My friend had a $700 elec. bill this month. She lives in a 550sqf apt. Her slumlord refuses to fix the wiring?
If the slumlord refuses to have the wiring contained by the building checked or fixed, what recourse does she have, other than to move out? She checked with others within the building and they all report bills of over $500, each month. The electric company said they can't do anything past looking at the meter box, which is working properly. The slumlord simply plane refuses to allow anyone to look at the wiring, much less hire someone to digit out what the problem could be.The problem has existed for over 3 years. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, in mortgage! Obviously it's not up to code, Hister, or else it wouldn't be a problem. And, if someone wants to rent out their property, they do have rules and law to abide by. Enjoy your points, anyway. :) Thanks a lot Babs! That's a good idea. I've long suspected that the auto body shop operating subsequent door has been tapping bad their line. But, I still think it's the wiring surrounded by the building, since everything else is jacked in it. I'll tell her what u said. Thanks everyoe, there's a lot of really well brought-up information and advice here. I'd give you all best answers if I could!
Best Answer:
If the meters are checked and found to be working, then that is the amount of electricity that be used, so "checking the wiring" will not do much. They probably have appliances that are not energy star rated, go off lights or other things on constantly, and do other things that waste energy. Electric meters work according to the laws of physics and do not pull the wool over your eyes. if they were checked then they are very accurate. Even unchecked meters don't jump out of adjustment very often.
MOVE! If you don't like your situation get out of it! Why is it their right to make him do anything as long as his building is up to code? Let your friend turn purchase their own home and fix it themselves!
call the local TV station. in my nouns where we live in there is a segmant on the local word where they bust people not doing their jobs. nail "slumlords" is a pretty popular one. let the newscasters know via email what is going on and they will go right over to the "slumlords" house and interrogate him. it may embarrass him enuf that he get someone in there to look at it. maybe she will even carry a reinbursement on some of the higher bills that she has paid contained by the form of a free month or two or rent. another option would be to go to court.
My electric bill doubled ultimate month and it was due to an old water kiln with a broken thermostat, so it was heating (like boiling) marine 24 hours a day. See if your friend can find a switch for her water heater and lately turn it off most of the time. It's a possibility.
Some states and municpalities allow you to hire a qualified electrician and have the problem fixed and then deduct the cost of the repairs from the rent. However, given that it appears that the proprietor is a slumlord, it is highly unlikely that the landlord would honor a repair and deduct charge.
I would definitely move. Your friend could try contacting the town housing inspector and see if at hand is anything that could be done on that end. Maybe the housing inspector could come and do an inspection to make sure that there is nil faulty going on. The inspector will require that the landlord make anything repairs may be necessary. This can be done anonymously. Let the other tenants know that the call is going to be made if explicitly what your friend decides to do so they're forewarned. The poster above is right, if the meters are working correctly then there is something else going on draining the power from the house. The inspector would hopefully be capable of find that drain as long as he knows why he was called nearby. If everyone in the house is having the same issue, consequently it's definitely something draining the power, whether it be due to a "problem" or due to something illicit.
I have a similar problem and con edison said if i want to check if i'm paying someone else bills too just turn everything off completely EVERYTHING and if you look at your meter box and the needle is still moving afterwards the wires are hooked up to another apartment.
You can withhold rent under clear in your mind circumstances until the problem is fixed. There are free legal aid societies and usually landlord/tenant issues is one of the few issues they will take on for free. Catholic Charities and other humanitarian agencies will sometimes pay an electric bill for someone once a year. Meanwhile, while withholding the rent, applying to trial aid, and checking out agencies such as the Salvation Army who will pay the electric bill once a year, go ahead and plan your future beside a MOVE from this awful situation. Why do the other tenants stay and put up with this situation? Too bad everyone doesn't move within mass and leave the slumlord alone with his vacant apartments.
