So here's my situation. Recently, my roommate's mother, who lives a street away from my house, and is also the pseudo-landlord for my roommate's grandmother, who IS technically my landlord (and lives about 1.5 hours away at that), came to our place last week to start finalizing stuff with the contractors to get our kitchen going. Background: the grandmother is upgrading our kitchen, bought us a new stove, new microwave, new dishwasher, and a new washer and dryer... we have all the pieces. This also includes new countertops and cabinets. I'm all for this, I've been looking forward to this since 2 months ago.
Anyways, back to my story at hand. The mother noticed how "untidy" our apartment was. My roommate did a hell of a lot of work cleaning in the past couple days, as did I, and we straightened up the house so it looks more comfortable. But the mother, AND the grandmother decided to get on my case about something... something the mother knew about AND had no problems up until now, and that is with my computer, my room, generally my lifestyle. Ever since I moved in here, which was about 2 years and 1 month ago, I have kept my computer up and running, so the members of this house can use the computer when I am not here. Apparently, since the mother took advantage of this a while back typing up a resume and donig job searches and whatnot. I'm cool with it, she was cool with the fact that she could use my computer, since at her house, they only have the 56k service, I have th DSL here in the house. But now, she comes to realize that A: apparently the wiring in the house is old, and B: My computer consumes alot of electricity, and thus, heats my room up to unbearable conditions.
My room, first off, is in direct contact with the sun, basically from dawn until dusk. This will heat up my room no problem. With the heat off, my TV, PC, and Monitor, I barely notice any heat in my room, since the house is mighty drafty. Anyways, she brought to my roommate's attention about my computer, and requested me to turn it off. My rebuttal? I basically said "ok, I will compromise that.... I can put my PC in standby when I am not here, turn the monitor off, etc.". I figure this way, people can still use my computer, its just one more step. The mother, while in my room with the plumber, decided it would be best to power down my computer... in the not so nice way of just holidng in the power button until it shut off. I had a few programs open and running while it was locked (I use Win2K), thus I lost a bit of stuff, but whatever, I recovered from that.
I told my roommate as to what was up, he relayed those steps to his mother. Her rebuttal?? "I don't care, it needs to go off!!". Now, he tells me this, so I said "ok, I am willing to talk to her, and lay down what I know about my computer". I was all prepared to talk to her, and get this straightened out, as I consider this something that shouldn't be taken this extreme, espeically since my side is obviously not being spoken for here.
But, sadly enough, I was never given that chance to explain things in more detail to her... she went to the grandmother (the landlord of the house) and told her what was up... with THE WHOLE HOUSE, including my two roommates / friends downstairs on the 1st floor. (My roommate's sister, and her husband, of whom I have both known, as well as my roommate, for years prior to moving in), are supposed to be getting letters straight from the grandmother, kinda like a "state of the house" address. I guess we each have one, written from the grandmother, explaining what is going on, and what is to happen. Now, usually, within reason, I would like to comply with all this, but I feel as though I'm disadvantaged, because noone has heard straight from my side. I haven't had a chance to explain, myself, about all this, as well as bringing up facts about everything that could justify (well at least, in my mind) everything that is happening. But with all the cons outweighing the pros easily in this one, it leaves me very annoyed, but I'm still keeping quite reserved... well, until the writing of this, where I have to blow off some steam.
So with all that said, I'm waiting silenty for the letter. I can predict what is going to come, and I don't think I'm going to like it. I have already thought about a bunch of things in regards to this, and quite frankly, I guess I'm more annoyed over the fact that these two people take such an interest in what I'm doing, but don't plan on hearing my explanations, and technically, breaking some tenant laws to get what they want. I could hold the mother to her "BnE" into my room, but since this is family-owned land I am on, I am not going to touch that with a 10 foot pole.
I think its time for me to move on, and out of this house, and back to living alone. Its pretty apparent that my lifestyle clashes with alot of people around me, both inside and outside the house, as well as some distance away from me. That makes me rather uncomfortable knowing this, and I fear that if I keep pushing, I could be out on the streets. I think I am going to start looking for a place of my own once again, something easily affordable, just a place to rest my head, study, get my game dev on, and do whatever without hindering those around me. I guess its more of a mature way of taking things as opposed to sitting here bitching and whining to my roommate about something that he isn't involved in, and something that could blow up even bigger, pretty much meaning me getting evicted, possibly my roommate receiving that lash as well.
I basically don't want to start shit, I feel I gave this alot of thought as opposed to my usual "fuck this, I'll do what I want" type of attitude. I just hope its a risk that doesn't have as dire consequences as a few years ago.
Figured I would share with y'all to get more feedback. I'm already pretty certain that I will be moving out, now its a matter of what can I afford and where.
check out the rant room... there is a housing rant going on at the moment in there too... it all blows.... this damn area costs too much so any kinda move BLOWS that much more.
I suggest kicking something... it always makes you feel better
____________________ Its all fun and games until someone gets poked in the eye with a dick
Do you pay part of the electric bill?
Do you pay rent?
If so, then noone has any right to say ANYTHING except your roommate, unless you're causing damage.
If not, well, I guess you really can't say too much except that:
a) you're not destroying anything
b) I'm sure there was no "rule" about leaving computers on.
c) Tell them that since you can't leave your computer on, the refrigerator has to be turned off as well, because a refrigerator uses much more energy than a computer.
