Okay geezz NOW what should I do? (renters, attorney)

[DareToDream]

Hey Tara - I just had another thought...I *think* I remember you saying you're neighbors have the same landlord? Or did they just know the landlord. If you live in a "duplex" type of apartment - are you sure you have your own meter for utilities and you aren't paying for more than one unit? I know, it's a longshot but figured it was worth asking............

[buck naked]

it sounds like you ended up with a scumlord...like we've all heard about.


maybe you should check with an attorney - they don't usually charge for a consult


he probably finds someone to do this to every year - my other thought is this: it's POSSIBLE that he was not aware the bill would be so high. Fuel has tripled in cost.

But $600 for a month is just criminal. I just paid $700 for a fill on my oil tank, but that will take me into summer.

a shame....just a real shame

[Tarastomsgirl]

hey guy thanks for all the ideas I've read them all to my husband to give him ideas, its been craziness around here with this whole situation!... We had all our electricity rewired so we know for sure we're on our own meter.... (boy doesn't help with the electic bill that NH has a "supplier service" charge of $50 a month ontop of the electic bill! never heard of that? )

I've officially decided I'm letting my husband deal with all this crud cause my head is just gonna explode.. I'm the non rational one in the relationship, and I'm about to have some not to nice words with the landlord , that will definetly put me in the dog house when word gets around if you know what I mean.. The one thing that really really gets to me is when I'm taken advantage of, cause then you're a theif, and you're just stealin my money and working one over on me... He knew darn well about no insulation, like I said he even said he ment to ask us what our gas bill was, casue I know he was probably suspicious something was wrong. ..

Someone mentioned he probably does this every year to someone, he told us last year the college kids that rented this place cranked the heat AND cracked the windows in the house and it wasn't over $130.... I mean $130 sounds about right to heat this place.... so at the time really thought nothing of it, being I never lived up north before.. We don't even use the oven anymore we've been cooking on our Forman grill to save on gas...

Once again thank you everyone for suggestions, you've given us lots to think about, and I will certainly let you know the outcome of the whole situation when we get this settled.

[flu189]

In the state I was a cop before coming back east we had a landlord-tenant law which spelled out the responsibilities and remedies to both parties. It was purely civil law, so if this type of law exists in NH in the same format then by being a lousy landlord or renter will not end up in criminal court. This stuff happens and as the saying goes, buyer (or in this case, renter) beware. Sounds like the rental was pretty rundown from the outset which should raise red flags. We have quite a few dumps like this up our way and in the winter it looks like a glacier forming on the roofs. It's too bad you had to find out about the costs of heating and power in such fashion. If there is any comfort in this it should be that by this time next year you will not be here paying for what will probably be even higher rates.

[southward bound]

Welcome to small town politics, NH-style. It's a good reminder not to romanticize any place - there are people everywhere who will take advantage when they can - even in beautiful NH.

[Tarastomsgirl]

Originally Posted by southward bound

Welcome to small town politics, NH-style. It's a good reminder not to romanticize any place - there are people everywhere who will take advantage when they can - even in beautiful NH.

yes I'm learning this first hand, and unfortunatly my view of this town has went from what a wonderful place to I NEED to get out of here as soon as I can and thats not soon enough... I never thought I'd want to go back to Fla as bad as I do now

[southward bound]

Originally Posted by Tarastomsgirl

yes I'm learning this first hand, and unfortunatly my view of this town has went from what a wonderful place to I NEED to get out of here as soon as I can and thats not soon enough... I never thought I'd want to go back to Fla as bad as I do now

There are some really good suggestions here from other posters. I hope some of those work for you.

I wonder how the guy even got an occupancy permit to allow him to rent the place out if it's not habitable during the cold winter months (and 'no insulation' equates to non-habitable in my opinion).

Let us know how it goes. We're all pulling for you, and wish we could help.

[jthibodeau]

$600 heating cost for a 1BR/BTH IS just atrocious! And, I'm sorry to hear that your landlords occupation is the same as mine. Please believe me when I say not all home inspectors are cut from the same cloth.

