How One Tenant’s Petty Revenge Sent Their Scummy Landlord’s Plans Up in Smoke
When it comes to landlord horror stories, most renters have a tale or two. But what happens when the tables turn, and the tenant gets the last laugh? Enter the saga of u/Ijnan, a notary clerk in Germany who found themselves fighting back against a landlord seemingly determined to win “Scummiest Landlord of the Year.” What started as a struggle over black mould and fire hazards ended up with a perfectly-timed, delicious slice of petty revenge—served cold, of course.
This isn’t just your run-of-the-mill revenge story. It’s a masterclass in timing, connections, and a dash of karma. And, as the r/PettyRevenge community gleefully observed, sometimes telling the truth is all it takes to bring a villain’s house of cards tumbling down.
When Landlords Go Low, Tenants Go to Court
Let’s set the scene: Our protagonist, u/Ijnan, was dealing with a landlord whose idea of property maintenance seemed to involve blaming tenants for every issue. Mould? Must be your fault. Doors scraping the floor? You again. Random objects blocking your door and causing a fire hazard? Still you.
But things escalated from “annoying” to “criminal” when a specialist confirmed that the real fire hazard was actually a wall made of pressed wood—a glaring violation in Germany. The mould, it turned out, was due not to tenant neglect, but to shoddy construction: cold bridges everywhere, an improperly installed window, and questionable DIY fixes involving black tape and foam.
As if that weren’t enough, the landlord allegedly broke in and concealed the extent of the mould problem—behavior that, as OP notes, resulted in asthma and could land him hefty fines for bodily harm. The evidence? A WhatsApp screenshot from the groundskeeper proving the landlord knew about the mould all along. Yikes.
A Chance Encounter, a Twist of Fate
Here’s where the story takes a turn worthy of a Netflix miniseries. As u/Ijnan prepared to escape their toxic living situation, they attended a flat viewing with a real estate agent—who just happened to be an old acquaintance from their notary clerk days. As they got to chatting, the conversation turned to u/Ijnan’s current landlord. The agent, curious, asked for the landlord’s name.
Cue dramatic pause.
Turns out, the same landlord was trying to buy a house from this very agent, likely as a way to shield his assets from the impending legal fallout. The agent, now aware of the landlord’s misdeeds, was far from thrilled about the sale. “He did not look happy about making a sale with my landlord, and will probably give it to the other applicant,” OP recounted.
Sometimes, fate really does have a sense of humor.
The Sweet Taste of Petty Revenge (with a Side of Justice)
The r/PettyRevenge community was here for every delicious moment. Top commenter u/desertboots summed up the vibe: “Good luck,” to which OP replied, “Oh, I absolutely had good luck, thank you!!” The luck didn’t end there: OP later updated that the real estate agent was coming to their workplace to sign papers for a new flat—one that’s triple the size, complete with a 40sqm terrace. As u/desertboots cheered, “Yay!!!!”
Even other tenants chimed in with solidarity and cautionary tales. u/ednameaux lamented, “The real estate selling my old building worked as hard as possible to show when I wasn't home... I was honest, and did not exaggerate. The real estate agent was so mad.” Sadly, not everyone’s story has a happy ending: their new landlord doubled the rent after kicking them out.
But for u/Ijnan, justice was swift and sweet. When u/justalittlejazz pleaded for an update, OP delivered: “REA cancelled the sale!” The landlord, it seems, was left “upset sitting in his corner,” as one commenter put it, while OP moved on to greener (and less mouldy) pastures.
Is It Petty, or Is It Justice?
Some commenters wondered whether this was truly “petty revenge” or something more. “This is more nuclear than petty lmao, good luck,” wrote u/trenixjetix, suggesting that torpedoing a landlord’s house purchase—and hitting them with fines and legal fees—might be a tad beyond “petty.” OP countered with a laugh, insisting, “Is it really? 😂 And thanks, it's looking up right now!”
As u/Sea_Excitement_7602 wisely pointed out, “Telling the truth is neither nuclear nor petty, really. Your landlord insisted you handle this via other means and you did. Bravo!” Sometimes, simply standing up for yourself—and telling the truth to the right person at the right time—is all it takes to set things right.
The Moral of the Story: Never Underestimate the Tenant
What can we learn from this tale? For starters, never underestimate the power of honesty, especially when combined with a little luck and a well-timed connection. Landlords who cut corners and bully tenants might want to remember: you never know who your renter knows—or what truths they might tell.
And for tenants everywhere, let this be a reminder: documenting issues, knowing your rights, and having the courage to speak up can pay off in the end. Sometimes, karma just needs a little nudge… and maybe a WhatsApp screenshot or two.
Have you ever had a landlord horror story—or a moment of sweet, petty revenge? Share your own tales in the comments below. After all, as this story proves, sometimes the little guy gets the last laugh!
Original Reddit Post: Sabotaged my scummy landlord's new housing sale