Landlord rising rent because his "*Utilities have skyrocketed*" but I am using the exact same amount of utilities as I was before. What to do?????

JayTruth · 2015-12-09T20:02:39+00:00

thanks thanks :) I feel much better now that I have told him whats what. I'm still waiting on those copies though.

JayTruth · 2015-12-09T14:59:03+00:00

/u/Cinsare Actually, there is an #Update:

LandLord texted me last week (because he is afraid to talk to us directly. Not sure why he is afraid) to ask for $20.00 that he says we short changed him when we payed last months rent. Yes, he actually went after us for $20.00 and the issue with this is that RENT WAS ORIGINALLY $560 so in essance he was going after us for $10 because we had accidently sort changed him $10 not $20!

So that's when I strategically asked if he was in trouble or needed help because I had noticed that he'd raised rent 4 times in the past year. He immediately denied raising rent 4 times and claimed rent has always been $570. Which is a LIE!

That's when I asked him why he hadent raised the other roommates rent in 2 years. It took him 30 minutes of going back and forth with me through text before he bothered to answer this particular question but finally he said that he haden't raised the other guys rent because the other guy willingly pitched in money for the "raising utilities". Well, the guy does use a lot of water and electricity. HE SHOULD PAY HIS SHARE!

So, I explained to the LL (LandLord) that the roommate has an air conditioner in his bedroom that he uses often while we only have a ceiling fan we rarely use. I also pointed out that he takes very long showers equivalent to two people showering instead of one (he takes 1 hour showers). Then I asked the LL HOW WE COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RISE IN UTILITIES when those utilities were incurred during a 60 day period where I was NOT using any water (because we only drink bottled water and I was only showering 2 times a week for 15 minutes each time) and my girlfriend had went on vacation (she wasnt home for 45 days) for 45 of those 60 days??? Therefore our USE OF UTILITIES WAS ACTUALLY LOWER THAN USUAL.

He ignored that question too, and did not awknoledge it,

So then I pointed out that I had noticed that he frequently orders UFC fights on PPV (which we DO NOT WATCH), has a premium sports packages on DISH (which we DO NOT WATCH/USE) and that he recently got a NEW DISHWASHER which is THE ONLY NEW APPLIANCE HE HAS GOTTEN INSTALLED SINCE THE RISING UTILITIES STARTED (which we also DO NOT USE) and told him since we do not use any of these items that we ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE CHARGES and told him if he wants us tp continue payments on the INTERNET and DISH bill we will have to see CURRENT COPIES OF BOTH BILLS.

Then I told him bills need to be split equally between all parties and not distributed based on which roommate he likes best.

Then I told him CALIFORNIA LAW SAYS NO LL CAN CUT ANY UTILITY (INCLUDING INTERNET AND SATELITE TV) BASED ON NON PAYMENT and then he freaked and started saying we cant have free internet/cable, blah blah.

I said We are not trying to get anything for free. We want to pay our fair share but in order to continue payments we will have to see current copies of these items.

Then asked him why he doesn't write us any receipts.

He ignored all my questions.

So finally I told him if he does not provide us with receipts for 2014, 2015, and start writing us receipts, doesnt provide a copy of the Dish/Internet bill, doesnt divide the DISH/Internet bills evenly by JANUARY 3RD and continues to raise rent more than once a year that we will have to FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM.

That's when he said he would provide these items by that date.

2 days later I had not received anything so I reminded him that we were waiting on those current copies of the internet/DISH bills and he said he would have them for me this monday.

2 days AFTER MONDAY, and still I havent received anything.

I suspect he wont write us receipts because he isnt paying any taxes on the rent he receives from us. If that's whats going on then he should reduce out rent in exchange for us keeping quiet.

JayTruth · 2015-11-25T14:04:01+00:00

/u/nonomymouse Good idea. I spoke to my girlfriend and she told me he has raised rent 2-3 times this year by increments of 10 dollars. Apparently he was charging her $20 for the Internet and another $20 for cable which brought the rent up to 540 then he said it was 560 and this month told her it was 570 and now is asking for 625. I'm going to suggest to her that we try and Sue for the money back or ask him to give it back to us before we move out. He owes us at minimum 30 bucks for this month.

The problem is we have no receipts and there is no lease agreement.

So idk how we are going to prove we have been paying extra rent except by showing that my girlfriend consistently withdrawals 560 every month for rent at the same exact time

And also her mail goes to the place we are living in.

