I am in New York
i agree with guy’s answer (above), but i’d have to add, do you like where you live? do you want to stay? then just sue in small claims court, where no lawyers can be present, so it’s just you and the landlord…BUT, make sure you have it in the lease the landlord is responsible for the electric payment. Your argument to the judge is breach of contract and you live in an uninhabitable unit with no electricity. Sue for more than just a few dollars, sue for the maximum allowed in your state…you have suffered great physical and emotional damage, you can’t sleep, your job has suffered, your personal life is in chaos, you get headaches…if you move first, ask for all your moving costs plus punitive damages…you are a wreck, i can see that from here, you need revenge in the form of big money…sock it to that unscrupulous landlord! good luck!
6 comments for “My rent includes electric, but my landlord did not pay the bill, so the service was cut. what can I do?”
Do you have that stated in your rental agreement. If you do, I would consult a lawyer ASAP.
References :
i agree with guy’s answer (above), but i’d have to add, do you like where you live? do you want to stay? then just sue in small claims court, where no lawyers can be present, so it’s just you and the landlord…BUT, make sure you have it in the lease the landlord is responsible for the electric payment. Your argument to the judge is breach of contract and you live in an uninhabitable unit with no electricity. Sue for more than just a few dollars, sue for the maximum allowed in your state…you have suffered great physical and emotional damage, you can’t sleep, your job has suffered, your personal life is in chaos, you get headaches…if you move first, ask for all your moving costs plus punitive damages…you are a wreck, i can see that from here, you need revenge in the form of big money…sock it to that unscrupulous landlord! good luck!
References :
If the disconnection was truly his fault, then he breached the terms of the agreement. I would withhold rent for the number of days you did not have electricity. Check the rental agreement and your state/local laws regarding remedies for lease violations.
You should not have to move-out of your rental because of the landlord’s breach. If the landlord is not able to pay the past due amount to have service restored, then your utility may allow you to set-up new service in your name and deduct the electric bills from your future rent payments.
Purposely shutting-off electricity can be considered an illegal eviction action or at the very least harrassment to force you out of your lease. So if your landlord refuses to restore service, then you need to take legal action. However, legal action can be costly and create unneeded tension. If you feel the landlord is attempting to correct the situation, then you may want to ask for rent concessions to settle the matter.
Ultimately, if you have to move-out, then you can sue for the remainder of the lease. Of course, if the landlord is having financial issues, you may not be successful in collecting right away.
References :
property manager
simply caramel, if its within your lease agreement, pay to have the utilities in your name and each time you get the bill and pay it, attach a copy to the rent check and remove/deduct it from the rent bill.
Further, deduct all the days of rent without service that you were cold etc.
additionally, you should begin to find other housing and get out, this is not their first county fair and there will be more problems in the future.
References :
LL/owner