Unique Living Situation, Nasty New Neighbors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP-if the house is safe to be inhabited, then it's really a licensing issue. Where you can complain to depends on the number of kitchens (rooms with cooking facilities) in the home, and the jurdisdiction you are in (county or city or rockville, city of baltimore etc)

I might consider letting the landlord know that you are planning on going to court and establishing a rent escrow account. If you did that, it should hopefully incentivize the landlord to move a little quicker to find a better solution for you. The nights are only going to get colder over the next few months, and you need them to be a little better to you, the long-paying presumably good-standing tenant(s) over just throwing up their hands and telling you to wait out their lease. Worst case, they need to get a license that they don't have - and they either will, or they won't. If they won't, you'll maybe consider asking the court for your rent escrow money back - and I'll just say to do a quick consult with a lawyer for the rest of what I might say here

In that process right now, thanks.

[Anonymous]

Also texted the landlord for their out of state mailing address. They are reluctant to provide it to me. Just keep telling me to email them. I can't email a certified letter!!!!!

[Anonymous]

This whole set up is sketchy- landlord knows it's illegal and doesn't take responsibility for anything and makes tenants fend for themselves. Get out OP, this is not worth the daily hassles.

Do you really want crazies to start freezing you out or doing worse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole set up is sketchy- landlord knows it's illegal and doesn't take responsibility for anything and makes tenants fend for themselves. Get out OP, this is not worth the daily hassles.

Do you really want crazies to start freezing you out or doing worse?

No of course I don't. I'm just trying to figure out what my rights are, how to enforce those rights while I'm still here without affecting innocent parties.

[Anonymous]

Do you or your friends smoke? Maybe start hanging out on the stoop since it seems to be a common area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you or your friends smoke? Maybe start hanging out on the stoop since it seems to be a common area.

I need advice on how to deal with a nuisance not act like one. That role has already been taken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, PS, forgot to mention they control our AC. When the temp is below 80 degrees they turn it off. We ask them to turn it back on. They ignore. Landlord has contacted them about this as well. To no avail.

These don't sound like legal apartments. No separate mailboxes, no separate HVAC controls.

[Anonymous]

OP, since it sounds like money is tight, you may qualify for legal aid. They handle a lot of landlord/tenant issues. Winter is just beginning and you need to be able to keep warm. Consider talking to someone about your rights as a tenant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's county level not state level in MD. Here it is for MoCo: http://montgomerycountymd.gov/DHCA/housing/landlordtenant/complaint.html

I think they would seek not to kick people out (only if the property is condemned.. unlikely) if the landlord can rectify the situation in a reasonable time.

On top of that, I assume they really won't kick someone out if it's cold outside. I know they aren't allowed to evict in MoCo when the temp is below a certain number (I'm a landlord and had to evict once).

OP here and thanks for responding. I'm not trying to get the landlord in trouble but h/she claims that they can do nothing about the situation because they are afraid that the upstairs people will try to sue if asked to leave before the lease is up. I am planning to move once I find a workable solution but that may take time and I am worried about the low temperatures as well as all the people involved. If I threaten to discount the rent everyday the heat is below 68 degrees can my landlord move to evict me?

the landlord will not evict you because the situation is illegal. He probably won't take you to court because it will be revealed that it is an illegal housing situation. So, you could stay there without paying and the landlord could technically not do a thing to you...unless he/she is willing to get the county involved and shut down his rental.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also texted the landlord for their out of state mailing address. They are reluctant to provide it to me. Just keep telling me to email them. I can't email a certified letter!!!!!

Google the landlords name. Im sure you will find an address. If not, do land records and you will find their address. It isn't really that hard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Space heater causes the fuses for the entire house to blow and cannot be run during the night. Believe me I already tried it. But thanks for the suggestion. I need the affordable apartment fairy to sprinkle some dust on my head

I know you don't want to be a nuisance, but if you blow the fuse repeatedly at 3am, the upstairs neighbor may decide it's in their best interest to keep your thermostat at a reasonable level...

[Anonymous]

Get one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Econo-Heat-0603-E-Heater-White/dp/B005DKN20W

Lower wattage so hopefully won't blow a fuse. Turn off extra lights at night before turning it on to be safe.

Landlord can cover cost of that plus extra electric bill (fairly inexpensive).

[Anonymous]

Go to rent court and out in for rent escrow. when you submit your paperwork ask that your rent be reduced because of the issues going on in the house (lack of heat). The housing authority will come in and inspect. Once they realize it's illegal on top of the issue the court will call the landlord into court. If he doesn't resolve the issues the money you put into rent court will be fully reimbursed to you.

Hopefully, you will submit for rent escrow before the other "tenant" does...people can only deal with lack of heat for so long before doing something about it.

When the court hearing is over (the length depends on the jurisdiction) you will have some money to move. BTW, the landlord would still have to go thru the eviction process to get you all out the house...which would also give you some extra time...that is unless he settles with you.

[Anonymous]

OP a space heater shouldn't blow fuses (unless you're running multiples on the same circuit). This place is obviously not up to code with their electrical either.

Every time it's cold and the heat isn't working, I'd go bang on their door.

You all should have separate mailing addresses. Like 123 Main Street Unit A and theirs would be Unit B.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Space heater causes the fuses for the entire house to blow and cannot be run during the night. Believe me I already tried it. But thanks for the suggestion. I need the affordable apartment fairy to sprinkle some dust on my head

I know you don't want to be a nuisance, but if you blow the fuse repeatedly at 3am, the upstairs neighbor may decide it's in their best interest to keep your thermostat at a reasonable level...

Or they may get more vindictive and turn the heat up to 90, or who knows what. I don't think ratcheting up will help in this sort of situation.