My mother in law has got herself in a bit of a bind. She rents a 1 bedroom apartment and is responsible for heat and hot water (both gas). Her gas bill for June and July was in excess of $300.00, which seems completely unreasonable. She notified the gas company of this and ultimately discovered that the hot water heater in the basement had been leaking.
She talked to the gas company about her normal uses of gas in those months and came up with the conservative estimate that the gas leak cost her $250. She notified her landlord that she intended to withhold this amount from her rent check as the malfunction of a hot water heater is the responsibility of the landlord. The landlord countered by offering to allow her to deduct $100. The $150 dollar difference represents about 200% of her disposable income for a month.
I told her that I would likely stand firm and withhold the full $250. The water heater itself was old (expected to fail) and not being proactive about it was negligent of the owner. The way I see it, it's only right for the landlord to foot the bill here. Am I being naive?
She talked to the gas company about her normal uses of gas in those months and came up with the conservative estimate that the gas leak cost her $250. She notified her landlord that she intended to withhold this amount from her rent check as the malfunction of a hot water heater is the responsibility of the landlord. The landlord countered by offering to allow her to deduct $100. The $150 dollar difference represents about 200% of her disposable income for a month.
I told her that I would likely stand firm and withhold the full $250. The water heater itself was old (expected to fail) and not being proactive about it was negligent of the owner. The way I see it, it's only right for the landlord to foot the bill here. Am I being naive?
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:26 pm (UTC)Good luck. That's a crappy situation to be in, and I hope your mother-in-law gets it sorted out to her advantage.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:35 pm (UTC)410.190: Hot Water
The owner shall provide and maintain in good operating condition
the facilities capable of heating water. The owner shall also
supply the hot water for use at a temperature of not less than
110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees C) and in a quantity and
pressure sufficient to satisfy the ordinary use of all plumbing
fixtures which normally need hot water for their proper use and
function, unless and to the extent the occupant is required to
provide fuel for the operation of the facilities under a written
letting agreement. The hot water shall not exceed 130 degrees
Fahrenheit (54 degrees C). Inspection of the hot water system
shall include an examination of the hot water system and its
actual performance. If possible, such examination shall occur at
the times and under such conditions as the occupant has
identified the system to be insufficient.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 03:14 pm (UTC)That covers it. If it's malfunctioning, then it's not in good operating condition.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:38 pm (UTC)However, the landlord can't fix it until he knows it's broken - "it's old" is not sufficient; it's not the same as "it's broken". I think his compromise is fair, although it may not be entirely unreasonable to come back with 150 and settle on 125.
How much of her income it is is not relevant to the question, IMO.
If you can show that the landlord was negligent in the upkeep - hasn't looked at it in five years or something - then maybe I'd say something different.
If this apartment is otherwise good for her and she'd like to stay for more years, it's probably worth more than $150 to keep a good working relationship with the landlord.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:47 pm (UTC)But your general point is one I also thought of. Who's responsibility is it to notice failures in the equipment - especially when the equipment wasn't located "in unit" or even in site of her unit or any associated storage space. Should she be expected to inspect the hot water heater every day? every week? every month? I'm genuinely curious about this.
As for the relationship with the landlord, I disagree about it being worth $150 to keep a "a good working relationship" with the landlord. For that to be the case, you';d have to actually see or speak to the landlord. Or be able to count on her to actualy respond to issues in a timely fashion. She out of this place as soon as a spot in subsidized housing opens up (next 6 months, we're told) so she's not too concerned with that.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 03:19 pm (UTC)Well, if i got a utility bill that was much higher than usual, I would be inspecting everything that uses that utility as quickly as possible.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 05:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:49 pm (UTC)If the landlord fixed it promptly once notified of the issue (after TWO months of ridiculous bills, the first month should have been a dead giveaway that something was wrong) that's really where his responsibility ends IMHO. Offering to split the overage is a nice step on his part. The tenant is responsible for gas and electricity used, the landlord is responsible for the equipment.
In regards to Sapphira_Altair's comments below: "Seems like the landlord failed to provide proper maintenance, so is in violation of the state housing codes, so is responsible."
Stuff breaks even when well maintained, without a lot more info about the specifics about the situation I wouldn't accuse the landlord of neglect.
If I were in her situation I'd sit down with the landlord and discuss the financial constraints, and try to work out some mutually acceptable compromise.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 03:14 pm (UTC)Absolutely. I was working on the assumption that it wasn't regularly checked and/or maintained - that's really a hell of a leak to go unnoticed if the thing was being regularly checked.
It's a good idea to (politely) ask the landlord for service/maintenance records to show that it was being checked and/or maintained, and if it wasn't... then I'd say the landlord is absolutely responsible for the cost incurred by failing to do so.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 05:10 pm (UTC)But no - they do no regular maintenance to the building or the grounds.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:39 pm (UTC)"The following equipment and facilities must be maintained so that they are properly installed and free of leaks, obstructions, and other defects: Water-heating facilities, gas pipes, heating equipment, and water pipes."
