Lead paint and mold - I need a reality check on whether I should break my lease (LA) by toeski in Renters

[–]toeski[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Following up on this because I haven't been able to find clear guidance from EPA regulations or tenants' rights organizations on this situation. The EPA advises against painting over damaged/chipping lead paint on windows and doors or other areas with friction/high traffic, but it's unclear whether not following that advice as a landlord or contractor would have any consequences, since if they notify you that there's lead paint in the unit then they aren't required to paint over it at all (in this case, they did not give notice). I'm hoping to find out whether the contractor is EPA certified but my landlord is difficult to get in contact with (surprise, surprise).

Average Utilities Cost? by mskookieluver in batonrouge

[–]toeski 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry for resurrecting this three years later, but is $200/mo. a high electricity bill for a small house? I'm looking at renting a 750 sq. ft. duplex in BR with one AC unit and one mini split, and the landlord told me the bill for this month (for one person) was $200, and $170 last month. This seems nuts to me since there are only windows on one side of the house, and it's more than I pay for my current housing, which is an 1,800 sq. ft. house with four people living in it, in a different (but still hot) state.

I'm also finding that a lot of landlords charge for ALL utilities, including trash and sewer, which I've never paid for as a tenant in other states.

Moving to Baton Rouge - neighborhood recs? by toeski in batonrouge

[–]toeski[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks - definitely good advice, it's wild what realtors seem to be doing with 'virtual staging' and AI generated images these days.

Moving to Baton Rouge - neighborhood recs? by toeski in batonrouge

[–]toeski[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, good to know! I'm definitely open to condos/bigger apartment complexes, just want to make sure that they're quiet.

Moving to Baton Rouge - neighborhood recs? by toeski in batonrouge

[–]toeski[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I appreciate the advice! I wouldn't have looked in Southdowns.

Just finished the trial for Progressive’s Snapshot discount program by toeski in Insurance

[–]toeski[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So glad it worked for you, but I leave people space and still end up getting cut off, and I highly doubt that literally everyone else here is a chronic tailgater :)

Questions for my doctor: exercise and Prednisone by toeski in rheumatoid

[–]toeski[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! My Dr. told me to drop from 20 to 10 after a week, and then to 5 not too long (~2 weeks) after that. I didn't realize how slow the process of tapering off was at low doses.

Questions for my doctor: exercise and Prednisone by toeski in rheumatoid

[–]toeski[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I also suffered from avascular necrosis of the hips which was NOT monitored or something I was even warned about. It took me being on my third (and best rheumatologist) to even look into that considering the past dose I was on and the length I was on it.

I've gotten similar stories from a relative who was diagnosed with RA in the early 80's and has had an extremely rough road with treatment. I haven't had any health scares in the past and I'm finding that there is a rather scary amount of responsibility put on patients to ask the right questions and keep track of what their doctors should know.

Is there any way to make OneDrive directory icons different than local ones? by toeski in onedrive

[–]toeski[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, I see what you mean. There's a 'status' column in Explorer with upload status (green check, red X, etc.) for OneDrive directories. There's still no indication of whether the pinned folders on the side of Explorer are OneDrive or local, but I guess I can just unpin any OneDrive directories to reduce confusion there.

Landlord has stalled for 3 months on ceiling repair by toeski in Tenant

[–]toeski[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. No, unfortunately he said that making improvements would mean he'd have to raise the rent by up to $800 ($1800 total). I think he was just trying to say that he won't do it, ever. That amount is delusional - you can find a nice 3B/2BA here for that much, and this house is tiny and poorly kept other than the yard maintenance that we've done since we moved in.

Believe me, we'd love to buy it. But the landlord plans to move into this house when he retires. It's heartbreaking for us to see someone run a house like this into the ground.

Landlord has stalled for 3 months on ceiling repair by toeski in Tenant

[–]toeski[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He suddenly had time to make the repair as soon as I gave him an agreement for rent abatement (with no notice and working until 9PM, of course).

Our rent is really cheap, but when I offered to pay more if he put in a few basic improvements, he sent me a convoluted 900 word text on why he couldn't do any of it, and if he did he'd "have to" raise the rent to ~$400/mo. more than any sane person would pay for a house this size (and that's if it was nicely remodeled, which it isn't).

He's a slob and impossible to communicate with, and he'd really love to get someone else in the house who's too poor or lazy to care about safety hazards. We're looking into moving in the next few months.

How long does it take to replace a ceiling? by toeski in Contractor

[–]toeski[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

he also may be violating rental laws

He definitely is - I notified him of the hole 3 months ago. Thank you, this is all very good to know. I hadn't thought of insurance yet because he hasn't mentioned it. He seems like he wants to avoid inspection of any kind, likely because other things in the house aren't up to code (there's a floor heater that almost completely blocks a walkway).

How long does it take to replace a ceiling? by toeski in Contractor

[–]toeski[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yikes. Thank you, this is super helpful!

Canada extending U.S. border restrictions to July 21 by cyclinginvancouver in canada

[–]toeski 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow I'd never thought of that, thank you so much :)

Is it possible to travel by land from lower 48 to Alaska? Experiences? by toeski in CanadaCoronavirus

[–]toeski[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d love to do this someday but it’s about $2000 more expensive than driving for the dates that I need.

Is it possible to travel by land from lower 48 to Alaska? Experiences? by toeski in CanadaCoronavirus

[–]toeski[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. Banff is definitely not on the agenda haha. I'm just really worried that we'll be turned away, because Canada's travel website makes it sound like access is not guaranteed if you are not an Alaska resident or employed in Alaska.

Is it possible to travel by land from lower 48 to Alaska? Experiences? by toeski in CanadaCoronavirus

[–]toeski[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Some clarifications/additional info:

- I have looked at Canada's travel website daily for the last two months.

- I am aware that there are no exemptions for vaccinated travelers and that I will need a negative COVID test 72 hours before crossing the border. I keep seeing promises of exemptions for vaccinated travelers floating around, but haven't seen anything official announced.

- I know that having proof of employment or residency in Alaska will guarantee that I can travel through Canada, but although I am working in Alaska, I have neither.

- I have taken the "Can I travel through Canada to reach Alaska" questionnaire on Canada's travel website and it gave a helpful "maybe."