shady landlord advice

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

So i'm living in a big old house, which was converted into 3 apartments. The heat is included in the price of rent, but i pay my own electric bill. There is a coin operated washer and dryer in the basement which i was using today.

I noticed that the outlet for the dryer looked like it went into my electric meter. Since i pay my own electric bill i was like wtf?? So i decided to flip the switch and see if the washer and dryer cut out.

Not only did both the washer and dryer stop working but so did the dam furnace! The furnace is gas, but still takes some power to run and when i flipped the switch you could see the flame go out. I noticed when it got cold, and the furnace started running 24/7, my power bill doubled!!

I ran up to my apartment to find out if maybe the meter was mislabeled, but it isnt because with the switch off i have no power in my apartment.

So it looks like i'm paying for the power to the furnace when heat is supposed to be included in the rent (it's in the lease) and i am also paying for the power for the public washer and dryer.

I called the electric company to find out if there was any possible way that the meter could keep track of two accounts and bill the landlord for the washer, dryer and furnace and they said it was not possible.

They also told me that there are only 3 accounts for the building, which coincides with the three apartments. Therefore, if the landlord knows there is power being used in common areas and he isn't paying for it, he must be aware that he is screwing over his tenants.

Just wondering what you guys might do in this situation?? What sort of arrangement for compensation would you find acceptable? Do you think if i moved out because they were screwing me over they could still collect for the rest of the lease??

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[SplAffair 10+ year member]

haha sucks for you

 

[plugitin 5,000+ posts]

id raise hell

 

[HonkyKong 10+ year member]

Stab his ***.

 

[I Like Waffle]

Hook it up to your least favorite neighbors breaker box.

 

[rixthetrick]

Well for your landlord it's all business.

I guess when you bring it up with the landlord you will soon discover

how "reasonable" things can be sorted out.

As much as it's not fun to move out, I have threatened to move if things weren't more amicable - but you have to be prepared to follow through.

Just like you would dealing at work, family or confronted by say a bully.

I guess you'll have to weigh up what you might pay elsewhere, what you may be losing by staying in the predicament you're in. I'm one for diplomacy until that avenue is clearly extinguished, then weigh up the pro's and con's, I don't burn my bridges generally - that is unless I am confronted by a bully who's game isn't good enough to intimidate me, then all bets are off.

Set boundaries and standards representing how you want to be treated by others, by respecting yourself you'll ensure others will also.

Failing that, duct tape said landlord to a chair and break out the cordless drill in the region thereabouts of the knee caps. ala Italia style.

whew, all typed out,

Dr Phil

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

connect them to one of the other's tennants source

 

[SplAffair 10+ year member]

leave it unplugged

 

[Glock17 10+ year member]

id raise hell

x2.

 

[x1le 10+ year member]

Yea, I would flip out.

 

[michaellane 5,000+ posts]

just get your average bill for the summer months then get the average for the winter months. take the difference and times it by the number of months you use the heat. then id take the summer months and compare to another tenants bill to get a idea of what the washer and dryer are costing me. then id take tons of pics and have my lease ready. id argue and get a few months free //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[GAM3OVR 5,000+ posts]

******** right next to the door of his office and when your almost done, knock on the door and jizz in his eyes

 

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

i think i should probably have a licensed electrician come out and document that i indeed pay for the furnace, the washer/dryer, and what ever else. That way if i move out before the lease is up, i at least have proof that they broke the lease first by sticking me with heating cost which the lease specifies they should have paid for.

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

yup

 

[michaellane 5,000+ posts]

just get your average bill for the summer months then get the average for the winter months. take the difference and times it by the number of months you use the heat. then id take the summer months and compare to another tenants bill to get a idea of what the washer and dryer are costing me. then id take tons of pics and have my lease ready. id argue and get a few months free //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

do the electrician idea and what i said before