apartment. The inspector suggested contacting the utility company, which sent someone to investigate. A careful inspection can reveal problems that tenants may not know exist. The utility worker then found that the apartments' electrical wiring was mixed. The discovery showed that the upstairs neighbor had been paying for electricity used in the tenant's basement, kitchen, and bathroom.
Meanwhile, the tenant had been covering the entire upper floor of the neighbor's apartment. The renter had not known about the wiring problem before the inspection. Local rules required the landlord to have a licensed electrician correct the wiring within 21 days. The landlord could also become responsible for the combined electrical bill if the wiring was not fixed within that period. The tenant ended on the note that "All I needed was the peeling paint fixed, but now I'm going to enjoy living in a unit that is entirely 100% up to code and maybe save some money in the process. Sounds good to me!"
Sometimes ignoring a simple problem can lead to bigger ones. In another similar incident, a tenant became concerned after receiving an unexpected notice about a rent increase. Instead of accepting it immediately, they searched local housing rules and discovered that the landlord had not followed the required process. Their research also uncovered unresolved safety violations in the apartment. After officials became involved, the landlord offered to "work something out," eventually agreeing to pay $4,000. The case showed how checking basic tenant protections can reveal issues that may otherwise remain unnoticed. Looking back, the renter said that they were not a lawyer and "just had a bad afternoon and a working internet connection" that made things possible.
For more clever stories, follow u/octoberflavor on their Reddit account.