Crazy landords? Not looking forward to Winter.

[DaveJ]

I am in renter's Hell, and pay rent money to a married couple who inherited a 7 unit building.

They are required by law in Chicago, in the Winter, to keep the temperature above 68 degrees or so.

They suckered me into maintaining the gas boiler room (plus cutting the grass, picking up litter, etc).

Here's the issue. The boiler turns on and off based on a thermostat, which BTW is clearly located close to a heater somewhere, so it registers as much warmer than what the tenants actually experience. Last winter the tenants were always cold, and the owners apparently can't handle the gas bill. They complained that their bill went from $1200 to $1400 per month. So, they've designated that I have some magic ability to control the thermostat in such a way as to lower their bill. They say, "oh, when it's a little warmer (like 58 degrees outside) turn the thermostat down". Like that's gong to do anything. Are they totally nuts of is this just my imagination?

Doesn't the thermostat determine whether or not the heat needs to be on? And the actually heat in the apartments is either above or below what it should be, but with a thermostat, I don't see the point spending all my time changing it in their imaginary attempt save them money. If they want me to freeze out the tenants, shouldn't they just be upfront about it instead of making up imaginary tails? I think they are assholes. But they are millionaires and I'm poor so I must be wrong and they must be right.

[Warpy]

1. The thermostat registers the interior heat

and when it falls below a certain level, the boiler fires. The only connection with the ambient temperature outside is that on warm days the building will lose heat more slowly and the boiler will fire less often. This isn't true on warmer but windy days, where heat loss by convection is increased.

Tell them it's out of your hands and that they need to consult a heating specialist on ways to cut the bill. They won't like what he tells them, but they'll listen to an expert over some worthless prole they have cutting the grass and picking up garbage.

It might be time to spring for a more efficient boiler and tighten the building. If they just want to keep milking a cash cow, though, expect them to do neither but continue to whine at you and try to blame you for the fact that gas prices have doubled since last year.

In any case, they will not be happy this winter and there is nothing you can do about it but move.

[DaveJ]

3. That's what I thought

I just wanted to verify that they are in fact fruitcakes. Every person I've asked has said the same thing now. I especially like the idea of finding a heating specialist. Thanks.

[knitter4democracy]

2. I'd put a fan on the thermostat.

Just one of those small ones. Then, when I know they're coming, I'd take it off. That's me, though--I'd be worried about everyone in the building freezing, so I'd find a way to rig the thermostat.

Warpy's right, though. They need to get an expert in there.

[DaveJ]

4. I don't know where it is located.

It runs through into another apartment somewhere, which I'm guessing is near a heater. If the thermostat is set to 80 it will be 65 in some places. Then of course the nutty landlords will pretend that the thermostat saying 80 means the temperature must really be 80.

Damn, I really want to just live on the streets. It would be much more relaxing.

Anyway, I have free electricity for space heaters. If other tenants have a problem with it they can call the owners and complain.

[old mark]

5. Before we bought our house, we had a series of

very crazy landlords. They just wanted the money, had no care at all about how the tenants were living.When we were able to buy our house, we were so relieved to be out from under their thumbs. We are spending money now to make our house more compatible to our getting older - railings, new bathroom and laundry on first floor, etc.
We both want to stay here till we die, and never want to live in any type of rental place again.
Turned out buying a house is cheaper than renting - our mortgage is over $100 a month less than our last rent - save up for a down payment and buy a small older house - fuck the landlords.
FWIW, my father was a landlord for many years, and he treated tenants decently and fixed problems quickly before they got worse. Wen he sold his apartment houses and quit the business, tenants called and actually begged him not to sell. If you ever become a landlord, be a decent one and you will be a successful one - you will never lack tenants.

mark

[old mark]

6. Just want to add this:

I know how impossible it is to save money for a downpayment, but try to build a little savings, even at a few dollars a week that you don't ever touch. It will come slowly, but it will come.
Look into FHA mortgages when you have a little saved, look at older, small houses that are solid but need work. Shop around even before you have the money, just to educate yourself.

Remember, realtors are not always the most honest people.Take care, be flexible, don't commit till you azre sure it is all right!

Shop around, and when you are ready, make sure you really like the house. If you don't love it when you are buying it, you will come to really hate it over time.
Buy a place you want to stay in.

The FHA mortgages give you at least some guarantee the house and the loan will be good.

Sorry to run on, but we went through some hoops with the realtor when we were looking, eventually went with a "sale-by-owner", and had to get a non-bank mortgage when the owner was revealed as a scammer.

But we have owned this house for over 8 years now, and it really is a great hume for us.

And no landlord.

mark