black mold and stolen electricity?
kassandra asked:
i just found out that my landlord painted over black mold in my laundry room and who knows where else. i also found out that there are electric outlets that are in the other half of the house (its a duplex) that i pay for. i know that my neighbors have a couple air conditioners and during the winter they used space heaters. when my neighbor told me about the outlets being over there (about 7 months after i have been living there) i assume those are the “special plugs.” my landlord NEVER TOLD ME about ANY of this, what should i do?
I know that i am paying for it by how high my electric bill is and im never home, im always at work or staying with my sick grandma, who got sicker while staying with me. and i call them the “special plugs” because thats probably where they plug all their appliances that use the most electricity in at. i told my LL and he said there are none over there. needless to say, hes an @$$, I cant afford to move again, but i also cant afford to pay other peoples bills either, im kind of up sh** creek and my neighbor stole my paddles too.
Black Mold
i just found out that my landlord painted over black mold in my laundry room and who knows where else. i also found out that there are electric outlets that are in the other half of the house (its a duplex) that i pay for. i know that my neighbors have a couple air conditioners and during the winter they used space heaters. when my neighbor told me about the outlets being over there (about 7 months after i have been living there) i assume those are the “special plugs.” my landlord NEVER TOLD ME about ANY of this, what should i do?
I know that i am paying for it by how high my electric bill is and im never home, im always at work or staying with my sick grandma, who got sicker while staying with me. and i call them the “special plugs” because thats probably where they plug all their appliances that use the most electricity in at. i told my LL and he said there are none over there. needless to say, hes an @$$, I cant afford to move again, but i also cant afford to pay other peoples bills either, im kind of up sh** creek and my neighbor stole my paddles too.
Black Mold
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Black Mold
Landlord problems are tough to deal with – often the best approach is to give notice that you’re leaving unless the problem is dealt with. If you’ve been relatively trouble-free as a tenant, and the LL doesn’t like having to find a new one, it might be effective.
Painting over mold is okay as long as the moisture problem that caused it is taken care of as well. The paint seals the mold and it shouldn’t give off any more spores unless it continues to thrive and emerges again due to moisture.
When you think your neighbors are running their A/C or heaters, turn off all your appliances and go check your electric meter – it should not be turning. If you don’t want to unplug clocks and the like, you could check the meter with them connected and get a baseline reading (# of turns/minute for example) while your apartment is idle. Once they start an A/C or a heater, the meter should spin MUCH faster and that will tip you off that they’re using electricity on your dime.
If you detect they’re running on your meter and the LL doesn’t want to correct the problem, try turning off your power when you’re gone (be sure and lock the switch if it has padlock holes). That’ll get their attention! Well, on second thought, that might be overdoing it to start out — you might advise the neighbors first, and try to get them to pressure the LL to have the problem corrected or figure out some way to reimburse you (tho the LL should facilitate that, IMO) for the extra power they’re using.
Black Mold
Painting over mold with out killing it and removing the old mold means it will come back.
The house was wired as a single unit. You have been paying for your neighbor’s electricity use. Hopefully it is in electrical conduit so it can be wired to neighbor’s panel.
Your land lord sounds like a slumlord in the making.
Black Mold
Do you have a separate electric meter and fuse box or circuit breaker box? If so, when you leave your home turn off the main breaker. All the power in your home will be off. Just to be sure, check your meter. Look at it very closely. If the indicator wheel is still turning something is wrong and you need to call the power company. If it’s not turning, go on about your business. Be sure you’re gone for several hours, preferably over a dinner period. When you come home turn your main breaker back on again. If your neighbor or your landlord complains about the power being out you know right away you are paying for someone else’s usage. Then confront your landlord with your findings and ask to have the situation corrected. It’s not just consumption, it’s safety. They could overload a circuit and start a fire or someone could try working on one of the circuits thinking it’s off and it’s not, and they could get a shock.