Shared Utilities

[yiddishe_mama]

I am looking for folks views on my situation..I think I am too close and maybe missing something/not understanding a different view point.

Here's the deal I live in what could be called a duplex I guess. We (3 Family member) live in what is the main part of the house and a single lady lives in what was the carport area but at some point was turned into a small apartment. Now All the utilities are on one meter which is in my name. When we moved in we paid a certian amount of rent that included utilities but the land lord was so sure that we didn't have any reason to keep the utlities low he asked us to put the utilities in our name and he would lower the rent by 200.00, and pay 27% of the utility bill to compensate for the apartment. I am sure if he had a seperate meter put in then he would have to pay extra taxes on the property and our rent would go up so I understand why he doesn't want to do that but here's my issue yes we have the thermostate (which we keep at a very low 50/55) and yes there are 3 of us and only 1 living in the apartment but she does things like wash every load of laundry in hot water Doing at least 1 load per day(we do our washing at the public laundry and hang cloths to dry) we limit showers and have a "navy shower" shower head (get wet turn off shower soap up turn shower back on) she also runs electric heaters even since he bought her a propane heater and fills the tank at the begining of the winter. She is suppose to buy the next fill up if she runs out but she says that's too expensive. So I think that out of the 300.00 (water/elec./gas/waste water together) she is using at least as much if not more than we are.

Am I right to feel like either she or my landlord should be paying more into the utilities? Maybe I'm over reacting since it really does grind my gears that she says propane is too expensive while running electric heaters that I have to pay for.

What to you folks think?

Sorry for such a long post but I wanted to be sure to have all the details so that people could make informed opinions

[fnfredux]

I am looking for folks views on my situation..I think I am too close and maybe missing something/not understanding a different view point.

Here's the deal I live in what could be called a duplex I guess. *We (3 Family member) live in what is the main part of the house and a single lady lives in what was the carport area but at some point was turned into a small apartment. *Now All the utilities are on one meter which is in my name. *When we moved in we paid a certian amount of rent that included utilities but the land lord was so sure that we didn't have any reason to keep the utlities low he asked us to put the utilities in our name and he would lower the rent by 200.00, and pay 27% of the utility bill to compensate for the apartment. I am sure if he had a seperate meter put in then he would have to pay extra taxes on the property and our rent would go up so I understand why he doesn't want to do that but here's my issue yes we have the thermostate (which we keep at a very low 50/55) and yes there are 3 of us and only 1 living in the apartment but she does things like wash every load of laundry in hot water *Doing at least 1 load per day(we do our washing at the public laundry and hang cloths to dry) we limit showers and have a "navy shower" shower head (get wet turn off shower soap up turn shower back on) *she also runs electric heaters even since he bought her a propane heater and fills the tank at the begining of the winter. *She is suppose to buy the next fill up if she runs out but she says that's too expensive. *So I think that out of the 300.00 (water/elec./gas/waste water together) she is using at least as much if not more than we are. *

Am I right to feel like either she or my landlord should be paying more into the utilities? *Maybe I'm over reacting since it really does grind my gears that she says propane is too expensive while running electric heaters that I have to pay for. *

What to you folks think?

Sorry for such a long post but I wanted to be sure to have all the details so that people could make informed opinions
so, you have $200.00(savings on rent) + 27% of $300.00 = $81.00, you are actually $19.00 out of pocket for your utilities and you think you are paying too much. Very interesting. What do you think, the lady in the apt. whose share is picked up through your rent reduction and the 27% from the landlord OWES YOU something?
Yeah, I'd say badger yourr landlord, better still MOVE cause, boy are they cheatin' you.
I've been a landlord, thanks for reminding me why I had a house torn down rather than rent it again.

[GoodDaughter]

Yiddish, I didn't do the math, but if it computes as Fred calculates, you are not doing badly at all and IMO should not complain. Wisht that I had only a $19 in utility bills. You could not have them be that cheap if you lived in a total dump.

Reading your post, it sounds more as if it is your objections *to the lady's way of living that bothers you more than the money issue. You and yours live frugally, but she uses hot water and washes daily, and whatever else. I myself often do a full load of laundry every day. I live by myself and I don't have a lot of clothing, and so must do a load just about every day in order to have clean clothes, towels, bed linens, etc. Perhaps she is in a similar situation and you don't know about it?

Not to be rude, but so what? It's not for you or anyone else to dictate how she should live, as long as she is doing what she is contractually obligated to do in renting from the landlord.

Maybe you should consider finding some place else to live where the contract is more to your liking. But IMO, you have a pretty good deal, even considering it is a small house.

[yiddishe_mama]

See this is exactly why I wanted others views because I wasn't sure I was seeing things fairly. This is why I was totally honest with all the facts not trying to make it seem like it was something it wasn't.

