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Location: Newton,ma Looking To Inquire What Steps To Take Further?

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Context:
I rent a room in a 4-bedroom house in Location: Newton,MA , on an individual per-room lease (renewed through December). One of my housemates has been causing ongoing problems, and I’m trying to work out what I can reasonably do.

What’s happened so far:

  • Late-night noise: Running the dryer around 11:30 PM, and the next morning the bathroom door was locked from the inside at about 6:30 AM. Another housemate witnessed both and had to step in.
  • Thermostat: The thermostat for my room and hers (the other two housemates have their own) was set to 65°F. Three days in a row I found it at 80°F without any discussion. I reset it each time and it went back up. I didn’t see who changed it, but only two rooms are on that thermostat. I’ve also been told she doesn’t pay electricity, but that’s secondhand and I haven’t verified it.
  • Missing item: I photographed a food container in my dish rack at 12:38 AM. At 7 AM it was gone. I searched the kitchen, drawers, and dishwasher and haven’t found it. I didn’t see anyone take it, so I’m treating it as missing, not stolen.
  • Earlier: My belongings have been moved without permission, and she’s been rude to me and another housemate.

What I’ve done: I kept a dated log, raised it informally with another housemate (who said he can’t control her), and sent the landlord a written complaint citing the lease clause on disturbances and interference with other occupants. The landlord replied that it’s beyond their control and that intervening might make things worse. I’ve sent a follow-up asking for a written reminder to her and for clarity on how heat costs are split.

My questions:

  1. Does a landlord’s refusal to act on a lease disturbance clause give me any rights, such as breaking the lease early without the fee?
  2. If I call the police non-emergency line to file a report for the missing item, will that help or backfire? it has occured once, and can occur again, but I dont wanna keep losing my items.
  3. Anything else I should be documenting?

I’m trying to keep this professional and avoid retaliating. Thanks for any advice.

submitted by /u/Minimum_Assist_6547
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