Seems like the landlord failed to provide proper maintenance, so is in violation of the state housing codes, so is responsible. See more info at http://www.masslegalhelp.org/housing/.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:44 pm (UTC)Relevant excerpt:
See also the following: http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/submeter.html
When did your MiL move into this apartment? If she's been living there for more than a few years, the landlord could be illegally charging her for payment of water utilities. I strongly suggest she call the number for the Housing Division.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:50 pm (UTC)The tenant isn't paying for water, they're paying to heat it, which is how it should be legally.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:59 pm (UTC)As an aside, I was surprised to see that the law had changed such that a landlord can now make tenants responsible for paying for water. I've been living in the same place since 1999, so it's never come up and doesn't apply to me anyway; I wonder how many other people also don't know about this change.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 03:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 02:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 03:17 pm (UTC)Yes. I know a lot of tenants, and a lot of landlords, and I don't know any who inspect their properties on a monthly basis, nor anyone who has replaced a hot water heater that's working fine just because it's old.
I believe the landlord is legally responsible for fixing the leak as soon as notified about it, and helping her out with the charges between that notification and when it was actually fixed.
I think she should accept the $100 deduction as a generosity from the landlord.
You could recommend that she threaten to sue the landlord in small claims court (and then do so if he doesn't let her deduct the extra), or that she just withhold the rent money anyway, since all he can do is start to evict her. But from your story it sounds like the landlord is being reasonable, so I personally don't think it's appropriate.
Also -- was it a gas leak or a hot water leak?
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 03:23 pm (UTC)All this aside as my opinion, I would be interested to find out what you learned as legally correct with your phone call to the Mass Tenants Network. Luck to her!
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 03:24 pm (UTC)Also antagonstic atitudes typically destroy the landlord tenant relationship, not that you care, but you might later.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 04:22 pm (UTC)Since then I've put in gas hot water tanks for both her and my apartment, around $1620 / tank (which included removing the old water heater attached to the boiler and re-routing pipes / tying into the chimney, etc). I'm pretty sure I've paid her back more than what she used (the $400), but in the long run I couldn't prove that there wasn't something wrong with the system and how much she's used, so I just let it slide.
As a landlord, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for the $250 back. I do believe at tax time, he can write off some of that $ anyway (that's what I'm going to do!)
Good luck!
Ron
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 05:28 pm (UTC)On the other hand, its probably just being a good landlord to help pay for some of the additional cost, which is what s/he is doing.
It probably not too much to ask - not demand - the landlord pay the full amount - if the rent is market-level. If the rent is a good deal I'd recommend accepting the current offer or asking for $150 or so.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 05:27 pm (UTC)If she received the first exceptionally high gas bill and immediately notified the landlord and nothing came of it, and then she received a second one, then I would argue that the landlord should be liable for the entirety of the second bill minus the normal cost and PART (e.g. half) of what's left after subtracting the normal cost from the *first* bill.
If, however, she received two such bills before saying anything, then I think the landlord's offer is pretty reasonable. After all, he's probably already footing an oversized water bill for this particular mishap.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 05:56 pm (UTC)The person to bear the risk should be a) the person with the most control over the water heater, and b) the person who is able to best insure against that risk, either through homeowner's insurance or through regular inspection. In both cases, that person is the landlord. The $250 loss is regretable, but it is the landlord who should bear that risk, not the tenant.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 06:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 06:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 06:53 pm (UTC)I don't appreciate you accusing me of not reading the post. Aren't people allowed to have a different perspective on this situation?
I DO think the landlord trying to haggling with her over what portion he's willing to pay is pushing her around. She did everything she was responsible for as a renter and should not be punished because HIS hot water heater malfunctioned. I don't think characterizing him as nice guy becuase he's willing to pay for "part of it" is fair, I see him as trying to get extra money out of this poster's mother.
The extra bill is directly related to HIS hot water heater being in ill repair. This is HIS problem, and should not in any way be pushed on this person's mother.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 07:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 07:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 07:20 pm (UTC)On the other issue, we will just have to agree to disagree. I still feel strongly that the direct correlation between the gas leak and the bill makes the landlord responsible.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-24 02:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 07:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 06:36 pm (UTC)She might also want to write a letter that includes some of the excellent points made here, such as by the commenter right above me.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 06:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 06:56 pm (UTC)Yes it sucks to be a landlord, and yes not all landlords are making lots of money, some are just getting buy, but with any homeownership the person who owns the home is responsible for the furnace, heater, etc. It's a cost of doing business, and it's a cost of owning property. One of the many reasons people rent is to not be responsible for these types of things.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-23 10:52 pm (UTC)Water heater's don't usually give any warning when they go - the only notice the two I've had to replace gave was water leaking on the floor; this was after we (once) and the tenants (the other time) say, hey, there's no hot water.