Remember, if you signed a lease, they legally cannot FORCE you to agree to any changes in the lease. They can, however, kick you out when the lease is over :p
ProjectFocusFast wrote: Do you pay part of the electric bill?
Do you pay rent?
If so, then noone has any right to say ANYTHING except your roommate, unless you're causing damage.
If not, well, I guess you really can't say too much except that:
a) you're not destroying anything
b) I'm sure there was no "rule" about leaving computers on.
c) Tell them that since you can't leave your computer on, the refrigerator has to be turned off as well, because a refrigerator uses much more energy than a computer.
Remember, if you signed a lease, they legally cannot FORCE you to agree to any changes in the lease. They can, however, kick you out when the lease is over :p
I pay electric and rent, my computer is not destroying anything, and there's no official lease... I'm a tenant at will, so to speak.
So yeah, I'm basically getting hosed here, and I fear its some sort of scare tactic to get me to move out or something. I wish people would grow a set and tell me if they want me to leave.
She's saying that it's an 'old house' and the wiring can't handle a PC etc.
They're renting to people and that means they have a legal responsibility to provide safe housing.
This whole thing sounds like crap to me, but I have to say - I personally have issues with leaving PC's running all day too. Electric is very expensive - at least in Manchester it is.
Since Dan and I took on a tennant our electric has doubled and it's only one tennant. Although there is a full set up on the PC, scanner,printer, monitor, then there is a fan and tv and video games. You'd be surprised at the increase in electric.
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
step 2, start calling the housing authority for every little violation you find. document all notifications of non compliance, make written requests for repairs, call the haousing authority if they are not addressed in a timely manner.
when you get into a pissing match, the landlord always loses. sure they may not renew your lease but you're not the one paying fines out the ass and forking over cash left and right for every little thing that dosent work exactly right.
step 2, start calling the housing authority for every little violation you find. document all notifications of non compliance, make written requests for repairs, call the haousing authority if they are not addressed in a timely manner.
when you get into a pissing match, the landlord always loses. sure they may not renew your lease but you're not the one paying fines out the ass and forking over cash left and right for every little thing that dosent work exactly right.
The thing is, I never signed a lease with the place.. I can go whenever I want, provided I give my roommate 2 months advance notice...
And I'm doing something more sensible, as I stated in the OP, I am dealing with family here, and very outnumbered. I'm gonna move on, not say a word, and let them all deal with all that shit. I want none of it.
Well if you are living there for x amount months....then you have a technical month to month lease thing..( i aint a lawyer ) however comma...no lease.....no heads up...pay you rtab and geta RECIEPT and dip. i said RECIEPT of payment and roll out. If you need a Reference for a new place....Im a good one..TEE HEE I can talk to a ;lawyer buddy of mine fir ya if you wish.....1 hour of research on your part could mean ALOT of money paid out on there part...LMAO.....and you get a poop eating grin know you gave it them with a sandpaper condom. Thats a perspective form the outside looking at your side though
____________________ Captain Morgan and Dr.Pepper are my homies....
audiojunkie wrote: Well if you are living there for x amount months....then you have a technical month to month lease thing..( i aint a lawyer ) however comma...no lease.....no heads up...pay you rtab and geta RECIEPT and dip. i said RECIEPT of payment and roll out. If you need a Reference for a new place....Im a good one..TEE HEE I can talk to a ;lawyer buddy of mine fir ya if you wish.....1 hour of research on your part could mean ALOT of money paid out on there part...LMAO.....and you get a poop eating grin know you gave it them with a sandpaper condom. Thats a perspective form the outside looking at your side though
I can understand what your saying.. but I would rather not get into a legal battle about this, nor do I want to ruffle any feathers that have already been done over. I'm caught in a nasty situation, I can either A: Raise a massive stink and get alot of people pissed off at me, or B: Accept things the way they are, and walk away and move on. I don't have to get into any legal bullshit about anything. Its not really my loss, its moreso my roommate's because he will be financially screwed. Ah well, the mother and g'mother should have thought of that before busting my cajones about everything and making me look like a prick, but oh well, I have other things to worry about.
your too nice yet mature as well..ive dicked over alot of landlords for trying to give me a sandpaper condom...I dont play....they wanna be disrespectful..i make them pay. but regardless good luck brother.
Last edited on Wed May 25th, 2005 02:10 am by audiojunkie
____________________ Captain Morgan and Dr.Pepper are my homies....
It sounds to me like you're taking a mature attitude toward the situation. As a landlord, I can tell you it's certainly not easy to evict a tenant, lease or not. At least, that's the case in Ohio. So, if it comes to that, you will probably have several months to find a new place if need be. Good luck.
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
Well, I talked to my roommate and told him about my pending situation, and told him that I decided to look for a new place. Its for the better, for myself, as well as the people around me. We agreed in the event that I end up staying due to the possiblity that I might not get this place, we will all have a sit down, and get things straightened out. Personally, I'm banking on getting out of here. I need my own space, I have alot going on right now, and I feel there are too many distractions living in this house.
Captain J wrote: Just don't let her in the house.
Hah, in that family, things don't work that way...
Besides, I think I've offically found a place, I'm waiting for my friend to get the mortgage going on it, and I've scored an even bigger place (townhouse) for like 730/month w/ utils
yet mature as well..ive dicked over alot of landlords for trying to give me a sandpaper condom...I dont play....they wanna be disrespectful..i make them pay. but regardless good luck brother.