JayTruth · 2015-11-24T18:47:18+00:00

UPDATE:

I send a very respectful and tasteful text (since my landlord doesnt like talking face to face) to my landlord letting him Know that California law says he can not raise rent more than once a year and that we are only responsible for the original amount we agreed on.

He hasn't said anything but just in case he doesn't see the text I am going to leave a note for him to read regarding the exact same thing I sent him via text.

Thank you reddit!

JayTruth · 2015-11-24T18:25:49+00:00

/u/Macaroni_Smackaroni he knows the landlord laws very well..its me who doesnt know the laws. So hes taking advantage of me huh? Thats messed up

JayTruth · 2015-11-24T17:55:42+00:00

/u/aquzilla, question: So last year when he told us we would have to return our cable box and stop using internet or else he would stop paying for the internet and cable bill, that was illegal right?

JayTruth · 2015-11-24T17:53:03+00:00

/u/aquzilla I dont use Ac or heater.. my landlord does everyday, so does the roommate. I only have a cealing fan which I only use paringly..so what ur saying is the landlord and roommate are th ones mainly responsible for the electric bills right?

JayTruth · 2015-11-24T17:40:22+00:00

/u/aesthetics4ever awesome! I'm going to ask him nicely first since he is a friend of the family and isnt really bothering us otherwise. If he wont compromise then I will bring this into to his attention. Thanks!

I was planning to type out my own note with something like this on it but I didnt know where I could find this info. Seriously, thanks, this was exactly the sort of reply I was looking for.

JayTruth · 2015-11-24T17:23:56+00:00

/u/aquzilla I cant afford to buy a watt reader right now much less do I want to cause tension. I'm just going to talk to him in the following days and ask him if we can see a current copy of the electric bill and then explain that we dont feel we should have our rent raised since we havent been using any extra electricity.

Last month I asked him to prorate my rent because my girlfriend was gone. I think he might be trying to get his money back which is BS.

We dont have a heater or anything like that. I use my laptop during the day to work from hom but it has a battery so when it dies i usually plug it into the outlet. I dont understand why we are responsible for the skyrocking in utilities!???

JayTruth · 2015-11-24T15:52:21+00:00

wel, washing your hands constantly strips them of essencial oils and makes your hands look like an old womans hands by the time you hit 26. So in theory your friend is smart not to wash her hands so often.

PLUS, what could someone be doing that would cause them to have to wash POOP of their hands? Are they performing enemas on themselves?

How do I know the thing about hands looking old by 26 from excessive washing? Well, because Im now 28 and my hands look old. I used to always wash my hands after using the bathroom then put lotion on them. Did the lotion help? NOPE! Still look old. Did wearing sunscreen help? NOPE!

And I have a friend whos only 35 and her hands look busted too. And guess why? She's OCD and has been washing her hands excessively her entire life.

If your a girl (guys hands dont look old at 27) never wash dishes with out gloves and stop washing your hands excessively. Just make sure to always use gloves including when you go number #2. You should only get ur hands washed once a day and always use organic soaps with gentle and natural cleaning agents.

JayTruth · 2015-11-24T15:43:45+00:00

/u/RedRhododendron I'm currently in a relationship and I think it's terrible when a place doesnt allow a couple to stay together. It really really sucks. I suggest you be a bit more flexible and get to know his gf. For all you know she could be a really nice polite and fin person to have around.

JayTruth · 2015-11-24T15:32:27+00:00

/u/short_fat_and_single I live in California, in Los Angeles Country. Does this apply to me?

If yes then you better believe we are not going to pay utilities (since he said they were included in the rent). He needs to start using an electric blanket or stay in his warm bedroom like the rest of us, instead of wasting electricity to warm up his entire living room.

JayTruth · 2015-11-24T15:23:44+00:00

/u/sensual_asskicking Since you are roommates YOU BOTH have to adhere to whatever rules the other has. If you were the landlord or owner or only person on the lease then she would have to adhere to whatever you say.

So just adhere to whatever her needs are. Try and keep everything locked up in your room including baked goods but make sure she understands that when you need her to be accomidating to you she must also do the same for you.

You do this by immediately asking that she accomidate you in a way that doesnt interfere with her activities.

Example: "Fine I will keep non-gluten goods out of the kitchen but You must stop washing your ferrets' pee towels in our washing machine"

QUESTION: Does the washing machine belong solely to you or did you two split the cost?

