MIA Landlord left me a Big Electrical Bill.

[Terrekain]

What is the name of your state? NY

Greetings everyone.

I'm a college kid out of the Navy. I'm going to Binghamton University in NY (electrical engineering) using the GI Bill. I've been a tenant of a certain house for the past year and I've recently signed a new lease beginning last month. Some of the details are as follows:

-all utilities, cable, internet and phone included
-1 year lease beginning in late August(a continuation of the previous year's arrangements, essentially)
-as specified in the lease, the payment was sent to a local car dealer for the downpayment of my landlord's car. In short, I paid off the entire year upfront at the request of the LL.


Yesterday (October 1st) I came home to a rude surprise when a slip of paper was left in the doorway, telling me that the electricity had been shut off because the account had accumulated over $500 in debt. I made an immediate call to my LL but his cell phone was "temporarily out of service" .

This is very frustrating in that I need electricity to do some work at home, but I don't want to pay his debt in what might amount to thousands of dollars (I have no idea what other payments my LLs defaulted on) in utilities. I'm beginning to gather some information about my LL by going to the car dealer and seeing if there's a way to track him down. The LL was just at this house this past weekend and he seemed composed so I'm hoping that this is an oversight and that he hasn't been terribly irresponsible.

Nonetheless, I feel I need to make preparations and I've never done something like this before. Thus I'm sending out some tendrils to fish for advice. Any information will be welcome. I've just read a little about "housing courts" and would especially like to know about legal assistance and/or recommendations. I might hire an attorney once I'm able to fully grasp the context of my situation.

Thank you.

Regards,

Dan

 

[FarmerJ]

Sounds like you will have to wait till the power is shut off then call in building inspectors to verify that it is off, then take him to small claims court bringing with you the shut off notice and and sue to have the lease terminated and rent moneys returned to you.

 

[HomeGuru]

What is the name of your state? NY

Greetings everyone.

I'm a college kid out of the Navy. I'm going to Binghamton University in NY (electrical engineering) using the GI Bill. I've been a tenant of a certain house for the past year and I've recently signed a new lease beginning last month. Some of the details are as follows:

-all utilities, cable, internet and phone included
-1 year lease beginning in late August(a continuation of the previous year's arrangements, essentially)
-as specified in the lease, the payment was sent to a local car dealer for the downpayment of my landlord's car. In short, I paid off the entire year upfront at the request of the LL.


Yesterday (October 1st) I came home to a rude surprise when a slip of paper was left in the doorway, telling me that the electricity had been shut off because the account had accumulated over $500 in debt. I made an immediate call to my LL but his cell phone was "temporarily out of service" .

This is very frustrating in that I need electricity to do some work at home, but I don't want to pay his debt in what might amount to thousands of dollars (I have no idea what other payments my LLs defaulted on) in utilities. I'm beginning to gather some information about my LL by going to the car dealer and seeing if there's a way to track him down. The LL was just at this house this past weekend and he seemed composed so I'm hoping that this is an oversight and that he hasn't been terribly irresponsible.

Nonetheless, I feel I need to make preparations and I've never done something like this before. Thus I'm sending out some tendrils to fish for advice. Any information will be welcome. I've just read a little about "housing courts" and would especially like to know about legal assistance and/or recommendations. I might hire an attorney once I'm able to fully grasp the context of my situation.

Thank you.

Regards,

**A: research the NY L/T law and talk to the electric co.

 

[Terrekain]

So I need a building ispector to verify that the power is off...

Or can I simply get the power company to print an acknowledgement that they shut the power off? BTW, the power was terminated when I arrived home yesterday

 

[Just Blue]

-1 year lease beginning in late August(a continuation of the previous year's arrangements, essentially)
-as specified in the lease, the payment was sent to a local car dealer for the downpayment of my landlord's car. In short, I paid off the entire year upfront at the request of the LL.

Are you saying that you paid the first years RENT upfront for the year or the lease/payment on your LL car for the year?

If it was the rent, it is most likely illegal...there is a limit to how many months rent a LL can request/accept.

 

[Terrekain]

Are you saying that you paid the first years RENT upfront for the year or the lease/payment on your LL car for the year?

If it was the rent, it is most likely illegal...there is a limit to how many months rent a LL can request/accept.

Yes, he requested that the money be paid to the car dealership ($2700 down-payment). I have the receipt and he's signed for the car and driving it somewheres unknown. The lease specifically states that this payment covered the full year's lease.

I had no inkling that paying a full year up-front was illegal. I live in Binghamton NY, are you sure about this?

 

[HomeGuru]

Yeah are you sure?