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I live with a lady that I'm more and more each day taking more care of. I was coming once a week to clean one bathroom and sweep and mop all floors. The agreement was i would still do the same work and just be here and help her in exchange for rent (I sold my house). But I also try to have an income because I need things and I have bills. She goes to bed between 7-9 pm and locks her doors. Now if I'm out working and not in here by the time the doors are locked then it's too bad for me. I don't have a key though she has said for 7 months she was going to have one made. She just comes on in the room I sleep in I have no privacy. What are my rights as far as privacy and being locked out??? Help me please

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I think you need to give her an ultimatum and be ready to leave right away if she doesn't follow through. If you live there, you definitely need a key so that you can come and go at will. Also, make it clear that your room is your room. She can't come in there without your permission.

As for legal rights, check into squatter rights in your area. If you've been there for 7 months, those should be applicable. Those give you pretty much the same rights as any tenant. Getting locked out is definitely in violation of those rights.
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Reply to needtowashhair
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SamTheManager 4 hours ago
Anyone living there for much less time than that is a tenant even if they never paid rent or signed a lease. They will need to legally evict you to get you out of there if it comes to that. You can absolutely put a lock on your door so no one comes in while you are asleep and you should do that. The owner is not allowed to lock you out at any time while you live there, but especially not to get you out of there as a tenant. They can't turn off water or power in order to get you to move, nor pack up things and throw them out in the street without going through legal means, which can take a few months at least. They can't harass you with construction projects or unreasonable time of day noises to get you out of the dwelling. Look up landlord tenant rights for your specific city or town.

As far as working, you'll have to ask for a contract from her. You may need to do the legwork on that with finding the info for your state and how to do it if she is not good with organizing things like that. But you might be better off just preparing to get another place to live and a regular job. It's what I would do.

But first I would get a copy of the key. Could be a gray area legally (taking the key) but she can't lock you out.
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If you have no legal agreements in writing you have not got a leg to stand on.
As usual these live in the home rent free , situations do not work . It always results in mission creep , and often lack of privacy or respect as well for the caregiver.
Move out.
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Reply to waytomisery
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The “free room and board” thing never ends well. Time to go.
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Reply to LoopyLoo
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Use the money from your house sale to move out to somewhere with a genuine lease. Also get a regular job which will build credits toward your Social Security and Medicare instead of cobbling things together. Don’t let yourself be exploited by this woman who doesn’t respect you.
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Reply to MG8522
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If you search on this forum for "live-in caregiver" you will probably find many posts where this situation just devolves and never works in the live-in's favor. I've read many since I've been participating on this forum for the past several years.

If there's no written contract, there are no "rights". However... if your mail goes to that house, then it is your legal residence. Is that address on your DL? If so, it's your legal residence and she can't deny it. She would have to evict you to get you out. As far as any other "rights" inside the home: you may need to consult with a pro bono legal aid society that centers on renter's rights.

But I would start looking for a new place to live asap (and don't tell her you're looking) AND a new job OR after you move out you present a written work agreement that limits you to 40 hrs per week and states an hourly wage and she is basically a formal employer and must therefore provide you with a W2 at the end of the year a perform tax withholding on each payroll. If this isn't happening then you are robbing yourself of SS income and possible Medicare because you need to have at least 40 recorded quarters of work history (that's 10 years) in order to get that benefit. She's gonna hate that so just find a real job that doesn't abuse you.

There is currently a labor shortage in the US and you could easily work for an agency and get FT hrs and maybe even benefits, plus protection from predatory people like your current "client". Or find contract work through Care.com that is in your favor.

Right now if I were you I'd sneak her house key off the chain and make a copy at a hardware store so that she can't lock you out. She sounds either mentally ill or descending into dementia since this is unreasonable and irrational. And as others have pointed out, it WILL only get worse.
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Reply to Geaton777
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It’s her home, that gives her the rights. You’re being treated poorly. Time to move out and expect better for yourself. I wish you courage and peace
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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Move out.

Caregiving isn't going to become easier as this person gets older.

What was your original plan for living arrangements after you sold your house?
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Reply to notgoodenough
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