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submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by TheLastHero@hexbear.net to c/chat@hexbear.net

live tenant reaction landlord-spotted

The leech says it is too much for the electricial system to handle but I know its really because he doesn't want to pay for the electricity upkeep.

anyway how do I fight this social parasite? there's no law about maximum heat or mandatory ACs where I live since it isn't "supposed" to be this hot here, so I don't have a law to say he's breaking. There's nothing in the lease about AC though, just that the landleech is responsible for electricity and heat. He provides no AC and we can't install stuff on the side so everyone bought portables.

Do I write to the mayor and beg for help? Write to the local press? Get a doctors note somehow saying a have a disability and need it? Try to organize the whole building (I'm sure you all will recommend this but what should I actually ask of people)?

I'd rather not have to fucking move again because of shitty landlords. There has been weeks straight of extreme heat warnings in this place (USA) and it is a legitimate health and safety risk imo, also fucking annoying.

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[-] Justice@lemmygrad.ml 18 points 1 week ago

That seems wild to me that anyone would agree to a blanket "I'll pay for electricity" clause. I suppose they're probably gouging the fuck out of rent in exchange but recent years' increases in electricity price is now fucking them. That was a very stupid decision on their part. Most landlords correctly make that "your problem."

If they weren't wise enough to put in a maximum per month or per years amount that they'll pay for electricity then it becomes the tenants' problem... I don't see a way out for them. Not any legal ones. They may try to just do something anyway because, you know, not "good" people and all that.

I guess the options are pretty much get everyone else with your similar situation under them to say "fuck off." See how far the landlord is willing to push it. If you're in a mood for compromising (just throwing it out there) or negotiating maybe they'll agree to amending the lease so that they pay for electricity up to X amount then you pay the amount over. They could provide the bill as proof next month and ask for that amount more. They should have come to the tenants with this proposal to begin with... perhaps with hat in hand and a "Hey, I fucked up with the lease situation. I didn't add a cap to what I'd pay... can you guys please not fuck my dumb ass?" But of course it's very landlord mindset to immediately jump to "Welp, you're all gonna have to die! Sorry!"

[-] Tabitha@hexbear.net 2 points 6 days ago

Probably OP is the only tenant not running a bitcoin miner.

[-] hotcouchguy@hexbear.net 12 points 1 week ago

Landlord too lazy to install separate meters?

[-] EmmaGoldman@hexbear.net 10 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Where I'm at in rural chudland Canada, the energy mix is almost entirely hydro and wind and there's a single natural gas plant that runs at less than 10% of capacity and is mostly a "just-in-case" thing.

Buildings built before about 2005 are wired, heated, and/or plumbed in a way that's impossible to separate by apartment so landlords either just divide it up evenly between apartments or just cover the cost. Mine has boiler radiant heating and water costs built into rent, but I pay about $50 for power in the summer to run A/C and we have an electric car and e-bike. It's like maybe $20 in the winter.

It may be the case that OP's building is similar and they can't actually discern who's using what amount of power.

[-] TheLastHero@hexbear.net 5 points 1 week ago

I think because this building is old as hell they can't meter everyone individually or don't want to. Both the water and the electric have had some degree of malfuncting most of my time living here

this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2026
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