HELP! My landlord is a home-brew hater

[feinbera]

What Vincent said – landlord gets income from otherwise-wasted space (and a perfectly valid excuse not to show prospective tenants of other units your scary scary fermenting alcohol), you get a ton of cellaring/storage space where you can be confident your beer and kit won't get messed with, win-win!

Quick edit: don't go adversarial, living under a landlord who wants you out is hell, and knowing you're on the right side of the law is cold comfort when you know the cranky old so-and-so is watching like a hawk to nab you on any little gotcha lease violation and otherwise doing anything even plausibly not-illegal to mess with you ("why, yes, we have another prospective buyer, here's your 24 hours notice ... yeah, I know it's the third time this week, hot real estate market, what can I say!").

 

[danath34]

I don't have much to say aside from what others have said.

I am, however, a bit worried about her line of: "it is in everyone's best interest that you do not use the basement or any other part of the house for your beer making."
I would definitely get clarification on this. It is perfectly reasonable for them to ask you to not do it in the common area basement, for all the reasons stated in this thread. It is also a very legitimate safety concern if she is referring to actually brewing with propane in the building, and storing the propane tank inside (already addressed). HOWEVER, she may be referring to the entire process, and the entire building, i.e. no fermentation in your personal residence. I would get clarification, and if this is the case, I'd respectfully inform them of the law, and tell them that while I will respect their wishes and keep it out of the common areas, I will be brewing, and will keep it in my personal residence. I would also attempt to alleviate their concerns by explaining the safety issues, and how they get addressed. But in the end, they have no right to prohibit you from fermenting inside your apartment, unless the lease specifically says so. And even if it does, it is possible it may be in violation of local/state laws. But I am no lawyer.

 

[brick_haus]

@brick_haus she can tell a tenant that she is not comfortable having gallons of beer fermenting away in a common space but it would behoove her to write in the lease some of the unapproved uses for the common basement space. Seems like a great waste of space anyway so maybe it can be "rented" to the OP.

She could also tell him she is uncomfortable with the color of his couch...

When I posted, I was unaware that the basement was a "common area". Just figured it was a space under his own unit??? That definately sheds a different light on it.

We dont have basements here in So. Cal. so I know nothing about them.
We like our houses to slide a little during the earthquakes!!!

 

[Silentdrinker]

I'd respectfully inform them of the law, and tell them that while I will respect their wishes and keep it out of the common areas, I will be brewing, and will keep it in my personal residence.

This is the kind of bad advice I see on the posts. It's not about the LAW. And telling them what you will be doing will only piss them off. He can work it out with her i'm sure. But by telling her what he will do, won't be the way. I promise you she has stuff written in her lease that will allow her to back up what she's requesting. Read my post here.

She has the right to protect her property. So she can dictate to what he can and can not do. Smoking is not illegal, but you can't do it in the apt. Owning a dog is not illegal, but you can't have one in the apt.

I'd even venture to guess she has a clause stating it's against their policy to barbecue on the property. But that's not against the law. And a propane burner could be classified the same.

 

[TheOrlandoGuy]

If you want to stay there then the answer is easy. You be pleasant, cooperative and flexible. Stay positive and get their input on the changes so that they feel good about the changes.

I would not store propane indoors either. Outside is best.

As for the fermenters, simply ask where in the apartment they would be okay with and do that. Suggest a closet you prefer and see if it works for them.

Courtesy and positivity will go a looooong way.

EXACTLY. Try to understand where they are coming from - what looks like delicious beer fermenting in a carboy to us, might look like a weird/off-putting science experiment to them. It doesn't sound to me like your landlord is against brewing beer, she just doesn't want to see it, or have propane indoors.

 

[Teromous]

1) As you've gathered from other posts and already realize, propane shouldn't be stored indoors. An outdoor shed or something...but not inside your house. I agree with a previous commenter that you could just chain it to something outside.

2) The letter that I read said "...there are beer bottles near the furnace, again this is a hazard..." so it sounds to me like she just wants you to move them away from the furnace.

