Landlord improvements

[abcdefz]

Skip to paragraph #4 to answer a What's My Landlord Doing? question.

Anyway: Be careful what you wish for.

Maybe I already talked about this, but our apartments sold to a new landlord. The old one was really reluctant to do any repairs which weren't emergencies -- clearly, he was just biding time until the place sold, so therefore cosmetic stuff (landscaping) got taken care of, but broken washers and dryers didn't.

Anyway, enter new owner/landlord. Washers and dryers got fixed quickly -- yay -- but then I came home one day and... down the hallways... he had tacked up kind of cheesy no-name art reproductions. And really haphazard ones: some pastel pears in one, pseudo-Monet waterlillies in another, a bullfight reproduction in another, a farmhouse... you get the idea. Very colorless, offensively inoffensive stuff. (Actually, the bullfight poster works since it's a Spanish building.) So instead of sprucing the place up, it has the opposite effect: it looks cheap, tasteless, tacky.

Anyway. So I get home last night and there's a note on each of our doors that tomorrow, they're coming in to replace all the electric fixtures with "more energy-efficient units." Bear in mind that the ones we have are already energy-efficient models, and we're contractually bound to use those 5- or 10-year fluorescent bulbs. I mean, if you want to change anything, change those seventy-year old coil heaters each apartment has, you know?

But I'm just wondering... if each tenant is paying for his or her own electricity (and we are), why bother replacing pretty new energy efficient light fixtures with newer ones? This landlord is taking on the expense all on his own, and I can't figure out why he would bother.

I guess as long as it's not ugly as hell, I shouldn't complain, but it just seems like a weird priority. Jeez, put new carpet in the hallway (or take it out and go with the wood floors underneath), you know? :confused:

[QueenAdrock]

I found out that apparently my new landlord is skeezy. Some bathroom tiles came down in the shower downstairs, we called him and he said "No, no, that's fine. Don't worry about it, it's okay." Umm...:confused:

The house is becoming more run-down. I mean, it's decent, I wouldn't expect a family to live here (it needs new carpet and tiles and paint and such) but it's a good deal for straight-out-of-college kids looking to live on their own. It's in decent shape, but it could be better. I certainly hope that when we move out he doesn't expect us to pay for stuff we told him needed fixing/updating, though.

[abcdefz]

Did you take pictures or do a walk-through or anything when you moved in?

Man, the manager and I went and I was pointing out stuff that would be potentially costly. I'm thinking especially of the cigarette burns on the carpet. Since I'm a smoker, I could've easily taken the hit for new carpeting.

[QueenAdrock]

Oooh, that's a good idea. No, I'm not on the lease because I'm only moving in for about 4 months, so no walk-through or anything. The other two girls in my house signed it, I sure hope they pointed out stuff before they signed it.

[abcdefz]

I have more than one friend whose pre-move-in photos saved them serious bank.

I should have documented a bunch of cleaning I didn't notice until after I was in. I don't have much of an eye for that stuff. But it's an old buildings and lots of nooks and crannies were less than sparkling upon closer inspection.

[Yeti]

Dark and lonely on a Summer's night. Kill my landlord. Kill my landlord. The watchdog barking, do he bite? Kill my landlord. Kill my landlord. C-I-L-L my landlord.

[QueenAdrock]

ahahahaha

[Nivvie]

My landlord recently fitted new heating and cleaned out the oil tank, which was a major inconvenience. I don't like plumbers in at the best or most important of times, but when it's someone whose bill I'm not paying, I can't even threaten with non-payment if they don't get on with it.

However, after selling last home and again entering the renting world again, I'm very happy.
My landlord mows my lawn with his big tractor and is good at fixing cars.
He also lets us wander about the farm, ooohhh and aaahhh at baby calves and take as much hay as I want for my rabbit.

He also cleans out the septic tank free of charge.(y) (y)

[abcdefz]

I hear what you mean about not letting people in. I hate feeling out of control and invaded. This maintenance guy we have never shows up at the right time, and sometimes just blows off the appointment without calling, which is inexcusable. I talked to our manager about that, and he hasn't done it again, but he is pretty reliably one hour late.

I'm even less comfortable with someone going in while I'm not there, though, so I'm learning to deal with it.

[HEIRESS]

I live in a basement suite now and my new landlords freaking bake me cookies and shit

still doesnt make paying 750/mnth rent on my own any easier to swallow each month

[abcdefz]

I would LOVE to pay $750/month. Especially in Canadian dollars.

[abcdefz]

Yeah, I don't really wanna live in Whostown.

[Nivvie]

I'm even less comfortable with someone going in while I'm not there, though, so I'm learning to deal with it.


I can't cope at all with that. Not at all. When I was a teenager I had to go to work leaving landlord hired workmen in my flat, with a bag of valuables and personal crap in a bag on my shoulder.

A friend of mine once came home to find her landlord 'just checking' the place, with no warning, and no real reason.

She's a total wuss though, so she didn't say or do anything.
I'd have bloody exploded.

[abcdefz]

They're supposed to give 24 hours notice (48?) unless it's an emergency.


One time I got pretty embarrassed because of an "emergency." They swore they had knocked; maybe they had.

[QueenAdrock]

I would LOVE to pay $750/month. Especially in Canadian dollars.

Move to DC when I move to Canada and take over my room! Lots of jobs around here, my rent is $610 a month, including cable, gas, electricity, trash, water. I have the master bedroom with my own personal bathroom and walk-in closet. It's going to be a shame to give it up.

But you'll have to live with a bunch of dorky 23-year old females. :p

[marsdaddy]

Is your landlord is making "improvements" so he can justify raising the rent?

Somehow, I think a-z wouldn't minding dorky females, though 23 is awfully young.