Regional Talk → Southern California > owner holding A/C hostage

owner holding A/C hostage

so we are renting and the owner took the circuit breaker for the A/C and is holding it hostage. it's been about a week also he is trying to get us to move out but we do not want to and he is refusing to replace built in the build in over the stove microwave as well it's been down for about 4 weeks.

he is complaining about the bill being so high. But we have to use the electric conventional oven instead (which uses way more power then the microwave) that also raised the bill a additional 100$ per month to use.

I think he is doing this to rent the place out for more
since the rent prices have went significantly higher in the area for places that include utilities . As he could rent it for $1595 instead of the current $895.
--
Live Free or Die Hard...

I would be tempted to play "asshole" right back and burn every light in the place 24/7 and maybe even run a faucet non stop.
--
mbsastronomy.com

In the theme of asshole, get a really long extension cord and ask your neighbor if he wants some free electricity

yeah I been using a 3/4 hp industrial fan to cool it down in here 12 to 18 hours aday. i been use the electric dryer as well instead of putting it outside it has a 3.5kw heating element (normally I'd put them outside since it drys faster on low humidity days)and using the electric conventional oven instead it has LARGE heating element it self.

he is just getting mad because he thinks we owe money.But he owes us money.

he actually possibly stole approximate $100-400$ from us by mis-marking rent receipts. i.e $500 cash was paid but it shows both $500 and $400 ($500 shown on the bottom but overwritten with $400 paid a second rewrite)

several receipts are screwed up like this.

Take him to court!

I would highly suggest calling the local code enforcement/housing/and what ever other departments necessary as what he is doing is illegal. You could also take him to court. Until then, stick it to him. Open up a free charging station for electric cars out front lol.

I'm not sure that air conditioning is an element of habitability.

Is the A/C mentioned in your written rental agreement? If so it is a contracted ammenity included in the rent.

The micro is built-in and existed when you moved in, so the property owner is required to keep it in operation, no different than the toilet or sink, unless he can prove you did something to damage it.

Is there rent control in your area? (wherever you live) Some municipal rent control ordinances would consider the A/C to be a covered service, and if it is unusable it is considered a reduction of service for which there should be a reduction in rent. The key here is if the service existed when you moved in.

I'm surprised though that utilities would be included in a rental these days, except for a few special circumstances.

edit:
If the owner removed the circuit breaker(s) from an electrical panel, not fuses from a separate disconnect box, code enforcement might be another place to call because that is a modification of an electrical installation without obtaining a permit, as well as having the work done by a licensed contractor.

re: the rent receipts; try not to pay with cash... ALWAYS leave a paper trail! In the same vein, always communicate in writing and put any agreements in writing, no matter how small!

PS: being the a-hole tenant by leaving the lights on or a faucet running all the time doesn't put you in a good bargaining position in the long run. If the electric use is abnormally high though, you might consider making an offer to pay some part of the electric bill during the summer months as a compromise if you like living there and haven't had any other problems with that owner, more so if you are getting what you would consider to be below-market rent for the area.