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Water turned off, 2 days now

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Caribear

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

So last Friday, 4/10/08, at 8:00 am my landlord's grandson that lives downstairs bangs on my door and hands me a piece of mail (how he ended up with my mail I have no idea but i've had problems with not receiving my mail) and then without another word says, "We haven't gotten your rent for two months now, do we need to take legal action??". Might I add he was about as rude and threatening as you can get about it.

This is the first i've heard of this, as I have had money orders made and then mailed them the rent each month. Typically, I give it in person where the landlord owns a barbershop but the last two months it was more convenient to mail them.

I said, "Excuse me? I have had money orders sent to you both months, I will gladly show my receipts... if you're positive that you haven't received them IN THE MAIL, please tell me so." He backed off.

An hour or so later I had just finished my shower when I hear banging again on the door... this time it was his wife, but she was very polite and said that water was leaking thru their dry wall and asked if I could turn the water off. I said sure, no problem.

Another hour later and my landlord shows up... no warning and didn't ask to come in, she kind of just looked at me like she was expecting to be let in. She went to take a look at the bathroom and said that they have had problems with the dry wall leaking before. She got on me about how cluttered my place is and how her daughter cleans her cat's litter box everyday (I will admit it had been a few days but again... I had no warning, it would've been totally cleaned out if I had). We talked and although she was only just civil enough... she obviously made uncalled for comments, then proceeded to complain about my neighbor who smokes like a banshee and thinks his place reaks and then she said to stop by her barbershop to show the receipts.

Saturday morning, I had no water. So I went to the barbershop... unfortunately i'm kind of screwed because I can only find this month's receipts but I thought here they would see that I at least paid this month's and i'd talk to them about last month. Well no one in my landlord's family was there but one of their workers offered to take a picture of my receipts and show it to them, she said she would vouch for me. I told her to tell them that my water was not on in case they weren't aware.

It is now Sunday... and my water is STILL not on.

First of all, I thought it was totally inappropriate that the grandson threatened me - he is NOT my landlord and it was out of line either way... my landlord said that she hasn't tried to contact me about the rent before this so they either just assumed I hadn't paid or something shady is going on and they're trying to just get more money. Second of all, I have had NO written notification for anything... not about the rent or about the water being turned off.

I have to go to work pretty soon here (unfortunately dog groomers/bathers don't get Easter off). But yeah, i'm looking at other places just in case, but it'll be hard to pull off, i'm in training to be a dog groomer so I make $200/wk at most, so while I can get new money orders made for last month, i'll have to figure out a way to catch up on last month's while I post an inquiry for those ones (my rent is $450 and it takes two money orders to add up to that amount). My mom helps me out a bit so that I can finish my training but I hate asking for help for this, I don't see any other way around it though... possibly have help from my last boyfriend who had to move a long distance away and we're trying to make it work. But again, I don't want to borrow money from anyone...

OH and this is currently a month to month lease if that helps at all.
 
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FarmerJ

Senior Member
Go see your mom and ask for a loan to get what ever they claim is not paid caught up while you search more for the money order reciepts you need and to order up copies, Monday morning go to the LLS home with new money orders and a blank receipt book and have them fill it out on the spot then get back home and call your city /county building inspections desk tell them your water is included in your rent and its been off since saturday and you want some one to come out and take a look at it. Next time you make rent payments use a bank cashiers check NO More money orders they are too easy to lose the slip or use cash at LLS home with your reciept book in hand for LL to fill out. USE of any method of payment other than cash or personal check has its pitfalls , like when a payment is lost with money orders it can take a long time to get tracers done , LLS should not have to wait while its being done. CASH is just that BUT atleast if you DO not ever lose the reciept and the LL loses it its not your problem. What your LLs family did with turning off the water is not a wise choice since there are laws that address the issue. BUT depending on use of money orders too is a not a wise choice since no matter what excuses you have including a MO reciept on hand there is no fast way to verfiy if a MO was cashed.
 

Cvillecpm

Senior Member
Cleaning is not an EVENT - it is a PROCESS that should be done ROUTINELY and CONTINUALLY!!

Give your 30 day notice and move.
 
Money order receipts is not proof of payment...only proof of purchase. Your failure to get receipts from the landlord of payment could get you evicted. Giving a notice to vacate at this point is not going to relieve you of the TWO
months of rent you cannot prove payment of or prevent you from being evicted. Funny how you have always paid in person but the two months of missing rents you chose to mail because it was more convenient...your story just doesn't add up.

With that saying, even with YOUR FAILURE to pay rent does not give the landlords the right to turn off the water.
 

Caribear

Junior Member
Cleaning is not an EVENT - it is a PROCESS that should be done ROUTINELY and CONTINUALLY!!

Give your 30 day notice and move.
People live in different states of clutter, I don't need/deserve a lecture on how cluttered my place is... it's no one's business where i put my clothes or that I have a bag of pop bottles that need to be returned. I'm a very cluttered person but that is not her right say anything about it.

I have never had a problem like this with a landlord before, this is by far not the first place i've lived in...