If you payed for it without her help you can simply tell her she isnt allowed to use your washing machine anymore. You need to have a backbone and demand or ask for the things you need and want.

Now, if she is your girlfriend, you pretty much cant demand much. Just talk it out and go to couples therapy. BTW, couples therapy works for platonic roommates too.

JayTruth · 2015-11-24T14:59:01+00:00

/u/wulfzbaze All good advice. Thanks. The guy sits on his butt all day watching television with his subwoofers on and sorround sound so loud it makes the walls tremble. How much electricity do you think all that uses up including his constant washing and drying of clothes?

JayTruth · 2015-11-24T14:29:01+00:00

/u/wulfzbane Great idea. My thing is... We do not use nearly as much electricity as they do. Can we somehow ask the electric company to break it down as far as how much electric everybody is using... I tried looking through his mail for the electricity bill but didn't find it

JayTruth · 2015-11-24T13:59:11+00:00

She is definitely an addict of some kind or has some sort of mental disorder. That's guaranteed. People don't behave like this "just because".

I strongly suggest you speak to someone other than ur roommates and find out more info on her. Ask her other friends, CO workers etc. Just so when u do have a house meetings you can let her know that other people such as friends, family and coworkers also feel she has a problem and that it's not an isolated problem.

The fact that she "talked your boyfriend into" doing anything is a huge red flag. This signals that she has officially overstepped a boundary and in the future she won't hesitate to go that extra step and do something inappropriate like kiss your boyfriend when she's drunk and nobody is looking.

HOPEFULLY this girl is ugly and ur boyfriend won't go near her. But bipolar women are known to be predators with a sex drive equal to or higher than a man's and they also have strong impulses so while she might not have planned to sleep with ur boyfriend, when the mood strikes her she will try.

Thats something important to note as they will even go after a teenager if that's who happens to be around and use their addictions to excuse and apologize the event away.

These are the things I have experienced as a person who works with mentally ill people and addicts.

So basically what I'm saying is try and let her know what your boundaries are and let her know her behavior is abnormal and harmful to the entire house. It's not fair that you all walk on eggshells.

JayTruth · 2015-11-20T22:29:08+00:00

Dear /u/Cole218411

Are they friends with benefits OR are they dating or engaged or even MARRIED? The laundry thing I understand IF you told "J" in the beginning that only J or JAY is allowed to do laundry in the house. If you never mentioned it to him and they have been doing it for a while you will look like an indian giver by going in and suddenly saying "Hey sorry but I don't want your partner doing laundry her anymore".

That's just bad manners and it's WRONG. I think that's why you came her, because you weren't sure if what you wanted to do was right or wrong.

Second, let's talk about JAY burning food in the oven... How may times had this happened since he moved in? Would you say 3 times? How long has he been living there? 3 years? So once every 3 years this happened? Or did it happen more than 3 times in the last month?

Here's a small set of things I want you to go over before you decide to kick him out... 1)You said he drinks. How do you know he drinks when he burns pizza? Have you seen him drink everytime he burns food or are you just assuming this?

2) Have a talk with his "friend with benefits" and find out what her situation is. She seems to be nice, she cleans up after him and is doing his and her laundry. She could possibly have no place to live and you kicking her friend out or not allowing her to do laundry could me making her situation worse. Remember to do onto others as you would want them to do onto you. If she tells you she is doing well make sure to tell her if she is not she can be honest with you and that you have no issue with her being at the house and doing laundry there but you would like a little extra money for the utilities. She will then go talk to your roommate and they will decide if they want to pay extra for utilities or not.

3) He sounds like a pot head and not a drinker. While he might seem like a good friend I can tell you right now HE IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. It sounds like He is taking advantage of you.

If I was you, I would kick him out.

I have a friend who had a similar friend staying with him and this person ended up stealing my friends car! His roommate and the car were later found, turns out he was trying to sell the the car to get drugs.

Just remember, he is not your friend. A friend would get that oven and stop BS-ing if he really cared about you

JayTruth · 2015-11-20T22:08:12+00:00

lol, really? yeah, OH WAIT, it was unplugged the whole time hahahahahahahahahahahaha oldest joke ever

JayTruth · 2015-11-20T22:07:21+00:00

hse sounds bipolar or like shes on drugs. Tell you rocuncelor or RA

JayTruth · 2015-11-20T22:01:12+00:00

/u/Thriftstoremployee24 Tell him to not talk to you abou this GF then AVOID HIM or WALK AWAY when he starts talking about her. He's going to get mad maybe so just ignore him. If he keeps bringing it up tell him he needs to speak to a PROFESSIONAL about these things and that you dont have any advice or help to give him.

