Landlord violating lease?

[lostinmymind]

State: california
Background: I signed an addendum to rental agreement with my landlord agreeing to the following: "if AC is turned on during summer, set it to 80 or higher". At the time of the lease signing, I was informed by the landlord that the rooms are usually colder than the thermostat temperature. I was lied to. I pay $100 flat rate monthly for electricity, water, and internet. I do not know actually how much electricity is being billed since the landlord does not show us any bills.
Details: I rent a room in a 2 floor townhouse. My room faces South east so in the afternoon the sun is blasting into my room. my landlord room rarely gets any sun at all. For the past 2 weeks or so lately when I get home at 7pm, my room is usually around 90 degrees. this temperature drops to around 85 at 10pm at night, and around 80 at 12am. Usually my room is about 3-4 degrees hotter than the house thermostat and I had tried to turn on the thermostat. However I noticed that my landlord will always turn it off (even when it is above 80 degrees) immediately after I turn it on and I am frustrated that I am basically living in a sauna day in day out. I do not know what I am paying utility fee for. Is there any legal measures I can take on this? This was definitely not what I signed up for.

 

[Gail in Georgia]

You mention faces Southeast so the sun is blasting in the afternoon. What type of window covering do you have in there? If none I'd suggest a room darkening curtain to help with the heat from the sun. I have noticed around here even places such as Walmart, Family Dollar, Dollar General, General Dollar tend to carry these room darkening panels (they are thicker than regular curtains) for only about $10 a panel. They do come in lighter colors so your room does not have to resemble a cave while helping to deal with this heat from the sun.

You might try this to see if this helps. Otherwise have you discussed the heat issue with your landlord/roommate?

Gail

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

You signed an agreement to not lower the thermostat below 80. You are bound to that agreement.

 

[LdiJ]

But, that doesn't mean that you couldn't put one of those small, portable AC's in your room.

 

[Shadowbunny]

But, that doesn't mean that you couldn't put one of those small, portable AC's in your room.

Unless you've read the lease, I don't know how you can make this statement.

OP, along with the room-darkening curtains (look for ones with thermal properties), get a fan. And start looking for another place to rent.

 

[LdiJ]

Unless you've read the lease, I don't know how you can make this statement.

Unless a lease actually prohibits additional cooling units from being in someone's room, I don't see how you could argue against it.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

It is still an AC and would be required to be set to 80 by the terms of the agreement.

 

[Shadowbunny]

Unless a lease actually prohibits additional cooling units from being in someone's room, I don't see how you could argue against it.

That's my point. You haven't read the lease, so have ZERO ideas what it says about additional appliances. Given that there's apparently a concern about running up the electricity bill, it's quite likely that the landlord prohibits an additional unit.

 

[FarmerJ]

Where is that thermostat you say the LL keeps shutting off ? ( central air for entire house ? ) or does your room have its own in the wall or window unit with its own thermostat ?

 

[LdiJ]

That's my point. You haven't read the lease, so have ZERO ideas what it says about additional appliances. Given that there's apparently a concern about running up the electricity bill, it's quite likely that the landlord prohibits an additional unit.

I disagree. Its more likely that the OP would have said that the lease prohibits additional units if the lease actually prohibited them. I am not talking about a window unit. I am talking about those new, mini, portable units.

 

[quincy]

I disagree. Its more likely that the OP would have said that the lease prohibits additional units if the lease actually prohibited them. I am not talking about a window unit. I am talking about those new, mini, portable units.

Because lostinmymind is paying a flat rate for electricity ($100), it is possible that the landlord does not want any additional electrical appliances adding to the monthly cost. The lease needs to be read.

 

[Gail in Georgia]

From the initial posting the $100 is for the OP's share of electricity, water and internet so it does not sound like it leaves a lot of "wiggle room" for additional electrical appliances that would increase the monthly bill.

Gail

 

[bcr229]

I disagree. Its more likely that the OP would have said that the lease prohibits additional units if the lease actually prohibited them. I am not talking about a window unit. I am talking about those new, mini, portable units.

I have one of those for the workshop. It's heavy enough that I would need help getting it up a flight of stairs. It's also so noisy that running it at night isn't really viable, and the duct needs to be vented out a window. I would only use it in the house as a last resort if the whole A/C system failed until I could get it repaired.

I would check first to make sure the registers in the room are open and not blocked, and that the windows in the room are well-insulated. There shouldn't be a 10*F difference in temperature between a bedroom and the thermostat setting in a small townhouse in the early evening even if the bedroom windows do face southwest.

Also investigate if there is anything in your room generating heat when you're not there. Some electronics may draw power even when "off" so try unplugging things like televisions, gaming consoles, stereos, computers, etc. when you leave.

Finally, you can fill some clean, empty 1-2 liter bottles about 2/3 of the way with water and put them in the freezer; lay them on their sides or at an angle and don't fill them all the way or they will crack. When you get home take the bottles out of the freezer and put them in front of a small fan set up in the bedroom doorway to pull air from the hall into your bedroom. The cooler air will be pulled into your room and the hot air will be pushed out the top of the door into the hall.

 

[LdiJ]

I have one of those for the workshop. It's heavy enough that I would need help getting it up a flight of stairs. It's also so noisy that running it at night isn't really viable, and the duct needs to be vented out a window. I would only use it in the house as a last resort if the whole A/C system failed until I could get it repaired.

I would check first to make sure the registers in the room are open and not blocked, and that the windows in the room are well-insulated. There shouldn't be a 10*F difference in temperature between a bedroom and the thermostat setting in a small townhouse in the early evening even if the bedroom windows do face southwest.

Also investigate if there is anything in your room generating heat when you're not there. Some electronics may draw power even when "off" so try unplugging things like televisions, gaming consoles, stereos, computers, etc. when you leave.

Finally, you can fill some clean, empty 1-2 liter bottles about 2/3 of the way with water and put them in the freezer; lay them on their sides or at an angle and don't fill them all the way or they will crack. When you get home take the bottles out of the freezer and put them in front of a small fan set up in the bedroom doorway to pull air from the hall into your bedroom. The cooler air will be pulled into your room and the hot air will be pushed out the top of the door into the hall.

Go to Amazon.com and search for "mini air conditioner". That is what I was talking about. They sit on a desk or dresser or nightstand and are very small.