Apparent bad decision: landlord/roommate (lease, deposit, house, landlords)
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My reasoning for not wanting to replace those light bulbs is simply because f him... All of our friends who were over yesterday to help the other tenant and me move have tried to think of ways we could screw him back. I know that's incredibly immature, but based on everything he's done it's just difficult for me to swallow my pride and just replace these bulbs.
I really might do it anyway just to put this all behind me and move on... thanks for your thoughts guys.
I appreciate the responses... the security deposit wasn't the only issue I had. I just wanted to write out the entire story to see if there was anything in there that he did that would be deemed illegal. Since that apparently does not seem to be the case, I also don't understand why I would have to even clean the place, or replace light bulbs, since he lived there as well. That responsibility shouldn't fall solely on me...
"Shouldn't" has nothing to do with it, only what the law says and which actions are likely to lead to which consequences. Don't waste time on coulda-woulda-shoulda since the situation simply "is what it is".
Ask yourself if it's worth starting a fight over lightbulbs or trying to convince a judge that you didn't have any duty to clean your living space upon move-out. Maybe it is, I don't know. But I'm guessing you're very busy in grad school and your time is better spent on your studies.
Your landlord's a jerk, but it's only a couple more weeks of your life.
STT Resident - didn't you have a black light poster? Wish I still had my Jimmy Hendrix poster. I'd sell it on Ebay and get rich lol!
OP, here's a thought. Say, sure, I'll replace all the bulbs. Then don't screw them all the way in. Take photos of all the newly installed bulbs. That won't light up.
I'd want to screw him too. I'm not like the other saints here
I don't understand such a fuss about a few light bulbs and even the reasons for their removal seems odd as the OP said, "These bulbs were taken out at his request nearly two months prior so that we could put black lights in. " That doesn't make sense.
I just wanted to write out everything that he did and see if any of it was illegal - based on the responses I've received, it seems like the only legal matter is his refusal to give me my security deposit back unless I replace the light bulbs. I simply don't want to do it because I'm just tired of him giving me these ultimatums and refusing to pay me back $600 unless I do what he says.
I replaced the regular light bulbs with black lights for a party that we had nearly two months ago. Since then, these regular light bulbs have been sitting in a bag and he never before asked me to put them back in since we never really use the hallway lights anyway. He just now asked me to put them back in, and to be quite honest, even though I'm the tallest one I still can only just barely reach the sockets with the step ladder that we have and there are about 15 of these lights to replace on a pretty long stretch of hallway. I'm busy right now moving all of my stuff since I essentially received very late notice of having to move.
I suppose it's not really a big deal, but I just can't stand the fact that instead of asking me to replace them before, he's bringing it up now and saying that it's something I have to do if I want my security deposit back.
OMG! I forgot about that waterbed. God, I hated it lol! Every time my boyfriend turned over, like being on an ocean. Horrible for a light sleeper.
You should have had a water bed with baffles in it - difference of night and day!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveB027
I suppose it's not really a big deal, but I just can't stand the fact that instead of asking me to replace them before, he's bringing it up now and saying that it's something I have to do if I want my security deposit back.
Seriously, this is not a big deal and your reaction is really daft. Put on your big boy pants and just change out the darned things! There are far more important things in life to fuss about than light bulb changing.
{snip}
Seriously, this is not a big deal and your reaction is really daft. Put on your big boy pants and just change out the darned things! There are far more important things in life to fuss about than light bulb changing.
Here's what I'm thinking: Time needed to screw in 15 light bulbs vs. time needed to attend small claims court when the angry landlord retaliates with BS "damages" out of your security deposit.
I know which I'd pick!
Here's what I'm thinking: Time needed to screw in 15 light bulbs vs. time needed to attend small claims court when the angry landlord retaliates with BS "damages" out of your security deposit.
I know which I'd pick!
I want him to pick small claims court so he can tell us the judge's reaction when he finds out the entire security deposit was kept because the tallest tenant wouldn't change out working lightbulbs.
I don't understand such a fuss about a few light bulbs and even the reasons for their removal seems odd as the OP said, "These bulbs were taken out at his request nearly two months prior so that we could put black lights in. " That doesn't make sense.
There are black light bulbs that screw in place of regular incandescent bulbs. I would just go buy the bulbs and replace them. Then clean the place and demand your money back. Just because he is the land lord does not mean he ca just keep your deposit.
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