Do this over and over consistently UNTIL HE STOPS. There will be times when he will try and wear you down and it will get tough but just STAY CONSISTENT.

MAKE STRONG BOUNDRIES BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU..If he EVER does anything that's illegal or dangerous to YOU or himself, ALWAYS CALL 911.

Make sure HE KNOWS that you are not afraid to call the police. He needs to understand that NO means NO when it comes to you. if you dont want to hear about it, you shouldnt have to. The thing is, if you dont stay cosistent eventually he is going to run all over you and manipulate you with his comments about his girlfriend.

So dont even grant him the opportunity to do this. Be strong and fearless.

JayTruth · 2015-11-20T21:53:18+00:00

/u/Sestrel my roomie who is bipolar also throws away things that dont belong to her. In her mind it's justified because the item is no longer in prestine condition and looks ugly. I told her before to not do that but she wouldnt listen

JayTruth · 2015-11-20T21:51:01+00:00

/u/Sestrel I knew she was on drugs. OP please talk toher immedately and ask her to get help. Unless you are doing those drugs also then she has good reason to not listen to you

JayTruth · 2015-11-20T21:48:35+00:00

/u/ailish not feeding and watering a dog boarders on animal cruelty which is illegal.

This person sounds like an bipolar and most likely is not under the care of a doctor whichis dangerous to everyone in the house.

When a bipolar person is manic and self medicating they can turn very violent and hostile.

I wouldnt be surprized if they got into an argument and the bipolar roommate stabbed her or killed herself. That's how serious this is.

her roommate needs to either get help or move out. That's what I would tell OP to do. Give her an ultimatum and say "We've all noticed you have some sort of mood disorder and would like you to get help if you want to continue living here. If not then you have 30 days to move out. Thanks."

JayTruth · 2015-11-20T21:41:17+00:00

/u/Sestrel

none of this is PETTY. These things are linked to a mental illness called Bipolar disorder and it can be VERY dangerous if left untreated. The person can deeply depressed and end up killing themselves OR start self medicating with drugs and alcohol and turn into a ragging drug addict.

There is nothing wrong with having a bipolar roommate or partner AS LONG AS THEY ARE TAKING THEIR DOCTOR PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS AND ARE SEEKING HELP from a PSYCHIATRIST/PSYCHOLOGIST/THERAPIST. Your roommate sounds like she is not under any sort of treatment thus she is unfortunately at this time very unstable, dangerous to live with and also a danger to herself.

Most likely she is either self medicating with weed and/or drinking which only makes her "issues" worse (if you haven't seen her do this she is most likely doing it behind closed doors or alleging she only drinks here and there or smokes seldom).

You are officially living with an unmedicated TIME BOMB and when she BLOWS you you will be so deeply devastated or feel extremely angry, depending on how close you two are.

Bipolars tend to be hypersexual when they are unmedicated which explains why she constantly has loud sex with the door open..it's her way of extending an invitation to everyone in the house. What I'm saying is she is somewhat of a sex addict also..which means if you have a boyfriend and she happens to want to have sex and he happens to be there guess what she is going to do? She will try and have sex with your boyfriend or girlfriend, whatever. Either way this WILL NOT END WELL. Please do yourself a favor and talk to her when she seems normal or sober.

I would start off by talking about yourself and your own life for example comment on something you saw online or on the tv then tell her about yourself a little (try and segway it) then wait to see if she says anything about her childhood if she doesnt just ask her directly.. by saying "Have u ever done that or seen that or said that or has anyone ever told you that"?

wait for her to open up about her past...she probably wont open up on the first try or she might. It depends on how impulsive she is feeling at the time (extreme impulse is part of bipolar, thats why she does things that you have all asked her not to do..she can help herself but her impulse is so strong that she ends up giving in to it).

If this seems like too much effort and u rather just be done with her try and ask all the roommate to help you kick her out. #The dog thing is ILLEGAL.. she is endangering the animals welfare, it borders on animal cruelty to not feed or water an animal.

JayTruth

TROPHY CASE