But I didn't ask for snarky. No I don't think that ANYONE owes me ANYTHING. I am not trying to control how others live but as I said for her to say that paying for her own heat is too expensive so I should have to pay for it does piss me off. As far as land lords go this guy is really decent not some slum lord he fixes things and asks if it's all OK he knows the place needs work but we also aren't badgering him over things that are going to be expensive and can be made last a bit longer with some make do repair. I am sure that I would have been a terriable renter for you Fred. Lived here for 5 years never late with the rent give produce from my garden help the old guy stack up his wood, sat with him during the day after his heart surgery while his family was at work. That is just wrong of me. ::)

I really wasn't looking at it the way you guys have pointed out. I do thank you for pointing that out.

[fnfredux]

See this is exactly why I wanted others views because I wasn't sure I was seeing things fairly. This is why I was totally honest with all the facts not trying to make it seem like it was something it wasn't.

But I didn't ask for snarky. *No I don't think that ANYONE owes me ANYTHING. * I am not trying to control how others live but as I said for her to say that paying for her own heat is too expensive so I should have to pay for it does piss me off. * As far as land lords go this guy is really decent not some slum lord he fixes things and asks if it's all OK he knows the place needs work but we also aren't badgering him over things that are going to be expensive and can be made last a bit longer with some make do repair. *I am sure that I would have been a terriable renter for you Fred. *Lived here for 5 years never late with the rent give produce from my garden help the old guy stack up his wood, sat with him during the day after his heart surgery while his family was at work. That is just wrong of me. *::)

I really wasn't looking at it the way you guys have pointed out. *I do thank you for pointing that out. *
I STILL don't see how this woman is costing you ANYTHING. Please explain why your utility bill should be below $19.00. I must be mistaken to think that anyone as kind and generous as you would begrudge some poor old lady clean clothes and some warmth, ESPECIALLY when the landlord is footing the bill.
As for deed you do, that is very nice of you, about as nice as $200.00 a month consideration on rent. Lets see, that comes to $2400X5=$12,000.00. I think I'd give some produce and help anold guy even WITHOUT a $12,000.00 kicker.
I had a few good renters, paid their rents on time, a FAIR rent, a low rent for GOOD renters. They saved money and went on to buy homes after a couple of years. Only long term tenent I had was on somekind of housing subsidy, he had to pay me like $45.00 and the state paid the rest. He was already there when I bought the house. I had to clean up after that STIKNKER and I do mean STINKER. After that I only rented to people with JOBS. Oh, I had someone else, tried to "make a deal" with me. Was getting state assistance and wanted me to tell the state I was charging MORE so she could get the difference in cash. Some kind of deal where the tenet gets funds to pay the landlord and the state pays too... Well I never went for THAT, sounded like fraud to me.
So, sounds to me like you think your landlord has an ILLEGAL occupancy going on and it's okay with you, you just want more money out of it.
Like I said, I had one house in the country torn down because DECENT renters were hard to find.
Sounds like you and your landlord found each other, I'm happy for yoy both. That little old lady next door, now HER I feel sorry for.

[yiddishe_mama]

Fred
It is not an illeagal thing. It complies with the codes of the city.
Personal attacks are a sign that you don't really have a valid point. I don't do a thing for the money. But what do you care you didn't even see that I AGREED with you that I WAS WRONG in my thinking about this thing. This is why I posted here in the first place because I felt I wasn't being FAIR, but wasn't able to see past my own nose about it.
You simply want to start something. The only thing to do about you and your type is IGNORE

[Anon001]

Yiddishe Mama,

I think you have a good attitude and a good deal. The only thing to add is that you had an agreement that is being fulfilled by both parties. You rent, he owns. At anytime that a renter feels he is not getting his end of the deal, he is free to move and find a new place to rent. But, I think you realize that and you also realize you have a good deal..... So.... why not buy a place and start your homestead?

Good luck... If I had rentals, I wouldn't mind filling them with renters like you.
Paul

[MYellowRose]

We share utilities with our landlord, we pay $350 a month rent and he tacks on $100 a month for utilities. When I moved in we didn't have a washer and dryer and the two window a/c units weren't working all that well. Last year both a/c units were replaced and we got the washer and dryer. A couple of months ago the landlord came by to ask if we had a water leak, the bill for the month was $140! I didn't think so buy while he was sitting on the side of our tub with the cover off the toilet tank he saw a hole in the overflow tube which was making the water run constantly. He didn't ask for anything extra and finally wound up putting a different toilet in to get us one that worked good.
I don't mind sharing with him but otherwise I don't think I'd be willing. I'm just not one to trust my fellow man all that much. However from what I read here I think it's okay for you with your rent discount and the small percentage of utilities you are paying.

[CarolAnn]

Yiddishe mama -
I wonder why your landlord wants to change the setup, and I bet you are wondering the same thing. Is it because the utilities are a whole lot more than the $200 allowance?

The only way you can know for sure is to ask for the past year's monthly bills. If it turns out that your neighbor is using a huge amount of hot water, it could be that your conservative approach to using gas and water won't help your bill.

I live in a small duplex and I still pay more than my sister with a huge (newish) house does for utilities - could be lack of insulation, water leaks, or something else. You just need more information to decide if you can go with the deal or not.