Honestly from the letters it doesn't sound like your landlord is trying to be mean. I would just call her and have her come over to your house. You two could work together and find a place to put the carboys that you both agree on. I think if people just talked about their issues with each other things could get resolved a lot quicker.

 

[mdbrewer1]

EXACTLY. Try to understand where they are coming from - what looks like delicious beer fermenting in a carboy to us, might look like a weird/off-putting science experiment to them. It doesn't sound to me like your landlord is against brewing beer, she just doesn't want to see it, or have propane indoors.

Agreed. The thread title sounds more like click-bait after reading the post. How in the world a request to remove a propane tank from indoors and hide some carboys can be interpreted as homebrew hate is beyond me.

I know sometimes people need to vent, but it sounds like this should be easily resolved through a polite discussion. It would have never crossed my mind to challenge the legality of her concern or talk about legal action as suggested by some. There were lots of reasonable solutions suggested so far. There's nothing wrong with bending a little to keep the peace, especially if you like your current situation.

 

[Bowtiebrewery]

2) The letter that I read said "...there are beer bottles near the furnace, again this is a hazard..." so it sounds to me like she just wants you to move them away from the furnace.

This is actually a very legitimate concern for me as a landlord. I have to constantly remind my tenants not to put anything near any boilers 3-4 foot radius. I think the Fire code in CT is 3. And that is the reason why I have asked tenants to move everything away from the water heaters and boiler. Some don't know, some are also lazy and just throw crap anywhere they want. But if the house goes up in flames because you put your blanket near an open gas flame in the basement, I lose my house, you lose your stuff, and everyone is unhappy.

BTW i had to tell one of my tenants to remove a full gas can and charcoal from the basement. I know what he uses both for legitimately.

Charcoal is for when he goes to the park and wants to grill.
Gas can is for his trimmer so he can go trim stuff at a house that he looks over. Either way, I just respectfully told him to put it in his garage so that he is in compliance with fire-code and the insurance policy that both he has (renters insurance) and I have for the house.

 

[TheCADJockey]

I had a tenant that was behind 3 months rent, didn't harass him, saw him one day while I was cutting his lawn and reminded him rent was due. He said to come back the following day and he would have a check for half. Awesome.

When I showed up the next day, he was gone... and so was the refrigerator, oven, microwave, kitchen sink... oh yeah and the toilet. He took the toilet.

Be nice to your landlord, you don't know what they've been through before you got there

 

[Hello]

She could also tell him she is uncomfortable with the color of his couch...

When I posted, I was unaware that the basement was a "common area". Just figured it was a space under his own unit??? That definately sheds a different light on it.

We dont have basements here in So. Cal. so I know nothing about them.
We like our houses to slide a little during the earthquakes!!!

I spent 97% of my life in So. Cal, but I know what a basement is. You're talking about a common area. If she hates the color of his couch in his unit then that is another story.

This all got very litigious very quickly. I stand by my opinion that the landlord is being gentle and seems willing to negotiate where safety is not a concern. However, if I own a building and you're storing carboys of alcohol in a common area and someone gets to those that shouldn't, then I'm liable. I don't want to be liable for some kid getting drunk or someone hoisting up a carboy, if it is glass, and losing a limb. We've all seen those horror stories.

I think the OP should talk to the landlord and if he wants advice then show both sides of those e-mails. As far as I can tell, we only see one side. Renting a part of the basement and somehow enclosing it seems like a pretty great solution and the landlord gets more money out of the OP. I don't think she is a home brew hater, she simply doesn't understand and only looks at this from a liability standpoint I think.

 

[spencerholm31]

Hey everyone, thanks a bunch for the help. I just got home and am waiting to hear back from my landlord. A few people asked for my side of communication in this, so I'll attach my e-mails. The first one was apologizing for the Propane tank in the basement. The second one was just trying to proceed respectfully about possibly putting on carboy covers as an idea for keeping the carboys out of sight. Everyone here has been giving me so much good advice, and I just want to be patient before I bombard my landlord's inbox. Lastly, I really appreciate the input from you all who have been in the landlord's position. It's really helped my sympathize and realize how important overall safety precautions are.

