my answer to any special request (may I store things in the hall, may I put a chair on the roof etc) is always no.

It's a shame that it has come to this but that is the way of the world now. It seems as though there are always going to be some people out there that try to take advantage of the kindness of strangers and this was a real heartbreaker for my parents who hate that they are no longer allowed to simply be human to their tenants. Another family member of mine ended up selling all of his properties that he was renting for the same reasons.

It seems now that there are so many regulations that it is almost mandatory to hire an estate manager just to handle the legal aspects of things.

While I am not happy that you had to go through these things it is a little bit nice to see that our experience is not unique and that others have gone through it as well.