By Amy Koch, Illustrated by Minnie Phan
Pro: Your kitchen sink is broken, but there’s no need to worry. You’re only a doorbell away from getting that baby fixed.
Con: Your landlord notices the things that you broke or ruined in your apartment and takes notes of what to deduct from your deposit.
Pro: You feel safer bringing home random online dates because your landlord is just a scream away.
Con: You can’t bring home too many dates without feeling really judged.
Pro: Mail deliveries are a lot easier because your landlord can sign for your packages.
Con: Your landlord now knows how much you shop online and that you subscribe to weird magazines.
Pro: You can’t find your apartment key. Good thing the main key holder lives above you and can grant you access to your humble abode.
Con: Your landlord knows how often you have drunkenly locked yourself out.
Pro: Because your landlord lives in your building, your friends never expect you to throw house parties or host the pregaming (i.e., you don’t have a huge mess of empty bottles and pizza boxes to clean up the next day).
Con: Having any friends over — especially loud ones — is risky business. Your fun will likely equal a ruined reputation and permanent silent judgment from your landlord.
Pro: Your landlord can watch over your house while you’re out of town, pick up your mail, water your plants, etc.
Con: You can’t Airbnb or sublet your apartment without him/her knowing you’re breaking the lease.
Pro: Since your landlord lives upstairs, you have a lot of face-to-face interactions with them. Think of this as an opportunity to kiss their ass and make them like you as a tenant.
Con: Having a lot of face time with your landlord means you risk being seen inebriated, hungover or just a terrible tenant.
Pro: You are a 30-second walk away from paying rent. Convenience is always a plus.
Con: You are a 30-second walk away from paying rent. There is no excuse for a late payment.