Thanks again everyone

 

[flars]

The e-mails do make you out as a nice guy. Hope your landlord isn't to stressed out, by other stuff, to read them as intended.

 

[user 198378]

Why don't you just build a 'false' cover that looks like a box or something...something that completely covers all you homebrew setup. Then just put flower pots on top and call it a garden. BOOM! "Out of sight, out of mind."

Other idea is you could offer her some of your beer and get her on your side.

 

[GHBWNY]

Other idea is you could offer her some of your beer and get her on your side.

Good idea. I'd even invite my landlord in to see the process if he/she were interested. Communication = knowledge = understanding = peace.

 

[madscientist451]

How about asking the landlord if you can keep a chest freezer in the basement? Put the carboys in there and the other tenants won't be bothered with it. You can usually find used freezers on craigslist. If they ask about the extra electricity, look up how much one uses and pay them the extra$.

 

[spencerholm31]

JUST HEARD BACK, and here's the solution! Moved to the closet, with a huge rubber-bottom carpet. Blankets on hand to keep everything insulated. I can close the closet doors to keep it all out of sight. P.S. the Double IPA is in secondary now, and I just washed the glass carboy after harvesting some yeast. Oh, and 1 gallon jugs of cider and Graff.

In conclusion, empathy goes a long way!

Thanks y'all... and peace out!
Happy Homebrewing

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I like my solution better. Jello approves too.

 

[spencerholm31]

HHAHAHAHAHAH YESSSSSSSSSSSS

Absolute closure to this thread

 

[b-boy]

I like my solution better. Jello approves too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OssnQWe5IEg

Jello knows best!

 

[Billy-Klubb]

on a serious note: I had a landlord call me at work and almost called the cops because he saw my wort chiller in the sink. accused me of making meth. I told him he could help me brew a batch of beer and see for himself. that stopped him from calling the law.

 

[1977Brewer]

Coiled up copper does arouse suspicion.

This thread and the guy that got evicted have me praising The Lord I own my home. Gonna brew in the driveway, blasting The Clash, in my skivvies. Just to celebrate.

 

[brick_haus]

Ha! You wear skivvies when you brew? I kind of like the breeze myself😱

 

[1977Brewer]

No, but I could, and I would only have to answer to my wife and daughters. My son would be down with it.

 

[heckler73]

she's totally justified to kick out the propane from beside the furnace.

 

[1977Brewer]

she's totally justified to kick out the propane from beside the furnace.

No one has argued that she wasn't.

 

[IanJ]

In my last apartment the landlord saw that I had a single fermentation bucket in the corner of an unfinished basement and flipped out, and got extremely paranoid, thought I was involved in illegal activities and just blew things way out of proportion.

Eventually they sold the building and threw me out anyway with about ~1 month notice, guess they got what they wanted in the end.

 

[myerstyson]

You know, in most places, a landlord cannot keep you from doing legal things in the home you've rented. Shared basement, most probably, but in your own home, no. This turned out okay, but I'd think there were some legitimate legal eagles among HBT members that could help.

This sort of thing comes up often with military families (Combat scuba guys storing tanks in penned off basement areas, for instance), and always, in the end, the military guys win out because the resident was not doing anything illegal.

And homebrewing is legal in all 50 states...

 

[kombat]

Smoking is legal. Owning a dog is legal. But landlords are permitted to forbid those things on their properties. So just because something is legal doesn't necessarily mean you can engage in it on rented property with impunity.

 

[GHBWNY]

I told him he could help me brew a batch of beer and see for himself. that stopped him from calling the law.

Further proof that "the best defense is a good offense". Being proactive and upfront in whatever activity seems suspicious has a way of easing tensions and disarming the otherwise wary observer.

 

[unionrdr]

Well, there are such things as tenant/landlord laws. They have to give 24 hours notice when showing or entering the property. 30 days for evictions & the like, here in Ohio anyway. That said, keeping on good terms with the landlord is always a good thing. I'm glad I don't have to deal with that anymore.