Procrastination

[MelodyW]

I have lived in my apartment for eleven years now. I did not sign a lease. Until recently I have never been late with a payment. Before Thanksgiving the ceiling in my Dining Room started leaking, causing a hole in the ceiling. The roof has been repaired, but still a hole and live squirels have entered the attic, potential of entering apartment through hole opening. My oven went out Thanksgiving and has not been fixed yet. The six foot aerial antenna blew off the roof, dangling in a tree over the outside walkway, leaving me no reception for TV or radio. The landlord promised to fix these things. I left several reminder messages and landlord didn't return my calls. I held back rent payments to get these fixed. Landlord called yesterday, wants rent. I reminded him of my living conditions. He said if I don't like, then move and hung up on me. Do I pay for such inadquequate living conditions? Aren't these required by law and housing codes?I live in NC.

[Edited by MelodyW on 02-08-2001 at 09:38 AM]

 

[djdj]

Of course they are required, and you should TODAY take lots of pictures of the hole, the tv antenna.

And then for NOT HAVING A LEASE, you can be evicted with a 30 day notice...

So why not look for another place?, get the landlord to sign an agreement that you will leave by the end of the money and all bills and costs have been paid. so he cant sue you after you leave.

He is a redneck, and wont change!

 

[LL]

Yes, you have a right, the hole in the roof probably violates some housing code, the other things do not, but as a practical matter, it doesn't look like your landlord is going to fix them anytime soon.

I don't know anything at all about how it is in NC or about the attitude toward their housing stock, but why do you stay if you are not happy? Your landlord has indicated that you can move if you don't like it, and you don't even have a lease problem. So why stay?

 

[MelodyW]

When you have lived somewhere 11 years the rent amount becomes comfortable even with its slight increases. You overlook one thing and then another in trade for that comfortable rent payment. Then one day you realize you are living in unsuitable and unexceptable living conditions...you have regressed. With this reality you also recognize that competitive housing prices have esculated while you were "out of touch" with the realities going on outside your little dwelling. Thus, a major change in relocation, job, budget, sacrafices must be made.

 

[LL]

Well, if you insist on staying, your options seem to be:

1. Stay is these conditions.

2. Fix them yourselves.

3. Spend time and money and grief in making a big fight with your landlord trying to force him to make repairs. You probably cannot force him to fix the TV antenna, the roof, maybe, who knows about the oven. In the end, I can predict that you will not win everything, and the landlord will get rid of you at his first opportunity. Maybe, he will wake up to the new reality of competitive prices and realize that he can get rid of you and still make more money.

Maybe there are some other options:

1. If you are correct that your rent is low compared to what you would pay elsewhere, then maybe it is worth your while to fix these problems yourself and to stay where you are.
2. Maybe you could reach some compromise with the landlord .

 

[djdj]

Oh melody,

You spent money like water, and didnt save a dime.....

just think how much you would have after 11 years if you saved even $100 a month, and then $150 or $200 or more since the rental prices were going up ALL around you.....

Damnnnn you could have had PLENTY OF MOOLAH for a down payment on a home.

Being in outer space sure has cost you a lot.

 

[MelodyW]

Thank you both for your comments which are greatly appreciated. Yes, "to ere is hindsight". However, those years spent were learning experiences all in themselves, good and bad as I worked a full time job, while working a part time job, while attending college full time...Graduated!!!at 41.

I will take both of your recommendations into consideration as I try to improve my present conditions. I will continue my search for that job, for that home, for that life.

Again, it was nice to have a place to come to for "Free Advice".

 

[djdj]

Not bad for such an aged person...lol...

We all have done the same thing at one time or another, but FREEDOM means always having a stash of cash to make choices.

NO cash no choices.....