I'm looking to move out actually but not sure if I will be able to... I may have found a sublet for May-November that is about the same price. But I have very large items that I cannot move on my own... i'd have to get movers again because I don't know many people that'd be able to help me move out.
 

Caribear

Junior Member
Cleaning is not an EVENT - it is a PROCESS that should be done ROUTINELY and CONTINUALLY!!

Give your 30 day notice and move.
Money order receipts is not proof of payment...only proof of purchase. Your failure to get receipts from the landlord of payment could get you evicted. Giving a notice to vacate at this point is not going to relieve you of the TWO
months of rent you cannot prove payment of or prevent you from being evicted. Funny how you have always paid in person but the two months of missing rents you chose to mail because it was more convenient...your story just doesn't add up.

With that saying, even with YOUR FAILURE to pay rent does not give the landlords the right to turn off the water.
Who gets receipts from their landlord?? I've lived in different apartments since 2000 and have never heard of this... and if showing my receipts wasn't valid then why did my landlord agree to let me show them? This isn't the first time ever that I mailed them either... I mailed them a few times the end of last year, it usually depends on if i've remembered to bring my landlord's address with me after gotten the money orders ready.

I didn't ask to be attacked here, I wouldn't be wasting my time asking for help if I really didn't pay for my rent... what the hell, you sound like a landlord that is taking frustrations from other tenants out on me o_O

I'm mainly worried because I dunno if my landlord has the same mailman as me... because I haven't been getting some mail... my aunt had sent me a letter recently and it was sent back to her as unclaimed.

LL should get this month's rent by monday and then someone will have to eat their words.
 

Alaska landlord

Senior Member
People live in different states of clutter, I don't need/deserve a lecture on how cluttered my place is... it's no one's business where i put my clothes or that I have a bag of pop bottles that need to be returned. I'm a very cluttered person but that is not her right say anything about it.*
It is actually the LL's business as well as yours to keep yout apartment clean. If you check your lease, there should be wording there regarding keeping your apartment clean. Dirty apartments bring vermin infestations that affect not only you, but your neighbors as well.

Who gets receipts from their landlord?? I've lived in different apartments since 2000 and have never heard of this... and if showing my receipts wasn't valid then why did my landlord agree to let me show them? This isn't the first time ever that I mailed them either... I mailed them a few times the end of last year, it usually depends on if i've remembered to bring my landlord's address with me after gotten the money orders ready.*
Everybody gets receipts, or should when paying in cash or by MO. If not, that's when situations like yours happen. The LL is free to accept any or no excuse.
 

Cvillecpm

Senior Member
"...People live in different states of clutter, I don't need/deserve a lecture on how cluttered my place is... it's no one's business where i put my clothes or that I have a bag of pop bottles that need to be returned. I'm a very cluttered person but that is not her right say anything about it."

I disagree. It IS the landlords' business how "cluttered" you are keeping THEIR PROPERTY. Even the GOVERNMENT acknowledges this which is why subsidized rental units are subject to housekeeping inspections....In the case of an emergency * and an emergency is generally considered FIRE * FLOOD * BLOOD * there is no need to notice and since you were FLOODING someone else's home, that would qualify...the fact that it is the landlord's son's apt is immaterial.

If you continue to rent from these landlords, pay at the barber shop AND get a receipt even if you make it yourself on the back of an envelope/scrap piece of paper and they just sign and date it....this is NOT rocket science!!!
 

Who's Liable?

Senior Member
Who gets receipts from their landlord?? I've lived in different apartments since 2000 and have never heard of this... and if showing my receipts wasn't valid then why did my landlord agree to let me show them? This isn't the first time ever that I mailed them either... I mailed them a few times the end of last year, it usually depends on if i've remembered to bring my landlord's address with me after gotten the money orders ready.
It is YOUR responsibility to get a receipt from the LL. If they refuse or cannot give you a receipt, you need to send them a written letter, sent CRR, stating you paid on X date, X amount to X person, and they refused to give you a receipt therefore your letter serves as your receipt. If you want to send a recent bank statement showing "X" check, or a copy of the MO stub, do so to prove your point.

I didn't ask to be attacked here, I wouldn't be wasting my time asking for help if I really didn't pay for my rent... what the hell, you sound like a landlord that is taking frustrations from other tenants out on me o_O
Don't mind them... You are correct, they are LLs...

I'm mainly worried because I dunno if my landlord has the same mailman as me... because I haven't been getting some mail... my aunt had sent me a letter recently and it was sent back to her as unclaimed.
You need to head down to the post office to determine WHY your mail isn't being delivered. If it is because your mail is being intercepted by the LL. or the relative, inform them via written CRR letter it is a FELONY to take mail that does NOT belong to them, and you will be reporting accordingly.

Keep your apartment as you see fit. A LL HAS NOT LEGAL AUTHORITY to force you to clean... Unless of course you really ARE living in filth...

IMMEDIATELY send a letter to the LL, sent CRR, stating they have 3 business days to turn the water back on. Failure to do so will be construed as an illegal eviction to which you will sue them in court PLUS ANY AND ALL COSTS associated with the eviction as allowed per your states LL/T laws...