You eat the cost, write it off. You're a landlord, suck it up.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-24 06:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-25 03:22 am (UTC)On first reading I thought it was about a water heater leaking _water_ and there was a dispute over water damage to the basement.
I'd be a lot more concerned that there was a gas leak at all, never mind who pays for the wasted gas. That's definitely not normal and AFAIK not something that water heaters are regularly replaced for.
no subject
Date: 2016-04-29 10:51 pm (UTC)كشف تسربات المياه بالرياض (https://b-yout.com/%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D9%83%D8%B4%D9%81-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6/)
رش مبيدات بالرياض (https://b-yout.com/%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%B1%D8%B4-%D9%85%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D9%85%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA/)
نقل اثاث بالرياض (https://b-yout.com/%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84-%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%A7%D8%AB-%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84-%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B4/)
مستودعات تخزين اثاث بالرياض (https://b-yout.com/%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%A7%D8%AB-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6/)
شركة تنظيف بالرياض (https://b-yout.com/%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%8A%D9%81-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%84-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6/)
نقل اثاث بالرياض (https://b-yout.com/%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84-%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%A7%D8%AB-%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84-%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B4/)
رش مبيدات (https://b-yout.com/%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%B1%D8%B4-%D9%85%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D9%85%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA/)
كشف تسربات المياه (https://b-yout.com/%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D9%83%D8%B4%D9%81-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6/)
مكافحة حشرات بالرياض (https://b-yout.com/%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%B1%D8%B4-%D9%85%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D9%85%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA/)
نقل عفش بالرياض (https://b-yout.com/%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84-%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%A7%D8%AB-%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84-%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B4/)
شركة تخزين اثاث بالرياض (https://b-yout.com/%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%A7%D8%AB-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6/)
شركة رش مبيدات بالرياض (https://b-yout.com/%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%B1%D8%B4-%D9%85%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D9%85%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA/)
كشف تسربات المياه بالدمام (https://b-yout.com/%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D9%83%D8%B4%D9%81-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6/)
شركة نقل اثاث بالرياض
(https://b-yout.com/%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84-%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%A7%D8%AB-%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84-%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B4/)شركة ترميم منازل بالرياض (https://b-yout.com/%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%8A%D9%81-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%84-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6/)
no subject
Date: 2015-08-22 04:33 pm (UTC)I had some issues with this post scuba diving/swimming. I just made sure to empty my cup as soon as I could after I got out of the water. I never had any issues while in the ocean/just after I get out of the water with leaking.
شركة الاخلاص و الامانة
Date: 2016-11-17 08:29 am (UTC)للتواصل عبر الموقع:
http://www.xn-----jtd6bya2cendpd.com (http://www.xn-----jtd6bya2cendpd.com)
كشف تسربات المياه في الرياض
Date: 2017-01-09 10:00 pm (UTC)نقدم الخدمات لكم على اعلى مستوى من التقنية و الدقة و
بسرعة بالغة على أيدي المتخصصين رغبة في ارضائكم و املا في
دوام التعامل معنا نحن
كشف تسربات المياه
بالرياض (https://www.daleelmanzel.com) .
دليل المنزل من أفضل شركات الصيانة و
كشف تسربات المياه
بالرياض (https://www.daleelmanzel.com)
اتصل بنا : 0500205720
من خدماتنا الاخرى:
نقل
أثاث بالرياض (https://www.daleelmanzel.com/نقل-اثاث/)
كشف تسربات المياه (https://www.daleelmanzel.com/كشف-تسربات/)
ترميم المنازل بالرياض (https://www.daleelmanzel.com/ترميم-المنازل/)
تنظيف المنازل (https://www.daleelmanzel.com/تنظيف-المنازل/)
مكافحة الحشرات (https://www.daleelmanzel.com/رش-مبيدات/)
العزل المائي (https://www.daleelmanzel.com/العزل-المائي/)
كشف تسربات المياه (https://www.daleelmanzel.com)
no subject
Date: 2017-01-19 04:29 am (UTC)• High Water Bill- It's an undeniable fact that allowing an underground water leak to go undetected will drive your water bill through the roof. If you have a leak and you fail to utilize underground leak detection services, you will cost yourself thousands of dollars over the course of a single year. If you want to give away your hard earned money, why not hand it over to a worthwhile charity? Don't give it to the bill collectors in exchange for wasted water.
شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالرياض (https://www.roknnagd.com/service/%D9%83%D8%B4%D9%81-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%87-2/)
شركات نقل العفش بالرياض (https://www.roknnagd.com/%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84-%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%A7%D8%AB-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6-2/)
نقل العفش بالرياض (https://www.roknnagd.com/%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B4-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6/)
شركات التنظيف بالرياض (https://www.roknnagd.com/%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6/)