M
mdtenant
Guest
What is the name of your state? Maryland
I rented an apartment that occupied the space above my landlord's garage and den. I lived there for about two years before I moved out last month. Both the apartment, garage and den were built as an addition to the landlord's house about 10 years ago.
I finally was able to confirm it in December, but it seems that I was paying the electricity for the entire addition to the house. There were two electricity meters - one for the main house and one for the addition. The circuit breaker panel for the addition (including my apartment) was in the garage and had labels for both my apartment and the rest of the addition.
I called my utility company when I found this out, but they told me it was an inside issue and to contact an electrician. I contacted a number of electricians, all of who said that it would be too expensive to run a trace on the meter in question and that I would have to get permission from the landlord to do so since they would have to enter her house.
The only "proof" I was able to get was that I was able to take photos of the labeled circuit breaker panel showing the labels and I had a witness who saw me try the different circuits (such as the garage lights going off). About half of the cirucits control her area.
I recently filed a complaint in small claims court for 50% of my electricity bills for the length of my tenancy. I calculated it to be 50% based on her share of the fuses and the apartment occupying exactly half of the addition to the house.
My lease said only that I am responsible for my own electricity, but the landlord never disclosed that I would be paying for her electricity as well.
Does anyone have any tips for me in preparing for court? Any advice regarding additional evidence I might need or things I may not have thought of would be much appreciated.
I rented an apartment that occupied the space above my landlord's garage and den. I lived there for about two years before I moved out last month. Both the apartment, garage and den were built as an addition to the landlord's house about 10 years ago.
I finally was able to confirm it in December, but it seems that I was paying the electricity for the entire addition to the house. There were two electricity meters - one for the main house and one for the addition. The circuit breaker panel for the addition (including my apartment) was in the garage and had labels for both my apartment and the rest of the addition.
I called my utility company when I found this out, but they told me it was an inside issue and to contact an electrician. I contacted a number of electricians, all of who said that it would be too expensive to run a trace on the meter in question and that I would have to get permission from the landlord to do so since they would have to enter her house.
The only "proof" I was able to get was that I was able to take photos of the labeled circuit breaker panel showing the labels and I had a witness who saw me try the different circuits (such as the garage lights going off). About half of the cirucits control her area.
I recently filed a complaint in small claims court for 50% of my electricity bills for the length of my tenancy. I calculated it to be 50% based on her share of the fuses and the apartment occupying exactly half of the addition to the house.
My lease said only that I am responsible for my own electricity, but the landlord never disclosed that I would be paying for her electricity as well.
Does anyone have any tips for me in preparing for court? Any advice regarding additional evidence I might need or things I may not have thought of would be much appreciated.