Remember, if you get ANY of the letter back unopened, DO NOT OPEN THEM as they become evidence of your attempt to contact them. The judge will want to see them should it get that far.
 

Alaska landlord

Senior Member
t is YOUR responsibility to get a receipt from the LL. If they refuse or cannot give you a receipt, you need to send them a written letter, sent CRR, stating you paid on X date, X amount to X person, and they refused to give you a receipt therefore your letter serves as your receipt.
That's a load of crap.
The only thing this proves is that you SAY that you have paid. Only third party confirmation is valid proof of payment.

Keep your apartment as you see fit. A LL HAS NOT LEGAL AUTHORITY to force you to clean... Unless of course you really ARE living in filth...
Again, incorrect advice. The landlord has every right to enforce ALL breaches of landlord tenant agreement.

IMMEDIATELY send a letter to the LL, sent CRR, stating they have 3 business days to turn the water back on. Failure to do so will be construed as an illegal eviction to which you will sue them in court PLUS ANY AND ALL COSTS associated with the eviction as allowed per your states LL/T laws...

Another demonstration of Useless if not unnecessary advice. Water is not turned on because doing so would further damage the unit downstairs. Try finding a plumber to work on Easter Weekend without being soaked for all the money they can get.

OP has to ASK when the plumber will be coming over instead of speculating.
 

FarmerJ

Senior Member
Why would you get a reciept for a money order or personal check when paying rent ? Because as a tenant it wont end your responsibility to replace the funds should the LL lose a check or MO but it certainly would give a tenant a reason to insist a LL cease collection of late fees if the LL lost the check or MO while the tenant is getting replacement funds for the LL. The simple act of getting a reciept could and would slow down a LL who acts badly and decides they are gonna get rid of a tenant by claiming a MO or check was not recieved and goes and starts a eviction process. Especially when a tenant pays via MO. Every one knows it takes time to get MOs canceled stopped and funds released back to the purchaser. And courts wont give a damn about a tenant who claims `I bought a MO , see I got my slip` because it is not proof of payment! but a reciept from LL even if it says MONEY ORDER on it ends that problem.
 

ecmst12

Senior Member
If you paid with a check, you wouldn't need a receipt, you bank would have record of the check being cashed. If you mail a money order, always send certified mail.
 

Cvillecpm

Senior Member
EC - sending CRRR ONLY proves you SENT SOMETHING * NOT what was sent....hand delivery as had been the custom in the past should have been attempted so that this would not happen!!
 

Who's Liable?

Senior Member
That's a load of crap.
The only thing this proves is that you SAY that you have paid. Only third party confirmation is valid proof of payment.
A bank statement showing a withdraw amount of the rent PLUS a copy of the MO for the same amount on the same day can be used as proof of rent payment. Not the best method, but useful at times in court.

Again, incorrect advice. The landlord has every right to enforce ALL breaches of landlord tenant agreement.
Thank you for agreeing with me... Not cleaning to the LLs liking or to their standard is NOT breach of contract...

Another demonstration of Useless if not unnecessary advice. Water is not turned on because doing so would further damage the unit downstairs. Try finding a plumber to work on Easter Weekend without being soaked for all the money they can get.
NOT THE TENANTS PROBLEM... If LL doesn't want to abide by the laws of their state, than LL should GET OUT of the business...

OP has to ASK when the plumber will be coming over instead of speculating.
OP doesn't have to ask, OP needs to DEMAND for accommodations AND a date WHEN the repairs will be performed... If the LL FAILS to do the repairs, tenant can LEGALLY break their lease and sue LL for ILLEGAL EVICTION...

Just as LLs demand and give no quarters when rent is due, tenants need to demand and give no quarters when repairs are needed.
 

Alaska landlord

Senior Member
A bank statement showing a withdraw amount of the rent PLUS a copy of the MO for the same amount on the same day can be used as proof of rent payment. Not the best method, but useful at times in court.
And here I thought that was a third party.


Thank you for agreeing with me... Not cleaning to the LLs liking or to their standard is NOT breach of contract...
Maybe not in your tenant world.
No agreement here.


NOT THE TENANTS PROBLEM... If LL doesn't want to abide by the laws of their state, than LL should GET OUT of the business...
Or maybe the goverment should stay out of the LL business. Property rights and freedom go hand-in-hand. The goverment has no business dictating how you do business.


OP doesn't have to ask, OP needs to DEMAND for accommodations AND a date WHEN the repairs will be performed... If the LL FAILS to do the repairs, tenant can LEGALLY break their lease and sue LL for ILLEGAL EVICTION...
Don't know about you, but when people start demanding I go into my very slow action plan.

Just as LLs demand and give no quarters when rent is due, tenants need to demand and give no quarters when repairs are needed.
Which still gets you no water for your wash.

Word of advice. Being polite and respectful works most of the time. Expecting your landlord to scour the yellow pages for a plumber to work on Holidays is unrealistic. A better approach would have been to ask LL to pay for a hotel of his choice over the weekend.

It is less expensive and tenant can consider it a vacation.
 

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