It’s cold this week. Landlord and I are on strange terms communicating. I don’t want to approach this from a legal perspective, I know he’s obligated to turn on the heat, but I’m torn between making a demand and asking nicely.
He seems to be strained for cash. We had a tiff recently about him wanting to rent out my yard to people with dogs. I managed to shut the idea down but it’s made communication tense.
He raised rent last spring. His reasoning was the building’s heating is oil and oil prices are high. Even if that wasn’t the reason, fair, I renewed. He covers heating costs in the lease because this is a duplex. Another tenant lives below and we share the building’s heating. The other tenant doesn’t seem to mind the cold (so far). I’m at 57 degrees F tonight. Brrr.
Landlord wants me to move out. He’s already expressed this, he wants to move into this unit. I can’t afford to move right now and the lease ends in the spring anyway.
I’m looking for advice on how I should approach this. Part of me is angry I have to even ask, another part is afraid he’ll respond in ways to get me to move out. I just want to live here quietly minding my business at room temperature. Sometimes I over react when I feel unsafe. What does a measured response look like in this situation?
3 comments
I would start by asking him what month does the heat get turned on.
Omg this sounds horrible. This is literally insane. It is not your fault your landlord doesn’t have enough money!!! If you wernt able to pay him rent do you think he would care what your excuse was? This sounds like a toxic environment. It is incredibly normal to want to be able to use basic utilities in your home!!
Can you get a space heater so you don’t have to deal with the drama