A lot of good advice has been offered for your situation here. Perhaps I can help with a little from my experience. Assuming the fact that your not paying for everyone else's heat at the same time, here are a few ways you may be able to lower your usage.

Windows and doors are the biggest loss for heat. Check for leakage around them using your hand or any other safe way you can detect air flow. Windows and unused doors can be sealed via the use of a shrink type plastic adhered with two sided sticky tape and smoothed with your hair dryer. And, it's easily removed later.

Exterior wall outlets and switches can be sealed with a foam pad placed behind the cover.

Frozen pipes may be avoided by leaving the cabinet doors open under the sink area and allow warm air to flow around the pipe area. With the doors closed, the cold air can collect and cause the pipe to freeze especially if the sinks are on an outside wall.

Seal those exposed holes in the ceiling using tape to prevent air flow to the attic. You may also use other methods but just remember you may need to remove the fix before you leave.

Check the weather sweep under the usable doors in your apartment and make sure they are sealed to prevent air flow. The whole idea is to stop air infiltration out of the apartment as well as into. A home, at times, can act like a chimney. When there is a leak of warmed air above, it can literately suck the cold air in from any and all openings.

These are basic fixes that are relatively inexpensive and, without knowing your apartment, it is difficult to consider other cost saving ideas. If you'd like to contact me, I'd be more than happy share any knowledge that would help you save some money.

[Valerie C]

Good ideas for anyone to follow jthibodeau, thank you for sharing these "quick and easy" fixes for added winter warmth!

[Tarastomsgirl]

Originally Posted by jthibodeau

$600 heating cost for a 1BR/BTH IS just atrocious! And, I'm sorry to hear that your landlords occupation is the same as mine. Please believe me when I say not all home inspectors are cut from the same cloth.

A lot of good advice has been offered for your situation here. Perhaps I can help with a little from my experience. Assuming the fact that your not paying for everyone else's heat at the same time, here are a few ways you may be able to lower your usage.

Windows and doors are the biggest loss for heat. Check for leakage around them using your hand or any other safe way you can detect air flow. Windows and unused doors can be sealed via the use of a shrink type plastic adhered with two sided sticky tape and smoothed with your hair dryer. And, it's easily removed later.

Exterior wall outlets and switches can be sealed with a foam pad placed behind the cover.

Frozen pipes may be avoided by leaving the cabinet doors open under the sink area and allow warm air to flow around the pipe area. With the doors closed, the cold air can collect and cause the pipe to freeze especially if the sinks are on an outside wall.

Seal those exposed holes in the ceiling using tape to prevent air flow to the attic. You may also use other methods but just remember you may need to remove the fix before you leave.

Check the weather sweep under the usable doors in your apartment and make sure they are sealed to prevent air flow. The whole idea is to stop air infiltration out of the apartment as well as into. A home, at times, can act like a chimney. When there is a leak of warmed air above, it can literately suck the cold air in from any and all openings.

These are basic fixes that are relatively inexpensive and, without knowing your apartment, it is difficult to consider other cost saving ideas. If you'd like to contact me, I'd be more than happy share any knowledge that would help you save some money.

hey there, thanks for all the advice.. About a month ago I went and used puddy on all the cracks in the ceiling, i was just tired of looking at them to be honest, but now I'm glad I did cause it probably cut down on what could have been an even BIGGER bill!... all our outlets are on inside walls so good there. I did buy door stoppers i guess you call them.. they go along the bottom of the doors to keep the draft out.. use those , i checked all the windows and they're good, they're also brandnew double paned windows with locks on the corners for an extra tight seal.. I feel like I've done all I can and now its just up to the landlord to not screw this one up, and do the right thing and take money off rent or pay for the bill.. BTW we just found out a couple days ago, the wall in our hallway , leading to the downstairs mudroom has no insulation in it.. You can see between the beams...its just empty



So not only is the heat going up, but also its gotta be going out that wall... we went searching for places it could be going, and we pulled off this piece of wood jus shoved along the lines, and thats what what found a hollow wall