Problems with landlord

Alejandra · #1 (**permalink**) 4th December 2010, 07:19 PM

We are moving out of Egypt after 4 years to Brazil. We cannot say we are sad to leave Cairo! THANKS GOD!
As many of you know landlords here are a nightmare! They never make repairs or give the deposits back.
We moved 3 times around Maadi for different reasons: The first place was a penthouse which was an oven during the summer, the second flat we did not see the 2 mosques hidden until the day that we moved in, and 6 months later for our mental sanity we decided to moved out to our current flat which is OK.
Even though we always followed all the legal procedures to finish our contracts no one gave our deposits back! We have had to chase the guys because as soon as they knew that we were leaving they hide from us, they do not answer phone calls, emails, etc. We have had to send our driver to wait in front of their houses day and nights to give them the 30 day notice to finish the lease!
In the current flat, we paid in advance until March 2011. The landlord wants to keep the money of the rent, keep the deposit, and he is asking us to let him show the apartment!

We are talking around USD18,000! Today he did not show up with our money neither (9th time since 40 days ago), but he send 3 people to see the flat!...
I am thinking that the best thing to do is to go back home (Texas) for Christmas, and forget about all this nightmare....
We could not adapt to the traffic, stomach bugs, trash, homeless cats and dogs, mosques, and landlords...
WE ARE GOING OUT OF EGYPT!...Tomorrow we are packing!

We are very thankful because we met wonderful people here (expats and locals). They were like our angels and they will have our hearts forever.

Thank you for this forum. Reading your experiences and different topics help us a lot as well.

Best regards to everybody,

Alejandra

Horus · #2 (**permalink**) 4th December 2010, 07:56 PM

Egypt has it's challenges it's a developing country with a developing economy yet I find that it has far more character and charm than many countries.

Why not just get yourself a claw hammer and go and get your money?

For that amount I would have to use the claw end

expatagogo · #3 (**permalink**) 4th December 2010, 08:57 PM

It appears to be a theft to me. Can't you contact the police, put a little money in somebody's hand, and let the police pressure them into returning your money? Or, an alternative is to make a complaint to the tourist police.

Sonrisa · #4 (**permalink**) 5th December 2010, 06:37 AM

My experience in Egypt, inlcuding landlors, is that money you give, money you will never get back.

Just go, and forget about this doomed country and cheerish the thought that you will never be back.

I hope I will be next.

Alejandra · #5 (**permalink**) 5th December 2010, 01:16 PM

Guys thank you for your comments. A friend told us to paint some graffitist on the walls, another one to take the appliances away. But we are not bad people.
We are just happy about going back home (Texas) and Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

We wish you all the luck in the world (if not possible, at least the half of it)!

Best regards,

Alejandra...

greeny · #6 (**permalink**) 5th December 2010, 02:50 PM

Good luck on your move. I have heard from HR today that they are arranging a flight for me so I am just about to begin my adventure in Cairo. Scary.

Horus · #7 (**permalink**) 6th December 2010, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alejandra

Guys thank you for your comments. A friend told us to paint some graffitist on the walls, another one to take the appliances away. But we are not bad people.
We are just happy about going back home (Texas) and Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

We wish you all the luck in the world (if not possible, at least the half of it)!

Best regards,

Alejandra...

A biro and plastic bag flushed down the toilet will do the trick nicely

DeadGuy · #8 (**permalink**) 6th December 2010, 03:43 PM

You're probably out of here by now, but you said that the idiot never paid you back, but he was actually thick enough to send people to see if they'd rent the place! You shouldn't have let anyone in! If they were alone and asked why not, then let them know the story!

As for the methods of destruction..........I'm Egyptian and I got a friend who's been in a similar situation, so I got endless ideas for that, too bad you left already

Alejandra · #9 (**permalink**) 6th December 2010, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greeny

Good luck on your move. I have heard from HR today that they are arranging a flight for me so I am just about to begin my adventure in Cairo. Scary.

Good luck with you adventure in Egypt. Maybe you can find a good landlord here, but he did not have the plesure no meet one. Also, try to have open mind because sometimes it is very hadr to understand some cultural and behavior issues...

I am very sure that people in this forum can help you with their advices...just write help...if you need anything please let me know (I will be in Texas or Brazil, but at least you alreday made a friend now!)...

Best regards,

Blanca M

Alejandra · #10 (**permalink**) 6th December 2010, 06:20 PM

[QUOTE=Alejandra;416538]
Best regards,

Good luck with you adventure in Egypt. Maybe you can find a good landlord here, but we did not have the plesure no meet one. Also, try to have open mind because sometimes it is very hard to understand some cultural and behavior issues...

I am very sure that people in this forum can help you with their advices...just write help...if you need anything please let me know (I will be in Texas or Brazil, but at least you alredy you made a friend now!)...

Alejandra