hauntingmelody
Junior Member
State Specific Question About: CALIFORNIA (CA)
I moved in to a new apartment on November 8. My rent is $188 and the monthly complex fee is $50 (total of $238), which I paid in full for the first month. They said they prorate the second month. So, first month covered Nov 8 - Dec 7. Prorated rent is for 24 days, Dec 8- Dec 31.
I have multiple questions and issues about the complex's calculations, math, common sense, software/hardware requirements, and most importantly, the law.
a) Does it matter that I moved in during a 30-day month and got prorated for a 31-day month?
b) Are there specifications/standards for programs or calculator types in which to do the math? (For example, their desk calculator was not as accurate as the "Calculator" in Windows). Different types of calculators have varied abilities; is there a regulation on minimum requirements?
c) Assuming all months get prorated by 30 (standard amt of days), would the $50 fee be $40 or $40.08 because the ratio is rounded to $1.67 and used as the 'daily rate'? Would the number be cleared from the calculator and rounded or would the more accurate number be left in the calculator and multiplied by 24?
(Note: if you simplify, 50/30 is the same as 40/24. They both reduce to 5/3). So, on principle, I don't want to pay an extra 8 cents because they can't do math. If that is the law, however, fine. I am not trying to challenge laws, but I don't want to be overcharged by folks who aren't good with attention-to-detail.
d) Should the rent ($188) and the fee ($50), both payable in the same monthly check to the complex, be prorated separately or together? So, would $238/30 mult. by 24 (which is $190.40) be more or less legally accurate than $188/30 + $50/30 each separately rounded, then mult. by 24 and lastly added together?
e) Would a number such as 7.9333333333333333333333333333333 (probably infinitely repeating?) be rounded to 7.94 in the landlord's favor or would it round to 7.93, according to real estate law? Would the state or federal government regulate this?
I would very much appreciate any links to credible sources, be it websites, names of authors, books, or codes, or the specific CA state/federal office title of the folks who can authoritatively answer these questions. (I don't know if there are city/county-specific laws, but my zip code is 92081. Also, I receive section 8 rental assistance, which is why my rent is only $188 (+$50) monthly.)
Thank you for whatever help you are able to offer!
I moved in to a new apartment on November 8. My rent is $188 and the monthly complex fee is $50 (total of $238), which I paid in full for the first month. They said they prorate the second month. So, first month covered Nov 8 - Dec 7. Prorated rent is for 24 days, Dec 8- Dec 31.
I have multiple questions and issues about the complex's calculations, math, common sense, software/hardware requirements, and most importantly, the law.
a) Does it matter that I moved in during a 30-day month and got prorated for a 31-day month?
b) Are there specifications/standards for programs or calculator types in which to do the math? (For example, their desk calculator was not as accurate as the "Calculator" in Windows). Different types of calculators have varied abilities; is there a regulation on minimum requirements?
c) Assuming all months get prorated by 30 (standard amt of days), would the $50 fee be $40 or $40.08 because the ratio is rounded to $1.67 and used as the 'daily rate'? Would the number be cleared from the calculator and rounded or would the more accurate number be left in the calculator and multiplied by 24?
(Note: if you simplify, 50/30 is the same as 40/24. They both reduce to 5/3). So, on principle, I don't want to pay an extra 8 cents because they can't do math. If that is the law, however, fine. I am not trying to challenge laws, but I don't want to be overcharged by folks who aren't good with attention-to-detail.
d) Should the rent ($188) and the fee ($50), both payable in the same monthly check to the complex, be prorated separately or together? So, would $238/30 mult. by 24 (which is $190.40) be more or less legally accurate than $188/30 + $50/30 each separately rounded, then mult. by 24 and lastly added together?
e) Would a number such as 7.9333333333333333333333333333333 (probably infinitely repeating?) be rounded to 7.94 in the landlord's favor or would it round to 7.93, according to real estate law? Would the state or federal government regulate this?
I would very much appreciate any links to credible sources, be it websites, names of authors, books, or codes, or the specific CA state/federal office title of the folks who can authoritatively answer these questions. (I don't know if there are city/county-specific laws, but my zip code is 92081. Also, I receive section 8 rental assistance, which is why my rent is only $188 (+$50) monthly.)
Thank you for whatever help you are able to offer!